What Is The Decline Of Religion In America
Outline
I. Introduction: There have been challenges here and there to this but the basis of separation of church and state typically still stands. One can practice whatever makes them happy without any interference from the government. Has this always been the case or did issues arise on occasion?
II. Early Religion in America
III. Decline of religion in America
IV. Conclusion "And an old priest said, Speak to us of Religion, And he said:
Have I spoken this day of aught else? Is not religion all deeds and all reflection, And that which is neither deed nor reflection, but a wonder and surprise ever springing in the soul, even while the hands hew the stone of tend the loom? Who can separate his faith from his action, or his belief from his …show more content…
occupations? Who can spread his hours before him, saying, 'This for God and this for myself; This for my soul, and this other for my body?'" (Gibran)
Religious freedom has always been a hot topic amongst politicians running in any major election in America.
Though the topic may not be advertised as “religious freedom” per say, it does come packaged as “prochoice”, “anti-abortion”, or perhaps “same-sex marriage supporter which can all be indicative of religious choices if one is paying close enough attention. America is a melting pot of different cultures and religions intertwined so deep until some have a difficult time understanding who belongs where! This is nothing new. Amongst other reasons for escaping, Europeans came to America to practice religious freedoms. They had been faced with oppression and forced beliefs at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England for many years. This caused the American forefathers to create a new world where one could practice any religion and faith without persecution from the government. The separation of church and state was ideal for the well-being of mankind. In drafting the constitution, this issue was addressed first:
“Religion and Expression. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” …show more content…
(constitution.findlaw.com/amendment1.html)
There have been challenges here and there to this but the basis of separation of church and state typically still stands. One can practice whatever makes them happy without any interference from the government. Has this always been the case or did issues arise on occasion? The early settlers to the United States were searching for freedom of expression. They left their homes an oppressed, broken people. History tells us they were calling themselves Protestants, which is defined as a member or follower of any of the Western Christian churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church and follow the principles of the Reformation, including the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches (Oxford Dictionary). The very word Protestant stems from the Latin word meaning “to protest” which is exactly what they did. In fact, before the formation of the United States, all Western nations formed had been done so under Roman Catholic rule.
Although the Protestant movement was very instrumental to the formation of America, the Indians were practicing some form of religion long before anyone else decided to settle in the new land. Many Indian tribes worshipped what they referred to as “The Great Spirit”. This Spirit was believed to be found in Animals as well as non-living items. The Indians practiced elaborate dances and religious rituals to strengthen their beliefs as well as show their thanks to The Great Spirit for all that had been provided unto them. One of the most common of such practices is the Rain dance, which is led by great native leaders to bring about rain in order to prevent a drought (Butree).
Though the Protestants meant well, they continued to be under the iron fist of Europe and were continually influenced by them. Religion in America continued to splinter. Before long there were Puritans, Methodists, Baptists, Fundamentalists, and Adventists. Each had their own separate perspectives on what they believed religion should be. They share similarities as they all originated from Roman Catholicism and/or The Church of England, but they split hairs over issues both big and small enough to separate them. In its infancy America had very strong religious roots. However, today there seems to be a great decline. “Twice as many high school seniors, and 3 times as many college students, described their religion as “none” in the 2010s (vs. the early 1980s). Even among 8th and 10th graders, who have only been surveyed since the early 1990s, 40% to 50% fewer now affiliate with a religion” (Twinge). During the 1950’s, there was a great rise in religious practice. However, it was short-lived. This sharp decline was traced back to the 1960 societal change era, though it may definitely be much older. During this time in history, religious practices and beliefs were questioned more than they ever had been before. By the end of the 70’s, there was a steadying of religion. However, this has changed at a much more rapid pace over the last 15 years than ever before.
Some cite millennials being to blame for the decline in religious culture being most important.
This group of people born between the early1980’s through to the early 2000’s are said to have less of an interest than their parents and grandparents. According to a survey conducted in 2007 by Pew Research the millennials were just entering adulthood and it was found that “25 percent of them did not affiliate with a religion, but this grew to 34 percent in the latest survey.” Studies also show that there are currently more religiously unaffiliated than there are Roman Catholics in the US. The groups experience their losses through what’s called “religious switching,” when someone switches from one faith to another. “Thirteen percent of Americans were raised Catholic but are no longer Catholic, compared with just 2 percent of Americans who are converts to Catholicism. That means that there are more than six former Catholics for every convert to Catholicism. There’s no other group in the survey that has that ratio of loss due to religious switching.”
(Pew).
The Evangelical movement was radical in changing the way Americans worshipped. During this movement, pastors told people to focus more on personal salvation than being true to traditions and rituals Americans had become accustomed to. This movement was followed by the Restoration which is where the church ushered people to get back to the biblical standards of living as they had strayed away. Out of this movement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was formed. Early on in the 20th century, the Pentecostal movement came forward announcing people should have a close relationship with Christ and be filled with His holy spirit. Televangelists became widely popular under this movement. The Charismatic and Fundamentalist movements followed respectively with most practicing Christian Americans widely accepting the healing and ministry views of the charismatics. Each movement seems to birth a more watered down movement with people trending to a place of no religion at all it seems.
Social changes in America such as the Civil Rights movement also caused some changes. When Africans were brought over from Africa to America as slaves, the religious beliefs and teachings they originally knew were either stripped away or a blended form of religion with heavy European influence mixed with African beliefs were passed on. As time went by and slaves became free men, many African Americans split from the religion of their oppressors. Scholars estimate that about “30% of imported Africans were Muslim by faith with the remaining practicing indigenous worships.” (The Black Church). All of them were converted to some form of Christianity.
Religion in America was started by a group of men who wanted to step out from behind the shadows of the men who ruled. They started a new world with hopes of a new way of doing things. However, it seems America may be going in the same direction of the very chains they broke free from. Not many people practice religion and those who do have so many different denominations to choose from. Leaders are picked based on religion oftentimes, which is rather ironic considering the constitution states the two should be separate. Perhaps America will come full circle and be Roman Catholic again—and then repeat the entire process all over again.
I. Introduction: There have been challenges here and there to this but the basis of separation of church and state typically still stands. One can practice whatever makes them happy without any interference from the government. Has this always been the case or did issues arise on occasion?
II. Early Religion in America
III. Decline of religion in America
IV. Conclusion "And an old priest said, Speak to us of Religion, And he said:
Have I spoken this day of aught else? Is not religion all deeds and all reflection, And that which is neither deed nor reflection, but a wonder and surprise ever springing in the soul, even while the hands hew the stone of tend the loom? Who can separate his faith from his action, or his belief from his …show more content…
occupations? Who can spread his hours before him, saying, 'This for God and this for myself; This for my soul, and this other for my body?'" (Gibran)
Religious freedom has always been a hot topic amongst politicians running in any major election in America.
Though the topic may not be advertised as “religious freedom” per say, it does come packaged as “prochoice”, “anti-abortion”, or perhaps “same-sex marriage supporter which can all be indicative of religious choices if one is paying close enough attention. America is a melting pot of different cultures and religions intertwined so deep until some have a difficult time understanding who belongs where! This is nothing new. Amongst other reasons for escaping, Europeans came to America to practice religious freedoms. They had been faced with oppression and forced beliefs at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England for many years. This caused the American forefathers to create a new world where one could practice any religion and faith without persecution from the government. The separation of church and state was ideal for the well-being of mankind. In drafting the constitution, this issue was addressed first:
“Religion and Expression. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” …show more content…
(constitution.findlaw.com/amendment1.html)
There have been challenges here and there to this but the basis of separation of church and state typically still stands. One can practice whatever makes them happy without any interference from the government. Has this always been the case or did issues arise on occasion? The early settlers to the United States were searching for freedom of expression. They left their homes an oppressed, broken people. History tells us they were calling themselves Protestants, which is defined as a member or follower of any of the Western Christian churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church and follow the principles of the Reformation, including the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches (Oxford Dictionary). The very word Protestant stems from the Latin word meaning “to protest” which is exactly what they did. In fact, before the formation of the United States, all Western nations formed had been done so under Roman Catholic rule.
Although the Protestant movement was very instrumental to the formation of America, the Indians were practicing some form of religion long before anyone else decided to settle in the new land. Many Indian tribes worshipped what they referred to as “The Great Spirit”. This Spirit was believed to be found in Animals as well as non-living items. The Indians practiced elaborate dances and religious rituals to strengthen their beliefs as well as show their thanks to The Great Spirit for all that had been provided unto them. One of the most common of such practices is the Rain dance, which is led by great native leaders to bring about rain in order to prevent a drought (Butree).
Though the Protestants meant well, they continued to be under the iron fist of Europe and were continually influenced by them. Religion in America continued to splinter. Before long there were Puritans, Methodists, Baptists, Fundamentalists, and Adventists. Each had their own separate perspectives on what they believed religion should be. They share similarities as they all originated from Roman Catholicism and/or The Church of England, but they split hairs over issues both big and small enough to separate them. In its infancy America had very strong religious roots. However, today there seems to be a great decline. “Twice as many high school seniors, and 3 times as many college students, described their religion as “none” in the 2010s (vs. the early 1980s). Even among 8th and 10th graders, who have only been surveyed since the early 1990s, 40% to 50% fewer now affiliate with a religion” (Twinge). During the 1950’s, there was a great rise in religious practice. However, it was short-lived. This sharp decline was traced back to the 1960 societal change era, though it may definitely be much older. During this time in history, religious practices and beliefs were questioned more than they ever had been before. By the end of the 70’s, there was a steadying of religion. However, this has changed at a much more rapid pace over the last 15 years than ever before.
Some cite millennials being to blame for the decline in religious culture being most important.
This group of people born between the early1980’s through to the early 2000’s are said to have less of an interest than their parents and grandparents. According to a survey conducted in 2007 by Pew Research the millennials were just entering adulthood and it was found that “25 percent of them did not affiliate with a religion, but this grew to 34 percent in the latest survey.” Studies also show that there are currently more religiously unaffiliated than there are Roman Catholics in the US. The groups experience their losses through what’s called “religious switching,” when someone switches from one faith to another. “Thirteen percent of Americans were raised Catholic but are no longer Catholic, compared with just 2 percent of Americans who are converts to Catholicism. That means that there are more than six former Catholics for every convert to Catholicism. There’s no other group in the survey that has that ratio of loss due to religious switching.”
(Pew).
The Evangelical movement was radical in changing the way Americans worshipped. During this movement, pastors told people to focus more on personal salvation than being true to traditions and rituals Americans had become accustomed to. This movement was followed by the Restoration which is where the church ushered people to get back to the biblical standards of living as they had strayed away. Out of this movement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was formed. Early on in the 20th century, the Pentecostal movement came forward announcing people should have a close relationship with Christ and be filled with His holy spirit. Televangelists became widely popular under this movement. The Charismatic and Fundamentalist movements followed respectively with most practicing Christian Americans widely accepting the healing and ministry views of the charismatics. Each movement seems to birth a more watered down movement with people trending to a place of no religion at all it seems.
Social changes in America such as the Civil Rights movement also caused some changes. When Africans were brought over from Africa to America as slaves, the religious beliefs and teachings they originally knew were either stripped away or a blended form of religion with heavy European influence mixed with African beliefs were passed on. As time went by and slaves became free men, many African Americans split from the religion of their oppressors. Scholars estimate that about “30% of imported Africans were Muslim by faith with the remaining practicing indigenous worships.” (The Black Church). All of them were converted to some form of Christianity.
Religion in America was started by a group of men who wanted to step out from behind the shadows of the men who ruled. They started a new world with hopes of a new way of doing things. However, it seems America may be going in the same direction of the very chains they broke free from. Not many people practice religion and those who do have so many different denominations to choose from. Leaders are picked based on religion oftentimes, which is rather ironic considering the constitution states the two should be separate. Perhaps America will come full circle and be Roman Catholic again—and then repeat the entire process all over again.