The Bottom Line

American Demographics, March 1, 2003

*The vast majority of Americans still identify with an organized religion or religious institution, and a majority (53 percent) see religion as gaining influence in America, according to a March 2002 Gallup poll.

*Although fewer Americans are Christian, and mainstream Protestant faiths are declining, conservative, evangelical and charismatic Christian denominations are on the rise,

*Adherence to minority faiths remains a highly contentious issue, with definitions of Islam and Judaism - and what characterizes their followers - subject to debate. The result is widely varying methods for counting Jews and Muslims, and a broad range of population estimates for members of both religions.