Posted on 09/18/2002 12:06:01 PM PDT by NYer
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) _ Roman Catholics remained the state's largest religious group, while evangelical Christian churches saw big membership increases during the last decade, according to a census of U.S. religions. The count by the Nashville, Tenn.-based Glenmary Research Center, conducted at 10-year intervals, is among the few comprehensive studies of religious affiliations.
The U.S. Census Bureau stopped asking about religion after the 1940s. Glenmary's 2000 Religious Congregations & Membership study found about 4.7 million New Jerseyans _ or 56 percent _ belong to a religious group.
About 3.4 million of those were Roman Catholics, an increase of 6.7 percent from the previous census. Jews were the state's second-largest group with 468,000 members, an 8.9 percent increase from 10 years ago.
United Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Lutherans all saw membership drop significantly during the 1990s, but held on to remain in New Jersey's 10 largest faiths.
Smaller, evangelical Protestant denominations, along with the evangelical Mormon church, saw big increases. The Protestant denominations include the Assemblies of God, the Church of God and the Salvation Army. ``Evangelism means the desire to spread the word and the mission to reach out to people, so in a way, the numbers suggest that proselytizing works, that aggressive reaching out brings people in,'' Laurel Kearns, associate professor of the sociology of religion at Drew University, told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Wednesday's editions.
The charismatic Assemblies of God broke into the state's 10 largest denominations. After a 32 percent increase in membership during the 1990s, the church now has 52,000 adherents, according to the survey. ``We want to be flexible and are willing to change our methods so we can bring the message of God to our neighbors,'' said Randy Nichols, pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Belleville. ``We won't change our doctrine,'' he said. ``We still believe the Bible is the word of God. But we're open to change in the way we do business, and that's helped us reach out to people.''
The National Baptist Convention and other predominantly black denominations did not participate in the most recent survey. In 1990, there were more than a quarter-million black Baptists in the state.
For the first time, the survey tried to quantify the number of practicing Muslims, estimating there were 121,000 in New Jersey and 1.6 million nationwide. That's lower by millions than in other surveys.
Muslim leaders criticized researchers for undercounting their members, but researchers said the figure was only a tally of those active in mosques, not the total American Muslim population.
AP-ES-09-18-02 1451EDT
Did you read in school to learn or did the teacher read it too you??
In fact, my Mama was a first grade teacher. I was not in her class. I did learn to read before I started school. And your point is?
Did your mom ever say to you " If everyone jumps off the bridge are you going to too?"
Yes, she did. And your point is?
If they are wrong don you will have an eternity to discuss why you were
Sorry. I have no idea of what you are talking about.
My post, to which I guess this was a response, was to the point of not being surprised when JW's and LDS'ers show up and lead folks further astray.
In any argument over words, even over Holy Scripture, the best debater will win.
That is the fatal flaw in sola scriptura
Bible study in church or privately helps us know God and recognize false teachings
On the other hand, some of Luther's finest sermons are from the Epistle of James. (The RCC never tells its members that.)
Don ...the word will win over error . I know that because they stay away from it..
Your "word" or their "word"?
All God's children got a "word".
Bible study in church or privately helps us know God and recognize false teachings
I totally agree with you. We may interpret certain scriptures differently, but basically we will both bring people to believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and redeemer.
We completed a class recently for Catholics returning to the church and their first request was to have an ongoing Bible study or faith-sharing class. Then they stopped for the summer, so it is time for us to pick it back up. These posts just served as the impetus for me to do that. Thanks, and God bless.
These increases are outstanding. It makes me wonder where the main (lame) stream media got the information that people had returned to life as normal after they got over their initial impulse to attend church after 9-11-01.
Hnnnnnn.
And if the conclusions they draw from "private Bible study" are different from the ones you draw, is that considered "false doctrine"?
Yes, the missals have gotten larger, because they do have the readings and they have included a large selection of hymns also.
Do most parishes have bible studies now? I know my husbands has a daytime one...
During Lent we had 18 groups with over 300 members and that is for a small parish of about 500 families.
Last year there were two ongoing Bible study/faith-sharing groups. I want to get mine started again, and I think the other lady will start the first of October. It would be wonderful if we could continue the group throughout the year.
Pray!
Yes
Which "Book"?
All God's children got a book.
Your argument is what the Muslims proclaim.
Just read the (their) book.
Give that gentleman or lady a ceegar!!!
Only been asked about ten million times on this board.
And as far as I have seen, never answered.
A lot of dancing around the question, but it is a corner out of which the sola scriptura believers cannot get.
If this is true, I'm prepared to believe that any "faith" which claims to be Faith yet produces no good works, is a dead and false faith -- a "faith" so falsely called.
But I certainly would not imagine up any doctrine which declared,
That would not be Faithful to James in the slightest; it would just be Unfaithful to Paul.
For, "we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" -- whether or not you use the word "alone", the matter of import is that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
"Faith alone Saves; and the Faith which Saves is never alone."
How would I know if I were deceived?
The Mormons (capital "M" for respect) tell you to read their stuff and trust your feelings.
What do you have that differs from that, save for what you have folks to read?
And I will thank you to leave my sons out of the argument. They will do fine.
I don't..but neither do you...you have chosen to take what others say on faith
I have no argument really . I have no interest in what you believe or where ya end up don...you will have to stand to give account for yourself someday...saying that "they told me" will not cut it
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