"Christianity is the most widely professed religion in the United States..."
Studying the religious and philosophical traditions that have shaped American society and culture, including Puritanism, Transcendentalism, Pragmatism, and contemporary religious and philosophical movements.
Puritanism: The religious and cultural movement that began in England in the 16th century and later found its way to America, influencing the development of American religious and political beliefs.
The Enlightenment: A philosophical and intellectual movement in the 18th century that championed reason and science over dogma and superstition, influencing the development of American democracy and religious tolerance.
Deism: A religious philosophy popular among many of the Founding Fathers of the United States that posited a belief in God as a creator and moral lawgiver who does not intervene in the affairs of humankind.
Protestantism: The dominant religious tradition in America, including a wide variety of churches and denominations that share some common beliefs and practices.
Catholicism: The largest non-Protestant religious group in America, with a distinctive theology, hierarchy, and sacramental practices.
Judaism: A religious and cultural identity that has played a significant role in American history and culture, with a variety of denominations and movements.
Islam: A growing minority religious group in America, with diverse beliefs and practices that have sometimes faced hostility and discrimination.
Native American religions: The diverse religious traditions of the indigenous peoples of North America, which have been adapted and transformed by colonialism and modernity.
New religious movements: A term used to describe a wide variety of religious groups and sects that emerged in America during the 19th and 20th centuries, often emphasizing personal spiritual experience and esoteric teachings.
Existentialism: A philosophical movement that emphasizes the subjective experience of individual freedom and responsibility, influencing American literature, art, and culture in the mid-20th century.
Pragmatism: A philosophical movement that emphasizes the practical consequences of ideas and beliefs, influencing American politics, education, and culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Transcendentalism: A literary and philosophical movement in 19th-century America that emphasized individual spirituality, nature, and nonconformity as paths to personal growth and social reform.
Feminism: A social and political movement in America that seeks to achieve equality between men and women, challenging traditional gender roles and beliefs about women's abilities and worth.
Civil Rights Movement: A social and political movement in America that sought to end racial discrimination and achieve equal rights and opportunities for African Americans, influencing the development of American democracy and religious values.
Environmentalism: A social and political movement in America that seeks to protect and preserve the natural world, challenging traditional beliefs about the use and exploitation of natural resources.
Christianity: The predominant religion in the United States, Christianity encompasses a wide range of denominations including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodox. It is based on the belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God and the savior of humanity.
Judaism: One of the oldest monotheistic religions, Judaism is based on the belief in one God and the Hebrew Bible. It encompasses a range of practices and beliefs, from Orthodox to Reform.
Islam: The third-largest religion in the United States, Islam is based on the belief in one God and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. It includes a range of practices and beliefs from Sunni to Shia.
Buddhism: An Eastern religion that emphasizes meditation, mindfulness, and the Four Noble Truths. There are a variety of schools within Buddhism, ranging from Zen to Theravada.
Hinduism: An Indian religion that emphasizes karma, reincarnation, and the pursuit of liberation. There are a variety of deities worshiped within Hinduism, and it includes many different belief systems and practices.
New Age Spirituality: A loose collection of beliefs and practices that often combine elements of Eastern religion, alternative medicine, and metaphysical principles. It can include things like meditation, yoga, and crystal healing.
Atheism: A lack of belief in a god or gods. Atheism can take a variety of forms, from strong atheism that actively asserts that no gods exist to weak atheism that simply lacks a belief in gods.
Agnosticism: A belief that it is impossible to know whether or not a god exists. Agnostics may still engage in religious practices or believe in a higher power, but they do not claim certainty about the existence of god.
Humanism: A philosophy that centers human values and ethics, rather than relying on religion or any supernatural beliefs. It emphasizes the inherent dignity and worth of human beings and often includes an emphasis on rationality and scientific inquiry.
Indigenous Religions: The religious beliefs and practices of Native American and other indigenous communities in the United States. These traditions encompass a wide variety of practices and beliefs, from traditional animist practices to pan-tribal religions like the Native American Church.
Scientology: A religious movement founded in the 1950s by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It includes a set of beliefs and practices centered around the concept of thetans, immortal spirits that have lived through many past lives.
Satanism: A variety of religious and philosophical movements that center on the figure of Satan, either as a real or symbolic entity. These beliefs and practices may range from theistic Satanism, which worships Satan as a deity, to atheistic Satanism, which sees Satan as a symbol of rebellion and individualism.
"Most Americans consider themselves religious or spiritual in some way..."
"58% and 17% report praying often or sometimes, respectively..."
"46% and 26% report that religion plays a very important or fairly important role, respectively, in their lives..."
"...the majority of Americans do not regularly attend religious services and have low confidence in religious institutions..."
"...the country rapidly secularizing since the 1990s."
"Historically, the United States has always been marked by religious pluralism and diversity..."
"Anglicans, Quakers, and other mainline Protestants, as well as Mennonites, arrived from Northwestern Europe..."
"The Great Awakenings gave birth to multiple evangelical Protestant denominations; membership in Methodist and Baptist churches increased drastically..."
"New Protestant branches like Adventism emerged; Restorationists like the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Latter Day Saint movement, Churches of Christ and Church of Christ, Scientist, as well as Unitarian and Universalist communities all spread..."
"During the immigrant waves of the mid to late 19th and 20th century, an unprecedented number of Catholic and Jewish immigrants arrived in the United States..."
"Pentecostalism emerged in the early 20th century as a result of the Azusa Street Revival..."
"The U.S. has the world's largest Christian population and, more specifically, contains the largest Protestant population in the world..."
"When consolidating all Christian denominations into one grouping, Judaism is the second-largest religion in the U.S..."
"Mississippi is the most religious state in the country..."
"...while New Hampshire, with only 20% of its adult population described as very religious, is the least religious state."
"There have been variant explanations for this rapid secularization, including the loss trust and belief in numerous institutions such as the labor market, the economy, government and politics, marriage, the media, along with churches among younger cohorts, September 11 attacks, the rise of the religious right in the 1980s, and sexual abuse scandals..."
"21-29% of Americans describe themselves as not being affiliated with a religion..."
"...despite often being opposed to religion." "They sometimes create religion-like institutions and communities, create rituals, and debate aspects of their shared beliefs."
"...distinctive belief system that can be traced for at least hundreds of years."