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Trees
filled with brilliant fall foliage frame the First Congregational
Church in South Woodbury, Vermont,. Many such churches, some dating
from the late 17th century, dot the New England countryside.
(© AP Images) |
Early
in their history, Americans rejected the concept of the established
or government-favored religion that had dominated -- and divided --
so many European countries. Separation of church and state was ordained
by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides in part
that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...."
One
of the first permanent settlements in what became the North American
colonies was founded by English Puritans, Calvinists who had been outsiders
in their homeland, where the Church of England was established. So Protestants
were the dominant religion in the early days. Today America is one of
the most diverse religious societies in the world.
In 2005 Protestants of all denominations numbered more than 100 million;
Catholics, 67 million; and Jews, 6 million. The Islamic faith also has
about 6 million U.S. adherents, many of whom are African-American converts.
It is estimated that the number of mosques in the United States -- today,
about 2,000 -- has more than doubled in the last 15 years. Buddhism
and Hinduism are growing with the arrival of immigrants from countries
where these are the majority religions.
America has also been a fertile ground for new religions. The Mormon
and Christian Science Churches are perhaps the best-known of the faiths
that have sprung up on American soil. Because of its tradition of noninterference
in religious matters, the United States has also provided a comfortable
home for many small sects from overseas. The Amish, for example, descendants
of German immigrants who reside mostly in Pennsylvania and neighboring
states, have lived simple lives, wearing plain clothes and shunning
modern technology, for generations. Some small groups are considered
to be religious cults because they profess extremist beliefs and tend
to glorify a founding figure. As long as cults and their members abide
by the law, they are generally left alone. Religious prejudice is rare
in America, and interfaith meetings and cooperation are commonplace.
See
also:
About the USA > American Holidays >
Ethnic & Religious Observances |
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Protecting
Religious Freedom without Limiting Free Speech
(America.gov,
December 30, 2009)
Being
Muslim in America illustrates in word and image that practicing
the Muslim faith is fully compatible with being American, and that Muslim
Americans are endowed by right with the same freedoms, privileges, and
responsibilities as other Americans.
(America.gov, March 2009)
 Freedom
of Faith. eJournal, August 2008
The principle of religious freedom is a cherished right in the United
States, one that has historical roots older than the formation of the
nation itself. In the 21st century, the United States pulses with a
unique cultural chemistry brought on by a wave of immigration which
has brought followers of more diverse faiths to many communities. This
edition of eJournal USA examines how the nation adjusts to these demographic
changes to remain true to the principles of freedom of faith.
One
New York City Neighborhood Is a World of Religious Diversity
By Carrie Lowenthal. America.gov, August 1, 2008.
The street blocks in Flushing, New York, may seem long
to walk on a hot summer day, but they make the distance between the
world's many religions seem short. There are over 200 places of worship
in Flushing, and many festivals like the annual Ganesh Chaturthi parade...
Amish
Free to Maintain Religious Traditions in Modern World
Driving through Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a traveler might find
a line of cars creeping along the pastoral countryside. Somewhere ahead,
an ambling, horse-drawn wagon likely carries members of the steadfast
Amish community rooted there... (America.gov, August 1, 2008.)
U.S.
Megachurches Thrive in Climate of Faith, Tolerance, Bigness.
By Ralph Dannheisser. America.gov, August 1, 2008.
The United States is fertile ground for questing, experimental religious
congregations. In recent decades, one of the most striking trends has
been the emergence of so-called megachurches that serve the needs of
an increasingly suburban culture. These new-style churches offer their
members a broad range of religious and social services. They also provide
a sense of community and fellowship -- not to mention parking, child
care and, often, some high-tech entertainment...
Survey
Finds Americans Are Religious, Tolerant, Nondogmatic.
The typical American believes in God (92 percent), believes in absolute
standards of right and wrong (78 percent), prays at least weekly (75
percent), believes in life after death (74 percent) and believes in
sacred scripture as the word of God (63 percent). But that typical American
is also tolerant of other peoples' beliefs and strikingly nondogmatic
in the sense of not believing his or her own religion to be the only
path to salvation or to have a monopoly on truth. These findings emerge
from a new study by
the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life... (America.gov, June
27, 2008.)
The
Roots of Religious Liberty
Religious freedom is one of the most prized liberties of the American
people, a fact that strikes some people as incongruous if they think
of the United States as a secular society. That very phrase, however,
is misleading, in that it implies a society in which religion and religious
ideals are absent, and secular values alone govern daily conduct. Religion
is not absent from daily life in the United States; rather, the Constitution
has created a system in which each individual and religious group can
enjoy the full freedom to worship, free not only from the rein of government
but from pressures by other sects as well..... (Rights of the People:
Individual Freedom and the Bill of Rights. America.gov, June 22, 2008)
Main
Religious Affiliations in the United States.
Almost all the world's religions are practiced today in the United States.
The American tradition of religious tolerance and constitutional safeguards
for freedom of worship has made religious life in the United States
one of most diverse and vibrant in the world. (America.gov, March
19, 2008.)
U.S.
Religious Landscape Is Marked by Diversity and Change.
By Melody Merin.
Religious affiliation among U.S. residents best can be described as
'diverse and extremely fluid,' according to a new poll conducted by
the Pew Forum on Religion and
Public Life. (America.gov,
March 17, 2008.)
Religion
in the Workplace Is Diversity Issue for U.S. Companies.
By Louise Fenner
American companies are looking for ways to deal with a diversity issue
they increasingly face: the need to accommodate workers' various religious
beliefs and practices. (America.gov, November 28, 2007.)
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