Source: The Buffalo News
On April 13, 2002, The Buffalo News reported that "an estimated 33 million Americans... have changed their religious preference, or dropped any religious allegiance, according to the American Religious Identification Survey 2001, a random telephone poll of 50,281 households... Perhaps, the authors suggest, 'religion switching' reflects a deeper cultural phenomenon in contemporary America, related to what one sociologist terms baby boomers -- 'a generation of seekers'... Reasons for leaving a church are legion -- a poor theological fit, a distressing incident, a lack of inspiration, a disagreement with a clergy person... Reasons for joining another religion are equally diverse -- wanting the same faith in a marriage, being drawn to a church committed to social justice, feeling welcomed by the congregation."