Religion in America

Catholic 25.1%

Baptist 15.8%

Mainline Christian 12.9%(Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian,

Episcopalian/Anglican, United Church of Christ, etc.)

Generic Christian 5.0%(Christian Unspecified, Non-Denominational. Christian,

Protestant Unspecified, Evangelical/Born Again)

Pentecostals/Charismatics 3.5%(Pentecostal Unspecified, Assemblies of God, Church of God)

Total Christian 76.0%

Jewish 1.2%

Muslim/Islam 0.6%

Buddhist 0.5%

Agnostic 0.9%

Atheist 0.7%

"No religion" 15.0%

Genesis of State Religion

US/Western Europe:- Official state religion since

Greek Empire- Very little religious tolerance,

religious persecution- Religious institutions often had

controlling interest in state affairs

- Christianity demands obedience and allegiance to God above the state, and requires it’s followers to defend itself against other religions

Korea/Far East:- Often no official state religion

- A great deal of religious tolerance (with the exception of Christianity)

- Religious institutions less hierarchical and play little role in state affairs

- Confucianism and Buddhism require no strict obedience to one entity, and are inclusive to other religions

Separation of Church and State

- Attributed to Thomas Jefferson

- First Amendment to the US Constitution:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of

religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” - Article 6 of the US Constitution:“no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to

any Office or public Trust under the United States”

Debates over Religion in the US

• Prayer in Public Schools

• Displays of Religious Symbols in Public Buildings

• Teaching Evolution in Schools

• Debate Over Religion of Public Officials

Prayer in Public Schools

• Many Christians want to allow prayer during public school hours, at school events, etc.

• A majority of Americans are Christian, so why can’t they practice their religion?

• Protecting the right and freedoms of the minority• Prayer and religious gatherings can lead to

proselytization.

Displays of Religious Symbols in Public Buildings

• Reflect the spirit/foundation of America• Are already part of American tradition

1. American money “In God We Trust”2. Pledge of allegiance “one nation under God”

• Paid for with public funds and therefore cannot represent any one religion

• Are holdovers from an earlier time in US history

Teaching Evolution in Schools

• Evolution is not a proven and universally accepted scientific law.

• The current Science curriculum doesn’t offer any alternative theories (ie. intelligent design)

• Goes against Christian doctrines and biblical accounts of creationism

• There are no competing scientific theories for evolution.• Evolution is science and doesn’t make any suppositions

about religion• Any form of creationism, intelligent design,etc. crosses the

line of the separation of church and state

Debate Over Religion of Public Officials

• Politicians use Christianity, Christian morality, etc. as evidence of lack of character and ability in political office.

• Obama is a Muslim debate

• Quran’s use in public ceremonies

• Politics of Judeo-Christianity