Early in the 20th century, it was easy to predict which flocks of believers would produce the most children \u201d\u201d with Mormons reporting the highest numbers, followed by Catholics, then Protestants and so forth as fertility rates declined. But things changed as the century rolled on and America became more pluralistic and, in elite ZIP codes, secular.<\/p>\n
After Woodstock and the sexual revolution, it was clear that “what really mattered wasn’t what religion you claimed to be practicing, but the degree to which you actually practiced it \u201d\u201d especially whether or not you were in a pew week after week,” said journalist Jonathan A. Last, author of “What to Expect When No One’s Expecting….”<\/p>\n
“When it comes to people having what people today consider large families \u201d\u201d three or more children \u201d\u201d there are two Americas out there,” he said, and the division is between those who actively practice a faith, especially a traditional form of faith, and those who do not.”<\/p>\n