Religious Diversity in the United States 3/11/14

What is religion? A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the world Usually involving ritual observances Prayer Attending church Moral code What is right vs. wrong Human Universal Found in all cultures in some form

What do you know or think about religion in the U.S.?

Religion in the U.S. Defined by pluralism Freedom of religion set out in 1 st Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” Separation of Church and State

Key Facts 92% of Americans believe in God 16% say they are unaffiliated with any religion 54% say they attend church services fairly regularly “Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions- not just their own- can lead to eternal life” (Pew research) Non-dogmatic More than one way to interpret faith Religious tolerance has allowed for the development of new faiths Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Scientists, Amish

Religion and Politics Generally, more religious people have more conservative values Sometimes separation of Church and State has been viewed as hostile to religion Important cases and issues West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette Christian Scientists and medicine Scopes trial in Tennessee

Islam in the U.S. First wave of Muslims in 18 th century 10-15% of African slaves were Muslim Immigrants from Syria and Lebanon seeking better employment By 1952, there were 1,000 mosques in America Great Migration of black Americans to the North African American Islam Revival, establishment of the Nation of Islam

Islam in the U.S. Muslims in America are as diverse as the U.S. itself South Asians, Arabs, African Americans, Caucasians Sunnis, Shi’ites, Sufis, Druze Muslims are beginning to play a role in politics Growing in numbers First Muslim elected to Congress in 2007