America is a highly religious country, and
has been since its earliest days. Nearly every religion in
the world has adherents or organized institutions in the
United States. American religious institutions are large,
powerful and influential in social and political life.
Even Americans who are members of no established religion
are likely to believe in God. According to a Gallup
opinion survey, nearly all Americans, 98% of them, do,
compared to 84% in Switzerland, 73% in France and 60% in
Sweden. Americans also tend to believe in life after
death: 73% compared to 50% in Switzerland and only 38% in
Great Britain. About 60% of Americans are members of a
church, synagogue or other religious group, though many
more identify with various religions because of their
birth or upbringing. About 40% of Americans attend
religious services regularly, compared to only 20% in
Great Britain.
America has also been a fertile ground
for new religions. The Mormon and Christian Science
Churches are perhaps the best-known of the faiths that
have sprung up on American soil. Because of its tradition
of noninterference in religious matters, the United States
has also provided a comfortable home for many small sects
from overseas. The Amish, for example, descendants of
German immigrants who reside mostly in Pennsylvania and
neighboring states, have lived simple lives, wearing plain
clothes and shunning modern technology, for generations.
Some small groups are considered to be religious cults
because they profess extremist beliefs and tend to glorify
a founding figure. As long as cults and their members
abide by the law, they are generally left alone. Religious
prejudice is rare in America, and interfaith meetings and
cooperation are commonplace |
