Denominational America and the New Religious Pluralism

Abstract

This article examines the changing character of religious pluralism in America since midcentury. Major changes bringing about a new climate include an expanding pluralism, declines of the liberal establishment, and a conservative religious and moral resurgence. As a result there have been broad shifts and realignments of religion and culture and a changing social and demographic basis of religion in the country. Patterns of religious switching point to a new voluntarism in identifying with the religious tradition of one's choice. The demographics suggest that in the future the liberal sector of Protestantism will continue to decline and that the divergence of conservative religious and secular cultures may intensify.