American Religions

North AmericaIndians

Central and South AmericaAztecs, Incas, Mayans

North Americans

Europeans

• Spanish 1492 Claim Florida in 1513 Catholic• Portuguese 1500 Catholic• Dutch 1609 Protestant• English 1497 Protestant• French 1534 Catholic

1562

Settlements in North America

• 1607 Jamestown, Virginia• 1620 Plymouth, Mass.• 1625 New Amsterdam New York (1674)

Freedom of Religion

• Rhode Island Roger Williams• Connecticut• Maryland• Pennsylvania• Virginia• Bill of Rights

First Amendment

• Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

• Separation of Church and State

Religion Today

• Christianity 75 percent Protestant 50 percent

Catholic 25 percent

• Nonreligious 20 percent• Judaism 1.3 percent• Islam .6 percent• Atheist .4 percent• Fastest growing Evangelical

Source: National Survey of Religious Identification (NSRI) American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS) (2001)

Beliefs

• God 92 percent• Heaven 85 percent• Miracles 82 percent• Devil 71 percent• UFO 34 percent• Reincarnation 25 percent• Witches 24 percentSource: Opinion Dynamics Corporation (2004)

Believers

• Young people (86 percent 18-34)more than older people (68 percent over age 70) believe in devil and hell.

• Republicans are more religious than Democrats.

• 69 percent believe religion plays “too small” a part in American life.

Source: Opinion Dynamics Corporation (2004)

Issues

• Prayer in school• What is a religion: Mail-order ministers• Tax exemption• Political involvement– Abortion– Support for candidates– Ku Klux Klan