2020 Religious Census Race Diversity and JW's

[Dustparticle]

 

All

 

 Here is the latest U.S Census ion Jehovah's Witnesses and it is interesting. It is from this book:

https://www.usreligioncensus.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/2020_US_Religion_Census.pdf

 

It has several sections. Under the section by Allison Norton, it has interesting info on JW's on page 5, paragraph 2. 

https://www.usreligioncensus.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/PortraitImmigrationRace-Norton.pdf

 

 I highlight this:

 

The Assemblies of God (1.9%), a classical Pentecostal tradition, is among the most racially diverse religious groups in the nation. Those affiliated are 25% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 3% Black, and 66% White. Even more striking, the Jehovah’s Witnesses (1.9%) exhibit high racial diversity within the American religious landscape, with Hispanic representing 32% of their religious group, Asian Americans 6%, Black Americans 27%, and White Americans representing 36%.

 

[jdcarlson]

I have read (and partially scanned) the second article mentioned in the previous post. Since I did not go through in precise detail, I may have missed something.

 

I have difficulty with their premise on defining "immigrants" and their effect on the religious mix of the U.S. Population.

 

Other than Native Americans (aka "Indians" in common vernacular) all of us are immigrants.

 

My sitatution may be a little unusual, but my mother has documented the family tree (at least on her side) back to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 when William of Normandy defeated Harold Godwinson to become William the Conqueror, King of England.

 

The first european in our family line to come to North America was a French Heugonot, with difficulties with the Catholic Church. He fled Catholic France to the Nethrlands. When Catholic Spain conquered the Netherlands, he again had to leave. In 1651 he sailed to New Amsterdam (now New York) on the ship St. John Baptiste.

 

On my father's side, my grandparents came from Sweden to Iron Mountain, Michigan, between 1890 and 1900.

 

On one side my family has been in North America 375 years. On the other side I am a second generation immigrant.

 

As to religion, on my mother's side there has been sufficient "mixing" in 375 years that no single denomination could be identified, other than "generic protestant."  On my father's side they are all Lutheran (very much so, even down to which "Synod" they follow).

 

My great-grandmother is the first generation witness in my family. I am fourth generation witness. My son is fifth generation witness.

 

How does the fact that my father (first generation immigrant  -  Lutheran) married a third generation witness (my mother), and served many years (until his death) as an Elder in the congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, affect the "calculations" of the impact of immigrants on various denominations in the U.S.?

 

If we dig down to the real "bottom," all religions in the U.S. (other than the spiritual beliefs of Native American Tribes) are immigrant religions. And, due to individuals changing belief systems, the belief system they brought with them is largely different from what it is today.

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

 

 

[Jwanon]

On 5/22/2025 at 3:16 AM, jdcarlson said:

Other than Native Americans (aka "Indians" in common vernacular) all of us are immigrants.

 

They migrated from Siberia

[LeolaRootStew]

The founders of a country are not considered immigrants. People who move to a country that is already established are considered immigrants. That means Native Americans are not considered immigrants, but neither are the founders of the USA.

[Shawnster]

Depends on what you define as immigrant. Native Americans did not evolve in North America. Nor where they created in North America.  Their ancestors immigrated to North America just like everyone else.