1. AMERICAN CIVILIZATION RELIGION IN AMERICA

2. HIGH LEVEL OF RELGIOUS ACTIVITY While in Europe religion tends to decline, 90% of population believes in God 1/3 of population: Born Again Christian 2/3: active membership in local church

3. GUIDING PRINCIPLE First Amendment Establishment clause—Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” Separation of church and state?

4. IS the U.S. a RELIGIOUS NATION? In God We Trust—description on bank notes God Bless America—popular song Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God—a motto of the United States Robert Bellah: The Broken Covenant (1965) Civil religion: biblical interpretation of nation’s history Old Testament: American Revolution, New Testament: Civil War Zsolt Virágos: religiously attuned nation

5. PROTESTANTISM Still dominant: WASP element, Puritan heritage Early colonists: Separatists and Congregationalists Basic elements of the Puritan mindset: Chosenness—We shall be a city upon a hill Mission concept: America has a duty to expand its values, cultures accross the world Protestant work ethic Types of Protestantism: Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Reformed

6. CATHOLICS Primarily the faith of German, Irish, French, and Mexican immigrants Catholicism is dominant in the Southwest Maryland, established in 1634 End of 19th century: persecution of Catholics, fear of Catholic conspiracy, Maria Monk books 1928: first Catholic presidential candidate: Al Smith 1960: first Catholic president: John F. Kennedy 2008: first Catholic vice president: Joe Biden

7. JEWS Escaped religious persecution in Europe Before World War One in Russia, before and during World War Two in Germany Approximately 6 % of population

8. OTHER DENOMINATIONS Fundamentalists: Born Again Christians --Bible contains the authentic word of God --A personal relationship should be maintained with Jesus --Life should be lived according to the literal interpretation of the Bible Islam: after 9-11 an upsurge of anti-Islamism, but on the whole the religion and its followers enjoy the same protection as any other faith

9. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS 1980: Fundamentalism gains strenght Religious Right helps Ronald Reagan to win presidency Jerry Fallwell: Moral Majority, a conservative alliance condemning abortion, homosexuality, pornography, evolution Activism against teaching evolution, today’s view: intelligent design: a compromise between evolution and creationism 1980’s: National Conference of Catholic Bishops condemn nuclear war, presidential candidates: Jesse Jackson, Pat Robertson

10. MEGACHURCHES Large congregations numbering between 5-10.000 Primarily established in the Sunbelt and in suburban communities Primary aim: help community participation, revive civic life Church is redesigned after consumer research, Hymns, pulpits, church-like buildings are replaced with modern school-like appearance Information booths, food courts, PP presentations

11. RELIGION AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY Throughout American history churches functioned as a civic club, church activity significantly influenced the nation’s social and political development Black churches played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement—Martin Luther King Evangelical Protestants helped the re-election of George Bush in 2004