tianjin foreign studies university american culture unit four unit 4 religion in the united states
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TIANJIN FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY
American CultureAmerican CultureUnit four
UNIT 4
Religion in the United Religion in the United StatesStates
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Religion in the United StatesReligion in the United States
From the beginning of its history, religion played an important role in the United States.
Many early colonial settlers came to America to avoid religious persecution in Europe.
They wanted to practice their belief in God in their own way in the new world.
To ensure this religious freedom, Americans laid down in the Constitution the separation of church and state.
The government was forbidden to establish a national church and no denomination was to be favored over the others.
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I. The Pervasive Influence of Religion on American I. The Pervasive Influence of Religion on American SocietySociety
A. Political life
B. The development of education
C. The growth of economy
1. Puritans1. Puritans2. Harvard to train 2. Harvard to train priestspriests
1. References to 1. References to God in official God in official customs and actscustoms and acts2. “One nation 2. “One nation under God” “In under God” “In God We Trust”God We Trust”
1. Early American 1. Early American businessmen businessmen motivated by the motivated by the Protestant ethic in Protestant ethic in their pursuit of their pursuit of wealthwealth2. Manifest 2. Manifest DestinyDestiny
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II. Religious AmericansII. Religious AmericansA. The most religious country in the developed world
1.1.Religious traditionReligious tradition complete religious freedom complete religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitutionguaranteed by the Constitution
2.2.Search for social conformity and Search for social conformity and emotional securityemotional security
B. Explanations
3.3.Disillusioned with social Disillusioned with social conditionsconditions
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C. Great interest in religion—not evident overseas
1. Secularization of religion Secularization of religion refers to the
replacement of spiritual concerns with concerns about this world.
2. Personal matters
II. Religious AmericansII. Religious Americans
3. Ignored by mass media
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III. Major Religious Groups in AmericaIII. Major Religious Groups in America
93% of all Americans say they believe in God.
Christians: 87%--59% Protestants; 27% Catholic; 1% Eastern Orthodox
Jewish: 2%
Moslem, Buddhist and Hindu: 4%
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III. Major Religious Groups in AmericaIII. Major Religious Groups in AmericaA. Christian Churches
1
1. Protestants Baptist: 20%; Methodist: 10%; Lutheran: 6% Presbyterian: 4%; Episcopalian: 4% Mormons; Christian Scientists
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B. Roman Catholics
1
The largest unified religious body—50 million
2
Descendants of immigrants from Ireland, Italy and Poland
3
The election of John F. Kennedy
III. Major Religious Groups in AmericaIII. Major Religious Groups in America
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C. Eastern Orthodox Churches
1
5 million
2
2. Descendants of immigrants from Russia, Greece or other parts of Orthodox Eastern Europe.
III. Major Religious Groups in AmericaIII. Major Religious Groups in America
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D. Non-Christian Churches
1
Jewish: 6 million 2. Muslims: 2.5 million
2
Buddhists: 100,000
III. Major Religious Groups in AmericaIII. Major Religious Groups in America
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IV. The Main Characteristics of Religion in AmericaIV. The Main Characteristics of Religion in America
6. Tolerance6. Tolerance1. Diversity1. Diversity
5. Privacy5. Privacy
4. Commitment4. Commitment
2. Freedom2. Freedom
3. Competition3. Competition
Characteristics of religion
A. Characteristics of religion
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B. Characteristics of church membersB. Characteristics of church members
2
1 5
4
3
Region: Membership is highest in the Region: Membership is highest in the Midwest and the South.Midwest and the South.
Social class: Jews Social class: Jews rank highest in rank highest in income; Hispanics income; Hispanics the lowestthe lowest
Race & ethnicity: Hispanic and Irish—Roman Race & ethnicity: Hispanic and Irish—Roman Catholics; Greek—Orthodox Church; Blacks—Catholics; Greek—Orthodox Church; Blacks—Baptists and MuslimsBaptists and Muslims
AgeAge
Politics: Protestants are Politics: Protestants are more conservative; Jews more conservative; Jews are more liberal; Catholics are more liberal; Catholics are in the middle.are in the middle.
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V. The Future of Religion in AmericaV. The Future of Religion in America
A.A. Evangelicalism and Religious Evangelicalism and Religious rightright1. Resurgence of Evangelical 1. Resurgence of Evangelical ChristianityChristianity Evangelicals are usually more Evangelicals are usually more conservative and orthodox in their conservative and orthodox in their religious beliefs and practices.religious beliefs and practices.2. Religious right2. Religious right Historically, Evangelicals have Historically, Evangelicals have largely distained politics, but in largely distained politics, but in recent years many groups have recent years many groups have become increasingly involved at become increasingly involved at every political level.every political level.
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C. C. Spiritual renewal in the 21st Spiritual renewal in the 21st centurycentury
B. B. Cyber churchesCyber churches It takes only the click of a mouse It takes only the click of a mouse to jump from one temple, one to jump from one temple, one mosque, or one church to the next.mosque, or one church to the next.
V. The Future of Religion in AmericaV. The Future of Religion in America
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