The United States has become the world’s No. 1 destination for Christian and Buddhist immigrants, according to a study of international census data released this month.
During recent decades, large numbers of migrants from Latin America, the Philippines and the Caribbean have swelled the ranks of Catholics living in the United States. The rise of China as a world superpower has helped open the door for more migrants to come here, and they have brought Buddhism with them.
The result is a significant shift in the religious makeup of the country. In 1960, the U.S. population was roughly two-thirds Protestant. Today, it is about half.
Analysts at the Pew Research Center found that of the nearly 43 million foreign-born residents in the U.S., about three-quarters are Christian.
Most immigrants aren’t coming here to escape religious persecution, as they did centuries ago. Today, the top reason is economic opportunity, according to Pew researchers.
Dan Moffett
18 Mar 2012
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U.S. Ranks No. 1 in Attracting Christian, Buddhist Immigrants
Posted on March 20, 2012