Religious Diversity In America

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Becky Little 12/7/12 Religious Diversity Synthesis Assignment Religion has always influenced American society. From the time that early Protestants began settling in the “New World”, religion was a significant factor in the shaping of America. They began trying to convert Native Americans to their religion which was met with rebellion and was one of the causes of the hostility between the two groups. Throughout the history of America, pluralism has been a distinct issue among the nation’s citizens. Over time, religious pluralism in America has grown and values have changed to accommodate these new religions. In accordance with my previous example between early settlers and the Natives, these changes have not always come easily. Tension…show more content…
As in the case of Becky Bratu’s article “1 in 5 Americans is Religiously Unaffiliated”, many of them greatly emphasize the Judeo-Christian society. Minority religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Muslim, and Islam are minimized or not mentioned at all. Among these religious minorities are those that have no religious affiliation. Bratu writes about a Pew Survey that shows that the number of people with no religious affiliation is increasing in the U.S. This fact combined with the knowledge President Barack Obama was favored by people who are not religiously affiliated, as stated previously, is more evidence that religion plays a huge part in America’s government and…show more content…
However, I find now that I always thought about the past. I didn’t realize how much religion still influences the present and the future. I have learned to appreciate a minority religious groups’ struggle to integrate while maintaining a semblance of their values. I have found reasons for willingness to accept and value differences of religious beliefs. John Blake writes about his interview with pastor, Andy Stanley, in his article “A New Challenge for Andy Stanley.” In the article, Stanley says, “What preachers once taught as biblical truth-slavery is sanctioned by God; women aren’t allowed to preach; gambling and dancing are sins-is now rejected by many churches.” This not only confirms that America’s society does change to accommodate other beliefs, but also that these changes can be good things. The Civil War proves my previous point that these changes don’t always come easily. Today, we are faced with the tension of integrating minority religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism into a Judeo-Christian society due to ignorance and fear of Muslims. We can only speculate what the future holds for these groups and American Society. However, based on what I know of our nation’s history, I expect great things in the end. It’s just a matter of
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