Americas Shifting Religious Makeup Could Spell Trouble For Both Parties

[trotsky]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americas-shifting-religious-makeup-could-spell-trouble-for-both-parties/

Both Republicans and Democrats are facing dramatic long-term realignments in the religious composition of their base, and it will be a challenge for the parties to weather this shift gracefully.

Glance at the data from a new report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and you’ll see why doubling down on white identity politics could be a winning strategy for President Trump and the Republicans in the short term, but it might not be successful for long. The PRRI report, which is based on a poll of more than 101,000 Americans from all 50 states, makes clear that white Christians, traditionally a large portion of the Republican base, are, as a group, both declining and aging. Younger white Christians are abandoning their churches in droves, leaving behind increasingly middle-aged and elderly congregations.

Democrats, meanwhile, have something of the opposite problem. Their base is increasingly religiously varied, and while this is certainly reflective of where the country is going as a whole, Democrats must craft a message that speaks to pretty much every faith tradition — as well as people who have no religion at all. And young black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics, two groups that have historically been loyal Democratic constituencies, are less likely to affiliate with the party than their parents and grandparents.

[DetlefK]

1. Why are the Democrats supposed to pander to religious groups???

Who gives a fuck about what religion somebody has?

Do you think, a voter will actually care whether a political message is catholic, protestant, calvinist, presbyterian, methodist, baptist, mormon, greek-orthodox, jewish, sunni, shia, hindu, voodoo, wiccan or satanist enough?

And let's not forget the people who do not have a religion: The Democrats have to pander to atheists, to agnostics and to people who have no opinion on religion at all because they just don't care. (That last one is the fastest-growing population-segment in terms of religious affiliation.)

[Lordquinton]

5. The "nones" are the Dems most loyal block

And they are fast growing.

[DonaldsRump]

2. I don't, but many people do

Mahatma Gandhi said this: "Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is."

It shouldn't, but it does.

That being said, the importance of religion is shifting among various demographics, and it would be wise for the D's to be studying this carefully.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Why?

GOP has a problem. Democrats/leaners vote on issues/candidates, not theocratic bullshit.

[msongs]

4. all you need is love - rehearsal before the all world broadcast

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. See how far love gets you when there's no clean water or air around.