RELIGION IN AMERICA

Religion in America



Religion in America

Question 1

Define the term religion within the context of this course and briefly describe its importance in America and its relevance to denominationalism and pluralism?

Religion is a human activity system, composed of beliefs and practices about what is considered divine or sacred, existential type, moral and spiritual. We talk about "religions" to refer to specific forms of manifestation of the religious phenomenon, shared by the different groups. There are religions that are organized into more or less rigid, while others have no formal structure and are embedded in cultural traditions and ethnic society in which they practice. The term refers to both personal beliefs and practices as collective rituals and teachings (Eck, 2002).

Religion in America depicts both a broad diversity in faiths and practices, and a high level of adherence. As the recent surveys suggest, 83% of U.S. citizens are a member of a religious denomination, 40% regularly attend services, and 58% offer prayers every week (Gordon, 2003). A majority of U.S. citizens claim that religion have a "very important" part in their lives, such majority religious inclination is not usual amongst developed nations. Many religions have thrived in America, counting both later imports spanning the country's multicultural, immigrant heritage, as well as those founded within the United States; these have directed America to be one of the most religiously diverse nations of the world (Eck, 2002).

Question 2

Describe the state and nature of religion in America prior to the arrival of the first Europeans. Then describe the Age of Colonialism's impact on that religious landscape.

The colonies of New England, founded by the Puritans, were very intolerant towards all other faiths, such as the Quakers, including Mary Dyer, who was the victims. This is why some leave Massachusetts to found ...