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. 

 

 

[Pabo]

Everyone is an immigrant, we all descended from Mt Ararat. It is just some families got there first before others.

[Tortuga]

31 minutes ago, Pabo said:

Everyone is an immigrant, we all descended from Mt Ararat. It is just some families got there first before others.

We are all emigrants from the Garden of Eden too...

[Brandon]

On 5/25/2025 at 9:13 AM, LeolaRootStew said:

neither are the founders of the USA.

I believe the term you’re looking for is “colonizer” also known as invaders 

[LeolaRootStew]

9 hours ago, Brandon said:

I believe the term you’re looking for is “colonizer” also known as invaders 

 

In order to maintain my neutrality I try to use words that are not moralizing or inflammatory. 

[Shawnster]

I guess native means the first people to arrive 

[Jwanon]

This means the Clovis people are the natives of America

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_culture

Edited June 5 by Jwanon

[Dages]

19 hours ago, Jwanon said:

This means the Clovis people are the natives of America

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_culture

"spanning around 13,050 to 12,750 years Before Present (BP)"

 

[dljbsp]

The census says it plainly: Jehovah’s Witnesses are one of the most racially diverse religious groups in the U.S. But we already knew that, didn’t we? We just call it “the congregation.”

 

You walk into any Kingdom Hall and it’s like stepping into a living Isaiah 2:2-3 prophecy—people streaming in from every background, not because of slogans or social pressure, but because truth resonates deeper than culture. We don’t need focus groups, inclusion councils, or diversity campaigns. We just need the Bible, the ministry, and a good potluck.

 

The numbers say 32% Hispanic, 27% Black, 6% Asian, and 36% White. But in real life?

It’s the Korean sister serving arroz con gandules.

It’s the Nigerian brother with a Boston accent.

It’s the Ecuadorian elder quoting Psalms in perfect Southern English.

It’s spiritual unity with an international flavor—and no one’s trying too hard.

 

This isn’t unity in spite of diversity. It’s unity through diversity. And it works because our message is the same no matter where we come from. We speak the same “pure language” (Zephaniah 3:9), and we serve under the same King.

 

We’re not all the same—but we’re all taught by Jehovah (Isaiah 54:13). And somehow, that turns a patchwork of cultures into a masterpiece of peace.

 

So maybe take a moment to look around your congregation this week. Smile at the sister in the headwrap. Thank the brother with the strong accent who gave the talk. Maybe even try that strange casserole at the next gathering. (It might be the best thing you’ve never had.)

 

Because what we’re experiencing? It’s not statistical. It’s spiritual. And it’s something only Jehovah could do.