cumtbAmericanCultureReligioninUS.pptVIP

Religion in US American Culture 05 I. A Brief History II. A Brief History – From New Perspective III. The US – the Most Religious Yet Materialistic Country IV. Relations Between State and Religion V. Civil Religion VI. Conservative vs. Liberal I. A Brief History 1. Catholic faith: It was brought to America by the Spanish in the 1500s. For next 300 years, Catholic missionaries and settlers from Spain and then Latin America came to California and the Southwest. 2. Protestant faith: the vast majority of those immigrants in the 1600s were Protestants. As the nation was founded, the Protestant church had the strongest influence on the development of religious climate in the United States. 3. Judaism: Starting in 1836 and continuing to the WWII, the great waves of Jewish immigrants made the United States a major center of Judaism. 4. From then onward, American became increasingly multi-religious. Protestantism, Catholicism and Judaism are the three most influential religious organizations in America. II. A Brief History – From New Perspective 1. America was compared to a “city upon a hill”. America was expected to provide a model for the rest of the world; the Pilgrims presented themselves as God’s chosen people. By the end of the 17th century, Puritanism had already begun to lose its energy. 2. The First Great Awakening of the 18th century, provided the opportunity for a fresh reaffirmation of God’s purpose for America and of God’s role in directing the fortunes of his chosen people. 3. In the early 19th century, concern over the decline of religious belief sparked the Second Great Awakening. It boosted the church memberships. The Westward Movement was driven by the hand of God, annexation of new land from Mexico fulfilled America’s mission. 4. In the 20th century, the idea that America had been entrusted with the mission to convert the world to evangelical Christianity still remained a significant force in American thoughts when dealing with other count