More than 88% of the US population consider themselves to be believers. It is safe to say that America holds a leading position among developed countries in terms of the number of religious people.
Spiritual heritage
The religion of the United States is quite democratic and dynamic. Its distinguishing feature is differentiation. Recently, many new religious movements and trends have appeared in the United States in existing religious organizations. Therefore, it is difficult to unequivocally answer the question of what religion is in the USA. Strict adherence to traditions is no longer in vogue. Nevertheless, a few indigenous people are trying to preserve the memory of the past. They are the followers of the ancient Inca religion that once lived on the territory of North America.
History of Religion in America
The history of the religion of the United States is full of many events. Historically, America has long been a Protestant state. This was due to the fact that after the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus, emigrants from various countries began to come here. The northeastern part of the United States was occupied by British emigrants, who were persecuted by the Church of England. They were against the imposition of Catholicism. Pilgrims established rigid religious foundations in the new land. Any kind of entertainment was considered a mortal sin.
Gradually, many Protestant trends formed in America. This happened due to the fact that emigrants from various countries considered it appropriate to establish their principles and principles on the new land, since they believed that it did not belong to anyone.
North America at that time was inhabited by Native American tribes that had previously arrived from Asia. At first they settled down in Alaska, then migrated to America.
At the end of the 17th century, the population of America was conditionally divided into black slaves and a white population, which made up 98% of all Americans. All of them were Protestants.
South America began to be settled by the Spaniards, who clothed the Indians in the Catholic faith. Therefore, the population of Latin America is mostly Catholic. Other prevailing religions in the United States will be described in detail below.
Religious destinations
The religion of the United States has been described briefly above. I would like to understand more deeply in the basic beliefs of America.
Most of the US population professes Christianity. About 55% are Protestants and 28% are Catholics. A small percentage of Judaists and representatives of other religious movements also live in America. Among African Americans living in the United States, most Muslims.
In the 60s, a religious outburst occurred in the United States. By that time, there were more than a thousand religious organizations in the country. The participants in the cult movements are mainly young people.
The predominant religions of the United States are the religions of the New Age. Among them are the community of Christ's Disciples, founded in the 19th century, Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutherans, Methodists.
The main religion of the United States is Christianity. Most modern trends flow precisely from it.
Christianity
The representative of Christianity in the United States is the Orthodox Church. In 1970, she received autocephaly from the Orthodox Church of Russia. Also in the United States there are other churches under various jurisdictions, the largest of which is the American Archbishopric.
The administration of the autocephalous Orthodox Church is left to the Holy Synod. It consists of all the ruling bishops. Twice a year, the Synod holds sessions. Between its meetings there is also a permanent Small Synod. The administrative staff includes all bishops of the church, representatives from each parish (men over 18), members of the Metropolitan Council, members of theological schools and other organizations.
The main among the bishops is the Metropolitan, who is elected by secret ballot. Under the Metropolitan is the Metropolitan Council, which includes treasurers, two representatives from each diocese, the chancellor and the Metropolitan himself. Separate dioceses are governed by bishops.
Protestants
Protestantism is one of the three areas of Christianity. The question of which religion prevails in the United States can be answered as follows: "Protestantism." The movement arose after Catholicism and Orthodoxy in the era of the Reformation. Protestants in the United States are represented by a number of churches and independent religions. The main trends of Protestantism include Lutheranism, Evangelism, Baptism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, Adventism, Pentecostalism, Methodism, and many others.
The basis of the religion of Protestantism is the study of the Bible. Everyone should know the only source of dogma and build their life on its basis.
The main tenets of Protestantism include the ideas of trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), the Incarnation, the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ.
Protestants strictly follow the decisions established by the two first Ecumenical Councils (Nicene and Constantinople). Adherents of this trend are firmly convinced that only faith and predestination can save humanity.
Differences between Protestantism and other religious movements
Protestantism has significant differences from Orthodoxy and Catholicism. They consist of altered ritual and cult activities. Protestants categorically oppose the worship of elders and saints, the veneration of icons, confessions and communions, repentance, worship of the holy relics, the sign of the cross and monasticism (except for individual branches). Some Protestant churches nevertheless hold rites of baptism and communion. But Catholics and Orthodox claim that in such a performance they are not endowed with God's grace.
The main features of divine services in Protestant churches are prayer, sermon, singing of the Holy texts, modesty of rituals.
Most Protestant organizations do not even have their own church.
What religion is official in the US? In the States there is none. Every citizen has complete freedom of religion.
Mormons
Mormons are called representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of the last days. This religious movement is very controversial. Rather, it is more like an occult sect in which the Christian biblical principle is manifested only externally.
Utah has a major Mormon center. Their main mission is to help people reach the Divine Kingdom. Its implementation rests on the shoulders of the organizational structure created by the Church. The foundation of the entire Mormon church is the parish, which should consist of no more than 500 people. Each of them carries out local missionary activity. As soon as the number of people in one parish exceeds the permissible, it is divided in half. The parish is headed by the president and two of his advisers. The number of arrivals in one region is also limited. If there are a lot of them in a certain territory, a special organization is created - a “stake”, which is also headed by the president.
Sacraments of Mormon
Mormons include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Covenants and teachings, and the Pearl of Great Price.
Mormon canonized prayer is absent. Rather, it is like an improvisational confidential appeal to the Lord. A special place is occupied by the baptismal rite, which consists of three times immersion in water with the utterance of certain words called the triune formula. Anyone who, for whatever reason, leaves the Mormon Church does not subsequently have the right to perform this rite. That is the punishment.
Seventh-day Adventists
This Protestant movement preaches that Jesus Christ will soon come down to Earth again. At first glance it may seem that this movement is no different from the Protestant one. However, several key features of Adventist teachings do not allow us to speak of them as Protestants. Seventh-day Adventists are more likely to be classified as quasi-denominations.
Adventist Doctrine
- Five signs indicate the second coming of Jesus Christ: the decline of morality, the existence of the papacy, the intensification of people's fear of future events, the advent of Adventism, open sermon throughout the world.
- Along with the Bible, Seventh-day Adventists also study the “Prophecies” of Ellen White. On the basis of this "divine revelation," practically all the doctrines of the Adventist Church are based.
- The main point of the teaching is the veneration of the Sabbath. He appeared on the basis of a vision of Ellen White, in which she saw how all the Divine commandments burn with a bright fire, except for one, in which she is called to read the Sabbath. Based on this, Adventists concluded that all other religious movements departed from the Lord, violating this commandment, and therefore cannot be accepted into the Kingdom of God. Only Seventh-day Adventists can be saved.
- Speaking of the soul, Adventists believe that it is mortal until the Lord resurrects it. They also deny the fact that a man can go to hell for his sins.
Over time, Seventh-day Adventist teachings became more like Protestant ones. And even the authority of Ellen White began to be questioned.
Catholics
A surge of Catholicism in the United States occurred before the outbreak of the Civil War. During this period, the country began to be actively settled by Irish Catholics. At that time, Protestants prevailed in the States, on their part the Catholics felt a prejudiced attitude towards themselves. Nevertheless, Catholics had full access to all public institutions (hospitals, schools, institutes). But over time, they began to create their own similar organizations based on the principles of Catholicism. The freedom to choose an educational institution was not oppressed. Catholics could receive education in other public institutions.
The Catholics found it beneficial that in the USA the church was separated from the state. This gave people freedom of religion.
The establishment of any one religion in the United States is prohibited by the constitution. Therefore, when Catholics began to actively open their educational institutions, the state did not welcome this. Too closely began to intertwine religion with the state.
Amazing country - USA. Culture, religion, history - everything here merges together. Rather, religious movements emerge from cultural foundations. It is noteworthy that young people are more interested in such spiritual development. The religion of the United States in short is a protest to world-wide established dogmas.