People from mixed religious backgrounds have a diverseness of spiritual paths as adults, with many adopting their mother'southward religion as their own, some choosing to identify with their father's faith, and all the same others opting for neither. Indeed, the survey makes clear that many Americans – even amongst those raised in a unmarried organized religion – ultimately prefer a religious identity that is completely different than the religion of their parents.

But one pattern regarding the passing on of religious identity from one generation to the side by side is clear: Amidst those who were raised in a unmarried religious groundwork (specially within Protestantism), the family's religious commitment is closely linked with retaining one's religion into adulthood. Those adults who say religion was very important to their family while growing up and whose parents ofttimes discussed religion are more than likely than others to continue to identify with their parents' faith every bit adults.

The remainder of this chapter provides additional detail on the current religious identity of people raised in a variety of religious backgrounds, and explores the likelihood of carrying 1'due south parents' religion into adulthood.

Protestant, Cosmic, 'none': Current religious identity of those raised in variety of combinations

Among those who say they were raised exclusively by Protestants, roughly eight-in-x now place with Protestantism, including 80% of those raised by two Protestant parents and 75% of those raised past a unmarried parent who was Protestant. Nearly who were raised exclusively by Protestants only who no longer identify as such are now religious "nones," with smaller numbers now identifying with Catholicism or other religions.

Amidst those raised by one Protestant and one religious "none," 56% now place with Protestantism, while one-3rd are religiously unaffiliated (34%). Those who were raised by a Protestant and a Catholic, meanwhile, are divided amidst those who now identify with Protestantism (38%), Catholicism (29%) and no religion (26%).

Roughly six-in-ten people who were raised exclusively by Catholics now identify with Catholicism, including 62% of those who were raised past two Catholic parents and 58% of those raised by a single parent who was Catholic. Past comparing, but nigh three-in-ten people raised by one Catholic and one non-Cosmic parent identify with Catholicism today, including 32% of those raised by one Catholic parent and one religious "none" and 29% of those who come from a mixed Cosmic/Protestant background.

Assay of the information shows that among those who were raised by one Catholic parent and ane Protestant parent, those whose mother was Cosmic are much more likely to be Catholics as adults. Nearly four-in-ten people raised by a Catholic mother and a Protestant male parent (38%) now place with Catholicism, compared with just 14% amidst those with a Catholic father and a Protestant mother.

Nearly ii-thirds of people raised by 2 religious "nones" (63%) are likewise religiously unaffiliated today. Among those raised by one unaffiliated parent and ane Protestant parent, there are more who now identify with Protestantism (56%) than equally religious "nones" (34%), though just 24% identify with their Protestant parent's denominational family (e.g., as Baptists if their Protestant parent was Baptist). Respondents raised by 1 religiously unaffiliated parent and ane Catholic parent are at present divided between those who identify equally "nones" (42%) and those who identify as Catholics (32%), with a considerable minority likewise identifying as Protestants (20%).

In single-organized religion families, religious intensity linked with passing on religious identity

Looking but at those who were raised within a single religious tradition (i.e., by two people who shared the aforementioned organized religion or by a single parent), adults who say faith was an important part of their life growing upwardly are more than likely to say they now take the same religious affiliation as their parents. Amongst people with an exclusively Catholic background, for instance, three-quarters of those who say religion was very of import to their family while they were growing upward (73%) describe themselves as Catholics today, compared with just 38% among those who say faith was "not likewise" or "non at all" important to their families. Similarly, among adults with an exclusively Protestant groundwork, nine-in-ten of those who say their parents talked a lot about religion (89%) are Protestants today, compared with 67% among those who say their parents did not discuss religion very much.

Whether i was raised by two people who shared the aforementioned faith or by a unmarried parent seems to have piddling effect on whether that person carries the religion of his or her parent or parents into adulthood.five Amidst adults who were raised past two Catholic parents, for instance, 62% describe themselves as Catholics today, as exercise 58% of those raised by a single parent who was Catholic.