Religious Culture of the United States
Andrew Mosheshe
Dr. S. Helbing
BA/EN 200
29 March 2012
Religious Culture of the United States
According to recent surveys, an estimated 83 percent of adult Americans identify with a religious denomination, 40 percent admit to attending a religious service once or more each week, and 58 percent claim to pray at least weekly (Putnam Ch. 1, p. 5). Furthermore, a 2008 “American Religious Identification Survey” identified that there currently exist a total of 313 different religious sects and denominations in the United States (Kosmin 3). These statistical figures clearly indicate that the United States is characterized by both a wide diversity in religious beliefs and practices as well as by a high adherence level (in comparison to other developed countries). Religion has played a pivotal role in shaping what can be considered today’s American culture and value system since (and prior to) its inception.
More than a century before the former 13 original British colonies (Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island ) became the United States of America, the earliest settlers (popularly referred to as “the pilgrims”) consisted of men and women of deep religious convictions. The religious intensity of the original settlers later waned off with time but new waves of 17th century immigrants, escaping religious persecution in Europe, brought their own religious fervor across the Atlantic.
The Puritans, consisting of English Protestants who wished to reform and purify the Church of England of what they considered to be unacceptable residues of Roman Catholicism, were the first major sect to ride this wave of migration to America. Beginning in 1630, as many as 20,000 Puritans migrated to America to gain the liberty to worship as they chose. Most Puritans settled and were later well established as a religious sect in Massachusetts, in New England
Dr. S. Helbing
BA/EN 200
29 March 2012
Religious Culture of the United States
According to recent surveys, an estimated 83 percent of adult Americans identify with a religious denomination, 40 percent admit to attending a religious service once or more each week, and 58 percent claim to pray at least weekly (Putnam Ch. 1, p. 5). Furthermore, a 2008 “American Religious Identification Survey” identified that there currently exist a total of 313 different religious sects and denominations in the United States (Kosmin 3). These statistical figures clearly indicate that the United States is characterized by both a wide diversity in religious beliefs and practices as well as by a high adherence level (in comparison to other developed countries). Religion has played a pivotal role in shaping what can be considered today’s American culture and value system since (and prior to) its inception.
More than a century before the former 13 original British colonies (Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island ) became the United States of America, the earliest settlers (popularly referred to as “the pilgrims”) consisted of men and women of deep religious convictions. The religious intensity of the original settlers later waned off with time but new waves of 17th century immigrants, escaping religious persecution in Europe, brought their own religious fervor across the Atlantic.
The Puritans, consisting of English Protestants who wished to reform and purify the Church of England of what they considered to be unacceptable residues of Roman Catholicism, were the first major sect to ride this wave of migration to America. Beginning in 1630, as many as 20,000 Puritans migrated to America to gain the liberty to worship as they chose. Most Puritans settled and were later well established as a religious sect in Massachusetts, in New England
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