RELIGION IN THE USA

America is a highly religious country, and has been since its earliest days. Nearly every
religion in the world has adherents or organized institutions in the United States. American religious
institutions are large, powerful and influential in social and political life. Even Americans who are
members of no established religion are likely to believe in God. About 60% of Americans are
members of a church, synagogue or other religious group, though many more identify with various
religions because of their birth or upbringing. About 40% of Americans attend religious services
regularly, compared to only 20% in UK.
Although the first English settlers came to America in search for religious freedom, they
turned out to be as intolerable to other religions as the English government was to theirs, so the
newcomers who belonged to a different denomination had to establish new colonies. For instance,
Pennsylvania was established by Quakers, and Maryland by Roman Catholics. The first colony
founded on the principle of state neutrality in matters of faith was Rhode Island, established by
Roger Williams, who fled from religious oppression in Massachusetts.

1. Separation of Church and State

Early in their history, Americans rejected the concept of the established or government-
favored religion that had dominated. Thus, separation of church and state is a key concept in
American government and culture. 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....”.

2. The dominant religions in the USA

The largest religion in the US is Christianity, practiced by the majority of the population
(nearly 76.5% in 2001). Roughly 51,3% of Americans are Protestants, 23,9% are Catholics, and
1,7% are Mormons (the name commonly used to refer to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints), and 1,6% to various other Christian denominations. Christianity was introduced
during the period of European colonization.
2.1. The Protestants. 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. Protestants remain a powerful religious group. Out of the all the men who have
been presidents of the United States, only one (John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic) was not either
a Protestant or from a Protestant family background. Hundreds of Protestant affiliations and sects
exist.
2.2. The Roman Catholics. Few Roman Catholics are of English or Scottish descent, hence
Roman Catholics tend to have separate ethnic identification than most Protestants, at least in the
larger cities. Most people of Irish, Italian, Hispanic and Eastern European descent, with some
Germans, are Roman Catholic.
Roman Catholicism differs from Protestantism in two critical areas. Protestants believe in
private interpretation of the Bible. Catholics believe the Church is appointed by God as custodian of
the Bible to interpret the scripture. Most Protestants believe in a universal priesthood of all
believers, while Catholics have a specially ordained priesthood.
Catholicism runs by a set dogma, or series of rules, emanating from the Pope in Rome.
American Protestant groups, even when they have a set dogma, keep their hierarchy entirely inside
the United States. Where Protestants vary on social issues like divorce, birth control, abortion and
homosexuality (many leaving these questions to the consciences of their members), the Catholic
church has set guidelines on these matters. It also censors certain movies, plays and books, which
Catholics may not read or attend. Since Catholics are supposed to believe by absolute faith, they are
expected to take the Church’s word on these matters. It should be noted that the Catholic church is
not as strict about tobacco, alcohol or gambling as some Protestant churches are. The Catholic

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practices of confession and absolution tend to mitigate some of these strictures. Catholic priests
may not marry, and they must be male. (Many Protestant groups allow or even encourage female
clergy).
2.3. The Mormons, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are by far the largest in
the “other Christians” category with 3 500 000 adherents. The church was founded in western New
York State in 1830 by Joseph Smith, who claimed to have received his authority by direct divine
bestowal. Mormons believe in the Bible and in their own complementary work, The Book of
Mormon. They believe in immortality and in the need for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. They believe that people travelled to ancient America from Israel to settle and that some of
them were prophets. A prophet named “Mormon” wrote the Book of Mormon which God preserved
on gold plates for Joseph Smith to find in 1820 and translate. The Book of Mormon shows how
Jesus Christ visited ancient America after his Ascension.
Mormons were greatly persecuted in their early years and eventually found a home in the
desert of Utah, creating Salt Lake City. In earlier days, they were associated with polygamy (having
many wives), though the church now eschews this practice. They abstain from all alcohol, tobacco,
coffee and tea. Mormons believe in active proselytization, and each strives to serve at least a year as
a missionary, often in other countries.
Because the Mormons believe a person can have his or her ancestors ordained and be capable
of eternal life, Mormons place great store on genealogy and finding one’s ancestors. They maintain
large genealogical databases which they allow outside researchers to use.

3. The Land of many faiths

Being the country of immigrants, America is usually referred to as the “land of many faiths”
as it is one of the most diverse religious societies in the world.
3.1. Judaism. After Christianity, Judaism is the second-largest religious preference in the US.
Jews have been present in the US since the 17 th century, though large scale immigration did not take
place until the 19th century, largely as a result of persecutions in parts of Eastern Europe. The CIA
Fact Book estimates 7 000 000 of Americans belong to this group. Approximately 25% of this
population lives in New York City.[
3.2. Buddhism entered the US during the 19th century with the arrival of the first immigrants
from Eastern Asia. The first Buddhist temple was established in San Francisco in 1853 by Chinese
Americans.
During the late 19th century Buddhist missionaries from Japan came to the US.
Simultaneously to these processes, US intellectuals started to take interest in Buddhism.
The first prominent US citizen to publicly convert to Buddhism was Henry Steel Olcott. An
event that contributed to strengthen Buddhism in the US was the Parliament of the World’s
Religions in 1893, which was attended by many Buddhist delegates sent from China, Japan,
Thailand and Sri Lanka.
3.3. Islam. The history of Islam in the US starts in the early 16 th century with the confirmed
arrival of Muslim explorer and sailor Estevanico of Azamor and early Muslim visitors. Once very
small, the Muslim population has increased greatly in the last one hundred years. There is much
controversy over recent estimates of the Muslim population in the US. Much of the growth has been
driven by immigration and conversion.
Up to one-third of American Muslims are African Americans who have converted to Islam
during the last seventy years, most of whom first joined the Nation of Islam, though many later
transitioned into mainstream Sunnism.
3.4. Hinduism. The first time Hinduism entered the US is not clearly identifiable. However,
large groups of Hindus immigrated from India and other Asian countries since the Immigration and
Nationality Act of 1965. During the 1960s and 1970s Hinduism exercised fascination contributing
to the development of New Age thought. During the same decades the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness (a Vaishnavite Hindu reform organization) was founded in the US.

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Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed became the first to recite Hindu opening prayer in United
States Senate in Washington DC in 2007.
At present, estimates for Hindus in the US suggest they number nearly 800 thousand people
or about 0,4% of the total population.

4. Religious education in the USA

In the United States, religious education is often provided through supplementary “Sunday
school”, “Hebrew school”, catechism classes, etc. taught to children at their family’s place of
worship, either in conjunction with worship services or some other time during the week, after
weekday school classes. Some parents send their children to private religious schools, called
parochial schools*.
Many faiths also offer private college and graduate-level religious schools, which may be
accredited as colleges.
Under US law, religious education is forbidden in public schools, except from a neutral,
academic perspective. However, on February 7, 2003, the Secretary of Education issued guidance
on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. This guidance
explains the responsibilities of state educational agencies and local educational agencies with
respect to this aspect of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).

Glossary

absolution act of absolving or remitting; formal redemption as pronounced by a priest in the

sacrament of penance; condition of being formally forgiven by a priest in the
sacrament of penance
adherent someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
Ascension rising of the body of Jesus into heaven on the 40th day after his Resurrection
bestowal act of conferring an honor or presenting a gift; gift that is bestowed or conferred
catechism elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as
questions and answers
confession act of a penitent disclosing his sinfulness before a priest in the sacrament of
penance in the hope of absolution
custodian one having charge of buildings or grounds or animals
emanate proceed or issue forth, as from a source; give out (breath or an odor)
eschew avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
Hebrew person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or
converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
mitigate make less severe or harsh
ordained fixed or established especially by order or command
priesthood body of ordained religious practitioners
prophet someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the
will of God
proselitization convert to another faith or religion
scripture any writing that is regarded as sacred by a religious group; the sacred writings of
the Christian religions

Comprehension

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions about religion in the USA

*
Thus, Catholic parochial schools are widespread, especially in urban areas, where they are considered the equal or
better of many public schools. Catholic school children wear distinctive uniforms, and are taught by nuns and lay
teachers in a religious atmosphere. Private Catholic colleges and universities operated by the many different Catholic
devotional or public service orders exist all over the country and educate millions of students. In addition, Catholic
charities and hospitals are widespread.

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 1. What is the historical background that made America a «land of many faiths»? How is that
reflected in the geographical distribution of various religious groups?
2. Is there a state church in the US?
3. What document stipulates the relations between the government and religion?
4. What part of the population regularly attends religious services?
5. What are the prevailing religious groups?
6. What are the prevailing Christian denominations in the US?
7. Is religious education and collective acts of worship obligatory in US schools?

Further Reading

1. Ashlstrom S. E. A religious people of American people / Sydney A. Ashlstrom. – New

Haven: Yale University Press, 1972. – 364 p.
2. Hudson W.S. Religion in America / Winthrop Still Hudson. – London: MacMillian, 1992. –
256 p.

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