Ellison Research is crowing about its recent survey that found "Protestant churchgoers were no more loyal to their denomination than they are to brands of toothepaste or bathroom tissue," but I think they're missing the point.
I wouldn't expect denominational brand loyalty. Christians should be loyal to their faith, not a denomination. Denominational distinctions, when they exist, often focus on issues peripheral to the Christian faith like whether to baptize believers by sprinkling them with water or submersing them. These survey results may reveal people's understanding that it's their faith in Jesus not their allegiance to a denomination that really matters.
The Bible talks about the church as a single unified body of believers and this survey tends to confirm this.
Instead of asking people if they'll switch denominations, the survey should have asked if they would switch religions. Methodists may become Lutherans more easily than Crest users switch to Colgate, but if you asked Christians if they would become Buddhist or Muslim I bet they'd behave more like Tareyton smokers from the seventies. They'd rather fight than switch.
Spread the fire. GS
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