The Direction of Denominational Switching in Judaism

Abstract

This paper examines patterns of denominational switching and the characteristics of switchers within Judaism in the United States. Viewing Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism and a fourth "non-specific" group as categories that range from the most traditional to the least traditional respectively, it focuses on the movement of individuals toward or away from a more traditional denomination in comparison with remaining in the same denomination in which they were raised. Data used to conduct this study are drawn from the National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01 (National Jewish Population Survey [NJPS] 2003).We found that 62% stay within the same group, 29% move away from tradition, and 9% move to a more traditional denomination. Multivariate logistic regression analyses show that a lower level of Jewish background, higher previous travel to Israel, a greater extent of organizational affiliation, and a higher level of spiritual feelings and beliefs are associated with moving to a more traditional denomination whereas a higher level of Jewish background, lower previous travel to Israel, and a lower level of spiritual feelings and beliefs are associated with moving to a less traditional denomination. In addition, a few sociodemographic factors (previously married, has a child at home, lives in a Western state) are associated with movement toward tradition whereas others (older age, female, not living in the Northeast or West) are associated with movement in the other direction. We found that 62% stay within the same group, 29% move away from tradition, and 9% move to a more traditional denomination. Multivariate logistic regression analyses show that a lower level of Jewish background, higher previous travel to Israel, a greater extent of organizational affiliation, and a higher level of spiritual feelings and beliefs are associated with moving to a more traditional denomination whereas a higher level of Jewish background, lower previous travel to Israel, and a lower level of spiritual feelings and beliefs are associated with moving to a less traditional denomination. In addition, a few sociodemographic factors (previously married, has a child at home, lives in a Western state) are associated with movement toward tradition whereas others (older age, female, not living in the Northeast or West) are associated with movement in the other direction.

The Social Integration of Baalei Teshuvah

“…Baalei teshuvah also contribute numbers to the Orthodox community. They may account for the increase in the proportion of individuals who identify as Orthodox from the NJPS of 1990 to that of 2000 (Sands, Marcus, and Danzig 2006).…”

Leaving my religion: Understanding the relationship between religious disaffiliation, health, and well-being

“…First, some may leave for religious differences, such as having lost a belief in the spiritual or dogmatic aspects of the church. Theological dissatisfaction and changes in religiosity are important predictors of leaving a religious faith (Hoge, et al, 1995, Sands, et al, 2006). However, research suggests that those with no religious affiliation are not necessarily atheist or agnostic; self-identified atheists make up a very small percentage of the US population (Hout and Fischer, 2002).…”

Handbook of Leaving Religion

“…Normative observance is, therefore, a tall order given the high standards of personal piety that not everyone born into an observant family is willing or able to realise. The vast majority of available research on leavetaking in Judaism is demographic and informed by etic sensibilities, focusing particularly on denominational switching in Judaism (Sands et al 2006;Hartman and Hartman 1999;Lazerwitz 1995). By virtue of these researchers' particular framework emphasising trends and quantitative analytics, these publications articulate hypotheses concerning experiential aspects that, in my view, merit qualitative scholarly consideration as well, especially since switching and decisive leavetaking are only roughly correlative to the experiences related by participants in my study.…”