Those who grow up in an atheist household are least likely to maintain their beliefs about religion as adults

Those who grow up in an atheist household are least likely to maintain their beliefs about religion as adults, according to a study by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).

Only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults. This "retention rate" was the lowest among the 20 separate categories in the study.

There were 1,387 atheists (weighted) in the survey. Four-hundred thirty-two weighted respondents said they were raised atheist. Of those, 131 self-identified as atheist.

"What these findings reflect is that in the U.S. atheists are for the most part 'made' as adults after being raised in another faith. It appears to be much more challenging to raise one's child as an atheist and have them maintain this identity in their life," Dr. Mark Gray wrote at CARA's blog.

Gray also noted that, "of those raised as atheists, 30% are now affiliated with a Protestant denomination, 10% are Catholic, 2% are Jewish, 1% are Mormon, and 1% are Pagan."

Jehovah's Witness, congregationalist and holiness churches had the next lowest retention rates at 37 percent, 37 percent and 32 percent, respectively. Thirty-eight percent of those who grew up with no particular religious faith or belief system remained that way.

Hindus had the highest retention rate at 84 percent, followed by Jews (76 percent), Muslims (76 percent), Greek Orthodox (73 percent), Mormons (70 percent) and Catholics (68 percent).

Baptists had the highest retention rate of the Protestant Christian categories at 60 percent, followed by Lutheran (59 percent) and Pentecostal (50 percent).

The study used the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life's 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. Gray noted that Pew's original report did not include some of the retention rates. Pew provided CARA with the original data sets for the study.

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Asked by IhartU at 11:26 AM on Jul. 13, 2012 in Religious Debate

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I chose to be an atheist as an adult... i grew up Christian and well being around certain people lead me to know that it wasn't the path for me.

Answer by mommys2cupcakes at 11:29 AM on Jul. 13, 2012
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I wonder if some those who leave Atheism for a religious belief were stifled from learning about religions as children. I know some Atheists are so paranoid about that topic that they forbid their kids to even read books about it.

Comment by IhartU (original poster) at 11:31 AM on Jul. 13, 2012
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I was raised by atheists, and I am, too, but atheism isn't a religion; it's an opinion on one question. And atheism isn't the default position on the one question, either.

Answer by SWasson at 11:34 AM on Jul. 13, 2012
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I wonder if some those who leave Atheism for a religious belief were stifled from learning about religions as children. I know some Atheists are so paranoid about that topic that they forbid their kids to even read books about it.-IhartU

Actually, i think it's quite the opposite. Those who are religious are paranoid of atheists. Atheists (everyone i know) are more open-minded, willing to accept others beliefs, and open to teaching their kids about every religious view. My Dh and I grew up in christian homes, and now are atheist. Our son beleives in God, and we support him. We take him to church (and we'll attend the sermon-we don't catch on fire!), he went to a christian preschool, bible camp. We encourage him to accept other views to and be respectful of all. Though he's being raised in an atheist home, we have bibles and other literature from many religions and beleifs, and encourage reading of all.

Answer by boobarandbell at 12:03 PM on Jul. 13, 2012
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I happen to agree with you boob but I was looking at it from the reasoning behind the results from the study. Why do so many Atheist children grow up to be religous?

Comment by IhartU (original poster) at 12:06 PM on Jul. 13, 2012
Credits: 30395 Level 27 Religious Debate Major
"Atheists (everyone i know) are more open-minded, willing to accept others beliefs, and open to teaching their kids about every religious view"

I used to think that... Then I came here and realized Atheists were much more intolerant and hostile towards religious people than the other way around.
And they're not more willing to teach their children about different religions, they give their children information about those religion's to teach them how their myths, in the best of cases, downright dangerous lies in the worst.
I'm not surprised most children raised by Atheists abandon those beliefs. As someone pointed out, it's a belief system full of questions, but doesn't give many answers, so people that have been encouraged to question, but not answer, eventually feel the need to start finding answers.

Sharon

Answer by momto2boys973 at 12:15 PM on Jul. 13, 2012
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"Why do so many Atheist children grow up to be religous?"

I haven't looked for any numbers on this topic but I suspect the prevailing attitude towards religion in the community plays a factor. For example, if a kid is raised in an atheist household but almost everyone they know strongly believes in a certain religion, the kid might feel left out. Peer pressure is an undeniable component of why people choose to live the way they do.

I also suspect that the need to believe in some underlying explanation for life is a deep part of human nature. That's why so many religions have popped up in every community in the world. Religion serves a purpose in our communities and lives - it gives people meaning and answers. Most atheists find meaning and answers on their own, but not everyone can. Not everyone wants to. So I'm not surprised many people need to believe in something external, even if their parents don't need it.

Answer by Sebbiemama at 12:38 PM on Jul. 13, 2012
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very interesting! theres so many different reasons i can think of why they'd be least likely to maintain these beliefs into adulthood. the pressure of a heavily religious area, the offer of someone who loves you no matter what (God), meeting someone of faith who isnt a negative stereotype, marriage required conversion, choosing something for yourself instead of just doing what you were taught (it happens in all faiths), and im sure some of it might be from over the top Atheist parenting.

also, with the Abrahamic faiths there's the fear of punishment for not staying in the "right" faith...so there's probably a bigger draw to remain. and with some denominations if you leave the faith you are leaving the entire way of life you were raised in...thats not easy.

Answer by okmanders at 12:44 PM on Jul. 13, 2012
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They didn't poll me! Dh and I are second generation atheists and my dd's are 3rd generation atheists.

Answer by beeky at 12:51 PM on Jul. 13, 2012
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Oh, and the author of that blog you linked also mentioned this as a possible reason:

"From an organizational perspective I assume all of these religious institutions would prefer to maintain their youthful members in a similar regard (...with the exception of Atheists who have no real institution or organizational structure... which may have something to do with the very low retention rate for this group)."

This makes sense.

Answer by Sebbiemama at 12:56 PM on Jul. 13, 2012
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