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November 16th, 2012
12:01 PM ET
My Take: 113th Congress looks like old America
By Stephen Prothero, Special to CNN (CNN) - The 2012 election has been widely hailed as a diversity moment — a coming out party for an American electorate no longer dominated by white men. And it was a triumph as well for religious diversity, thanks especially to Hawaii, which is sending the first Hindu to the House and the first Buddhist to the Senate. But is this religious change more symbolic than real? In “Faith on the Hill,” a study on religion in the 113th Congress released Friday by the Pew Forum, the story seems to be static rather than change.
For all the talk of the election of 2012 inaugurating a new era in American politics, Protestants will continue to be overrepresented on Capitol Hill, where they will account for 56% of our representatives versus only 48% of American adults. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Moreover, the religiously unaffiliated will continue to be scandalously underrepresented in the 113th Congress. Though 20% of American adults are “nones,” there is only one “none” (Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema) in the new congressional delegation. That said, there are striking differences between Democrats and Republicans in the incoming 113th Congress. The GOP delegation will be 69% Protestant, while Protestants will account for only 43% of the Democrats. Mormons also lean heavily Republican, with three Democrats versus 12 members of the GOP. Catholics, by contrast, lean Democratic, accounting for 36% congressional Democrats and 25% of congressional Republicans. Moreover, all the Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists in the incoming Congress are Democrats. And all but one of the 32 Jewish members (Virginia Republican Eric Cantor) are, too. The bottom line? I see two takeaways. First, this data provides evidence for the now common wisdom that Republicans represent old-fashioned America while Democrats reflect new demographic realities. In the 113th Congress, Republicans will be disproportionately male and disproportionately Protestant. Democrats, by contrast, have a higher portion of women and minority religions. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories Second, this data shows that the much heralded “new America” is still years away. Yes, the Senate will be 20% female, but women are more than 50% of the population. And the U.S. Congress will still be far more Christian (87%) than U.S. adults as a whole (70%). At least when it comes to religion, the U.S. Congress doesn't yet look like the voters who are sending them to Washington. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Prothero. soundoff (1,540 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Next »
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Editor's Note: Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar and author of 
So essentially for all practical purposes, what this foolish author is suggesting is that - if your representative is a protestant and you are NOT a protestant then in the next election you should blindly cast your vote for the non-protestant candidate (on basis of religion) without caring for who actually is a better candidate based on the issues - because somehow proportional representation is a higher goal than sending the best and most capable representative to the Congress. Shame on CNN for publishing such a destructive and divisive article.
No, he is not suggesting that. You are suggesting that. You are attempting to spin this article according to your own personal fear. Can you point to a single false statement in this article?
I don't know whether or not my representative is a a Protestant or whether he or she is a believer in Osiris. I don't care. But I do care about his or her education. I care about his or her level of understanding of the REAL WORLD.
Leif
Tell me if there is any other way Plothero's wish of proportional representation could be fulfilled based on his gripe for too many protestants in the current congress? How do we reduce protestants representation in the Congress in next elections? By people voting on basis of someone's religion rather than on basis of who actually is the best and most capable candidate to represent in Congress.
Mike, you seem to be far more determined than Prothero to achieve that goal. Maybe he should hire you.
Leif
So CNN would spend their time better doing an opinion piece of educational levels of the representatives in Congress. That could be actually constructive ... but dont forget Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are both college drop outs - so even that would not prove much.
God loves all of you. Repent and accept Jesus as your savior.
Henry, why do I need a savior and why should I accept a myth that has been recycled a least 10 times and long before Jesus. Are you retarded?
No worries, Henry. Jesus forgives you for pretending to speak for him.
I wonder what would happen to one of these "journalists" who posted that there were too many women or too many blacks in Congress.
Craig are you retarded? Really, it's okay just say so.
Some more BS from the liberal left. The white men are now the pariahs and the blame for all the ills of the nation. Instead of focusing on our nations problems those blame artists would rather point fingers at white men.
...white America made the bed they lie in....look at history...
I know some very smart white men. They are all Democrats.
Religion; what an archaic form of mental and physical suppression.
Why does I matter, the people just made their decisions, election time is over...complain in 4 years. This should NOT be the headline of CNN when Israel and the Palestinians are on the verge of full out ground war.
Opinion: Congress is too theist.
Religion is losing it's grip everywhere. Literacy and science are it's worst enemies.
As for politicians, the majority are liars and change their colors like a chameleon.
Anyone that still believes in ghosts, spirits,. souls, monsters, goblins, leprechauns, virgin births, miracles, magic, séance, numerology, astrology, voodoo, spells, witches, et.al. need their damn head examined. They are either woefully ignorant of science or plain stupid.
good
He forgot to mention the vast majority of the people in Congress are "religious" only because it's a prerequisite for getting elected in this country. I am so sick of religious dogma and the intolerance and stupidity that is embedded in such beliefs.
Erm...
Catholics are still outsiders, due to their own perceptions and wishes.
Thank Christ.
Erm, Steven B,
The U.S. Supreme Court Justices:
66% Catholics – 6
33% Jews – 3
Oppinion: CNN is on a crusade against Christians
Did you even read the article? How is this in any way attacking Christians? If only we could be so lucky to have the media attack the hypocritical, intolerant, violating the principles of separation of church and state, dogmatic, judgmental, selfish, ignorant Christians that are constantly trying to shove their religion in our faces and wanting to create a theocracy ... while simultaneous whining about being "persecuted". Please, give me a break.
This guy is an a**hole.
Well that was one of the dumbest articles I've sen CNN green light in sometime.
So, now the author has opened a can of worms.
He must now giveus his opinions on his feeling about the other demographic elements of Congress.
So. Is Congress to white, too black, too Hispanic?
Is Congress filled with too many men or women?
Is Congress too gay?
I'm sure the author has an opinion, or maybe he is too myopic to actually think past his own personal disdain for the majority of Americans who define themselves as Protestant???
I don't think the author ever used the phrase "too protestant". CNN did for a cheap headline, while the author focued on the real issue of demographic misrepresentation. Are the 20% or so Atheists/Agnostics getting fair representation when 534/535 members of Congress answer to SOME religious authority? I know I'm sure not comfortable with a person of faith making decisions that affect me!
To Graham Krueger: "Opinion: Congress Too Protestant" Are we having a problem with what "is" is?
We need more gays in congress. Instead of buttfuucking the people they will be buttfuucking each other
We need representatives from every type of human. We do not need representatives from every type of religion.
The can all say "Hail Satan" daily as long as they take care of the debt, work on schools, enforce trade laws, develop a comprehensive immigration plan and end our involvement in wars. For that matter, either invade North Korea or leave South Korea. Makes no sense to have troops over there for 60 years. No wonder they have a strong economy. They don't have to worry about funding their security.
Big deal. This is a big "much-a-do-about-nothing." Yes the majority of Congress is Protestant. So is the population of the nation. If you want to find an imbalance go examine the Supreme Court where there is not a single Protestant - only Catholics and Jews.
Is Stephen Prothero the smuggest looking b@stard you've ever seen ?
Like CNN and the rest of the left-leaning media, I can't wait for the day that Muslim Jihadists have a majority in Congress. Only then will rich, white Protestants learn their lesson that "their time" in power is done and all isfinally right with the world.
Well, C-SPAN will certainly see a boost in ratings.
Yeah, a Jihadist becoming a US citizen and raising money to run for Congress. You ain't the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree Bubba.
A lot of American atheists often have criminal records for things like drug dealing, who wants to elect people like that?
Nope sorry, most people in jail are Christian. Atheists are very peaceful and understand we only get one chance on this earth so our life and the life of others is short and precious.
lol... documentation please.
you are a idiot stop putting labels on people with that atheist bs jerk
Oddly enough Stephen Prothero has very Devilish looking ears.