Yet some demographers estimate the intermarriage rate to be far lower. Trying to define the number of evangelicals can be difficult. And pinpointing the number of Latinos, regarded as the evangelical world's fastest-growing segment, is even dicier because their immigration status and language barriers stymie accurate counting. Given existing complaints about the census, it might seem quixotic to suggest adding more questions. But the lack of reliable data is fueling calls for better ways to chart the most religiously diverse nation in the world.
Advocates say the census is the cheapest and most efficient way to collect information.
We now have a critical mass of people from different religious traditions. The yearbook last year decided to stop publishing tables of religious affiliations. The reliability of data differs widely across denominations. By contrast, faith communities with no central hierarchy often don't keep records at all. Another minefield is methodology, demonstrated by the Jewish intermarriage debate.