8: Religion
The chapter opens with an account of a Syrian, who has the perceptions that Americans are only superficially religious and many have no religious beliefs at all. Most Americans separate religion from other parts of their lives, which can be difficult to understand for individuals from cultures where religion plays a stronger role in everyday life.
THE GENERAL CONTEXT
The notion of religion being separate from public life is a core tenet of American culture: it is generally accepted that many of the original settlers fled to America from countries where they were prevented from practicing their religion, and the notion of freedom of religion is among the first civil rights. Many agree to the notion of the separation of church and state, meaning the government is not to support any specific religion, nor prevent individuals from practicing the religion of their own choice.
While widespread, this doctrine is not entirely universal. A "vocal minority" of protestant fundamentalists disapprove of separating church and state and maintain that government should actively support their own views and act to suppress those of others. As such, there are recurring public controversies over the church-and-state relationship.
A number of religious issues are listed:
- Should prayer or religious expression should be permitted in schools and other public (government-managed) spaces?
- Should schools teach science r history based on religious doctrine?
- Should faith-based organizations that administer social programs such as job training or homeless shelters receive financial support from government?
- Should corporations provide any sort of support for religious groups among their employees?
- Can Muslims wear headscarves or veils for photo identification documents?
- Should religious organizations be allowed to recruit at universities?
These can be difficult issues, as many Americans are passionate about their stance on both sides of these issues: some believe that protestant religious values are a bedrock of American culture, others maintain that religious freedom is the American ideal.
Aside of the disagreement over the areas where church and state collide, Americans generally take pride in their religious freedom and the diversity of religious beliefs in their own culture. At present, the principal religions include Christianity (Catholicism and an array of protestant faiths), Judaism, and Islam. But virtually every faith can be found in America, including an assortment of unusual denominations.
Even so, Christianity seems to hold a special standing in the United States, with the primary Christian holy days (Christmas and Easter) being federal holidays.
The author asserts that the "Christian right" gained a brief period of power in the late twentieth century and Christian doctrine was promulgated by government under the shroud of "family" values. (EN: the author does not mention that this is not the first occurrence - the same faction gained power during the 1950's, and their influence over government during that period remains evident to this day, with "under god" being added to the pledge of allegiance, "in god we trust" being printed on state currency, etc.)
Generally, the Christian right gains power through organization in the church: the congregation of mega-churches can represent a large voting bloc in a community, and the followers of televangelists (religious leaders who use television to reach a wide audience) can be swayed to influence national elections and policy makers.
Even so, many Americans are not affiliated with any formal religion. There are many atheists (who do not accept the existence of any higher power) and agnostics (who are uncertain but accept the possibility of one), and still others who claim to hold "spiritual beliefs" but do not subscribe to or participate in any organized religion.
Despite the variety of religions, relationships between religious groups are peaceful, and some religious leaders actively support cooperative arrangements with officials of other religions.
To further complicate the complexity of religious practices, many Americans maintain a pastiche of beliefs that may be in conflict with their stated religion. A 2009 survey (Pew) of Americans found that around a quarter of Americans believe in reincarnation, meditation and yoga as a spiritual practice, "spiritual energy" in physical objects such as trees and crystals, or astrology.
Followers of specific religions are not evenly distributed across the United States, but tend to be geographically grouped. For example, Lutheranism is dominant in Minnesota, Eastern urban areas have a high concentration of Jews, fundamentalists protestants dominate the "bible belt" of the southeast, Utah is primarily Mormon, etc. There are also ethnic groupings, with Americans of Irish, Italian, and Hispanic descent tending to be Catholic and African Americans are most likely to be Baptists. It is likewise true that adherents to certain religions tend to occupy specific economic strata: there are any Jews and Unitarians in the wealthier stratum of society, and Catholics tend to be among the poorest.
RELIGION AND INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS
To "be religious" in American has different meanings for different people. Generally religion is seen as providing moral guidance. The same survey found that the highest percentage of individuals claiming to be religious occurred in Southeastern states, whereas the lowest percentage were in New England and Alaska. It also found a lower percentage of younger people to consider themselves religious than older.
The author refers to media reports that suggest most Americans practice "me-ism" - in effect, that they choose their own religion, whether being selectively adherent to a given faith or marinating a set of religious beliefs that are derived from various faiths, but do not jibe closely with any particular faith.
It's noted that Americans generally decide which religious institution to attend based on factors other than their personal religious beliefs: the religious leader's level of charisma, the church building and facilities, the convenience of the location, or the availability of various ancillary services.
However, most Americans who consider themselves religions do not regularly attend religious services. It is common for churches to be filled to capacity on the two major holy days (Christmas and Easter) and less attended during the remainder of the year. Even so, Americans are likely to turn to a religious official to preside over major life events such as marriage and funeral services.
As mentioned previously, Americans consider their religious beliefs and activities to be private matters that they do not care to publicly discuss. Even the question of "what is your religion?" is considered invasive and inappropriate.
EXCEPTIONS
The author notes certain exceptions to some of what has said so far.
Fundamentalist Christians consider it their duty to proclaim their religious beliefs publicly and attempt to convince others to follow the tenets of their religion and convert to their faith. Some individuals "evangelize" in public and seek out individuals in disadvantaged situations, such as the aggrieved or the socially isolated, to bring them into the fold. Foreign students are forewarned that they are considered to be a prime target for such groups.
Second, there are some communities in which a given religion is so concentrated that virtually everyone belongs to the same religious faith - such as Mormons in parts of Utah and Jews in some areas of New York City. In such communities, individuals are more likely to discuss their religious view more freely and to have less tolerance of other faiths.
Third, while Americans generally support a separation of religion from public life, there are certain conspicuous examples of religion: the inscription on American currency, the pledge of allegiance describing the US as a nation "under god," the use of the bible to swear in officials, and a ritual prayer at the opening of each session of congress. Some are concerned that this constitutes an intrusion of religion into government, but most Americans accept them as harmless rituals. (EN: A repeat from an earlier note, that much of this began during the 1950's, when the Christian right gained power, and profession religious faith was a method of distinguishing oneself from the atheistic communist party.)
Fourth, political candidates and holders of elected offices will sometimes male their personal religious beliefs quite public: they will announce their denomination and be photographed attending religious ceremonies. This is generally an intention to present religious faith as a credential for being ethical and deserving of the public trust.
SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Visitors interested in religion in America may wish to attend various religious services. Newspapers commonly indicate the times at which services are offered, though it is recommended that a prospective visitor call ahead - most churches welcome people who wish to observe a service, but some are more restrictive.
Foreign students are cautioned that there are campus ministries on virtually all American college campuses: they sponsor services and meetings for students of a given faith who are unable to attend services in their home towns. However, evangelical churches also recognize that the college years are an impressionable time for many young adults, and seek to aggressively recruit to capitalize on their vulnerability.
Merely attending religious services may bnot be sufficient to gain a good understanding of a religion, and visitors may wish to speak with individual Americans about their religions ideals. This can be difficult, as this is a personal topic, but it can generally be done after developing a cordial relationship with an American.
(EN: The general advice about discussion private or sensitive topics is advisable: approach the topic delicately, schedule a discussion for an appropriate time and place, and ask open questions that avoid implying negative impressions. For religious inquiries specifically, members of the clergy and individuals who are met while observing a religious service are generally more open to entertaining a discussion on the topic - albeit often with an eye toward the prospect of recruitment.)