And people who switched into a new religion give different reasons. For example, 48% say feeling “called to a new faith” and 45% say the religion in which they grew up did not meet their spiritual needs.

Many who leave say:

- They stopped believing in the religion’s teachings (46%)
- It wasn’t important in their life (38%)
- They just gradually drifted away (38%)

(There were not enough respondents from other groups – such as people raised Muslim who still identify as Muslim, or people raised Buddhist who are still Buddhist – for us to be able to analyze their responses separately.)

Lifelong Jews most commonly mention a somewhat different set of reasons for why they are Jewish.

- 60% say they like the traditions
- 57% cite liking the sense of community
- 53% say because it’s their family religion
- 50% say because it’s what they’re familiar with

Among Catholics who have held onto their religious identities, 54% say a key reason they are Catholic today is because it fulfills their spiritual needs, 53% cite belief in the religion’s teachings, and 47% say it’s because it gives their life meaning.

Among Protestants who have stayed, 70% cite belief in their religion’s teachings as a key reason why they are Protestant today. Most also say they are Protestants today because their faith meets their spiritual needs and gives their life meaning.

Many who leave say:

- They stopped believing in the religion’s teachings (46%)
- It wasn’t important in their life (38%)
- They just gradually drifted away (38%)

Check out our full analysis:

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