American Beliefs
An overview of the religious and philosophical history of the United States.
Secularism and the Founding of the United States
The United States is a relatively young nation with citizens from diverse religious backgrounds. Before the arrival of Europeans, its present lands were home to hundreds of faiths practiced by indigenous people. Many of its earliest European settlers came to the colonies in search of freedom of worship. In New England, Separatists led by William Bradford left England for the Plymouth colony of modern Massachusetts. They would later be known as the Pilgrims. Later, Puritanism would also prove influential. The state of Pennsylvania, meanwhile, was founded by William Penn on Quaker principles. Over time, the colonies came to be home to Catholicism, Baptism, Anglicanism, Judaism, Calvinism, Islam, Presbyterianism, African faiths, and more. Anglicanism typically received preferential treatment in the British colonies.
Two movements in the 18th century cemented religious tolerance in the future United States. The Great Awakening, the start of the evangelical movement, emphasized individual salvation and missionary efforts. At the same time, Enlightenment philosophy rejected the authority of religious institutions. Several leaders of the early nation, including Thomas Jefferson, showed sympathy for deism. Deism recognizes a supreme creator being who set the universe in motion and no longer interferes with its processes. It dismisses supernatural events, miracles, and divine intervention as human inventions. These two movements were very different in their beliefs, but both increased public sympathy for free religious expression.
In this environment, the Thirteen Colonies waged a war for independence and emerged the United States of America. The Bill of Rights forbids both a state religion and religious persecution as part of its First Amendment. Rather than unifying under a single faith, American people embraced national symbols like the flag and founding fathers. So, while the United States remained a deeply religious nation, it also remained a diverse one. The First Amendment, its meaning, and its intent are still debated.
Further Reading:
Religious Diversity in the United States
From these roots, the United States grew as a largely Protestant nation home to faiths from around the world. Immigrants brought Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many other forms of worship, each with their own smaller sects. Relations between these religions have not always been peaceful. Ethnic and religious minorities have experienced discrimination on both a personal and professional level throughout the nation’s history.
In addition, the faiths of Native American tribes and the Hawaiian monarchy entered the union through conquest and assimilation. Despite its mandate of tolerance, the federal government funded Christian missions to Native American groups in the 19th century. Laws and policies were passed to suppress their indigenous religions, including the removal of children to Christian boarding schools. In 1978, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed to restore religious rights to indigenous people. Conflicts regarding the use of sacred lands continue to the present day.
The United States has seen the birth of several religious movements. African-American churches developed in a time of segregation and have often served as centers of their communities. In 1830, Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon, a series of revelations he claimed were shown to him by the Angel Moroni. His scriptures depict an ancient American civilization founded by the lost tribes of Israel and visited by Jesus Christ. He founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which gradually moved westward to its present center in Utah. Other faiths like Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Nation of Islam, and the Church of Scientology are also American in origin.
Further Reading:
Modern Worship in the United States
Today, religious participation in the United States is declining, but faith remains a visible part of society. Political debates centered on faith-based issues like homosexuality, abortion, and the teaching of evolution have all played a prominent role in recent politics. Religious holidays like Christmas and Easter are still widely celebrated alongside secular holidays like Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. Holidays belonging to minority faiths have gained greater recognition and may be celebrated as well. According to the CIA World Factbook, the current religious makeup of the nation is as follows:
Protestant 46.5%
Roman Catholic 20.8%
Jewish 1.9%
Mormon 1.6%
Other Christian 0.9%
Muslim 0.9%
Jehovah's Witness 0.8%
Buddhist 0.7%
Hindu 0.7%
Other 1.8%
Unaffiliated 22.8%
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References
Grant, Susan-Mary. A Concise History of the United States of America. Cambridge University Press. 2012.
Nies, Judith. Native American History: A Chronology of a Culture's Vast Achievements and Their Links to World Events. Random House Publishing Group. 2012.
Remini, Robert. A Short History of the United States: From the Arrival of Native American Tribes to the Obama Presidency. Harper Collins. 2009.
“The World Factbook: United States.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 5 Sept. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html.
Wald, Kenneth and Allison Calhoun-Brown. Religion and Politics in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. 2018.
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present. Routledge. 2015.
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