I've decided I'm doing a definite series on American Spirituality. I have no idea at this time how many parts there will be, just this isn't the only part, merely the first.
Why I've decided to do a blog series on American Spirituality will be quite obvious once I go into detail, but the two key factors in this topic to state first are 1) several of the original British colonies were founded on a religious basis, and 2) When it came to founding our nation, the founding fathers referenced some very spiritual concepts, even though many were deists, and not Christians. This still factors in today, with nearly 80% of our nation's population identifying themselves as Christian. Only 16% of the population says they have no religion or are agnostic or atheist. So, with about 84% of the nation having some sort of religion, we are a very spiritual nation, as well as very diverse in that spirituality.
No other nation has as many denominations or sects as the US. Nor does any other nation have as many religious institutions of higher education. From the Puritans landing at Plymouth to found what is now the state of Massachusetts, to modern America, where it's high school football on Friday night, the local watering hole on Saturday night, and church on Sunday, religion and religious freedom has played an incalculable role in our culture and progress. Travel to any town in America, and toward the center of that town there will be several churches within a four block radius of each other. When it comes to world affairs, our leaders, often without regard to sect or denomination, quite frequently meet with religious leaders.
Most Americans seem to take the idea of God very seriously. We cannot escape the fact that across all strata of our society, we are motivated by ideas higher than ourselves. As I continue this series, some of the topics I will cover will include America's religious history and heritage, the birth of new denominations, religious tolerance and tensions, religion in our culture and art, and religion in modern life. I will write on any other topics as I think of them, but these topics are where I will start.
Why I've decided to do a blog series on American Spirituality will be quite obvious once I go into detail, but the two key factors in this topic to state first are 1) several of the original British colonies were founded on a religious basis, and 2) When it came to founding our nation, the founding fathers referenced some very spiritual concepts, even though many were deists, and not Christians. This still factors in today, with nearly 80% of our nation's population identifying themselves as Christian. Only 16% of the population says they have no religion or are agnostic or atheist. So, with about 84% of the nation having some sort of religion, we are a very spiritual nation, as well as very diverse in that spirituality.
No other nation has as many denominations or sects as the US. Nor does any other nation have as many religious institutions of higher education. From the Puritans landing at Plymouth to found what is now the state of Massachusetts, to modern America, where it's high school football on Friday night, the local watering hole on Saturday night, and church on Sunday, religion and religious freedom has played an incalculable role in our culture and progress. Travel to any town in America, and toward the center of that town there will be several churches within a four block radius of each other. When it comes to world affairs, our leaders, often without regard to sect or denomination, quite frequently meet with religious leaders.
Most Americans seem to take the idea of God very seriously. We cannot escape the fact that across all strata of our society, we are motivated by ideas higher than ourselves. As I continue this series, some of the topics I will cover will include America's religious history and heritage, the birth of new denominations, religious tolerance and tensions, religion in our culture and art, and religion in modern life. I will write on any other topics as I think of them, but these topics are where I will start.
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