Pentagon Streamlines Troop Religious Affiliations from Over 200 Categories to 31 Major Groups
The Department of Defense narrowed its list of religious codes from more than 200 to 31. Officials said the change simplifies record-keeping and helps chaplains allocate resources.
thehindu.comU.S. troops from more than 200 to 31. Officials described the reduction as an administrative change to simplify an unmanageable system and help military chaplains allocate resources.
Under the previous system, service members could select from a highly detailed list that included affiliations, spiritual movements and secular identities. S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with membership percentages drawn from Pew Research Center and other sources.
U.S. adults who are religiously unaffiliated. S. adults who are Evangelical Protestant. Christian—Catholic comprises around 20 percent of Americans who are Catholic.
Christian—Non-Denominational comprises around 6 percent of Americans who worship in a non-denominational church, according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Christian—Methodist comprises approximately 3 percent of Americans who are Methodist. Christian—Pentecostal comprises around 3 percent of Americans who are Pentecostalists.
Judaism comprises about 2 percent of Americans who are Jewish. Christian—Lutheran comprises approximately 1 percent of Americans who are Lutherans. Islam comprises around 1 percent of Americans who are Muslim.
Christian—Baptist comprises approximately 1 percent of Americans who are Baptist. Christian—Presbyterian comprises about 1 percent of Americans who identify as members of the Presbyterian Church. Christian—Episcopal/Anglican comprises around 1 percent of Americans who identify as members of the Episcopal Church.
Christian—Church of Christ comprises approximately 1 percent of Americans who identify as members of the Church of Christ. Christian—Orthodox comprises around 1 percent of Americans who are Orthodox Christians.
Buddhism comprises approximately 1 percent of Americans who are Buddhist. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comprises around 1 percent of Americans who affiliate with this church.
6 percent of Americans, according to the Church of the Nazarene website. 5 percent of Americans.
5 percent of Americans. Christian—Jehovah’s Witnesses comprises less than 1 percent of Americans. org.
03 percent of Americans, according to the Christian Reformed Church. com. 03 percent of Americans, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
02 percent of Americans. Christian—Scientist, Christian—Other, and Other Religions have no data listed. The reduction discontinued individual tracking for Atheism, Humanism, Wicca, Paganism, and Unitarian Universalism.
Various traditional Christian denominations have been grouped under broader headers without specifying individual branches. The Pentagon declined to classify The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Christian in the updated system. ” The senators argued that the classification contradicts the church’s identity and raises broader concerns about government categorization of religion.
Mike Lee is a Republican Senator from Utah. Defense officials emphasized that the new list is not meant to endorse or delegitimize any religion but to improve logistics and chaplain support.
Sean Parnell wrote on X that the decrease in religious affiliation codes is not designed to make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith. S. Defense Secretary.
