Role of Religion in Development of American Character Paper Example

Freedom as indeed played a significant role, in the history and culture of the American state. Religion is the act of having the freedom to believe in the supernatural powers without being forced to follow a particular religious perspective. Religion can be defined as the act of finding in a ghostly body or following certain beliefs by the people of a given community. The Europeans went to America mainly because they were running away from religious oppression and forced beliefs in their motherland, this due to the fact that the state allied Christians churches as the Roman Catholic Church and that Church of England. This unrest by the civil hastened the desire of the American core founders to form an organization of the country from which the separation of churches, the state and the freedom to choose once faith without any fear of prosecution was however guaranteed. This particular assurance was enshrined in the first amendment to the American constitution which stated that Congress will not make any law pertaining religious establishment nor prohibit free exercise of the religion. In a research that was conducted by various scientists and historical analysts indicated that for sure religion help much in the shaping and development of American culture by a great margin as compared to other countries of the word. This essay will therefore mainly focus to discuss on how this religious believes help in the development and shaping of the American culture (Dame, Frederick W 8).

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To start with, it is weighty to note that Christianity gave rise to more than a thousand domination of this faith which till today they exist in the United States of America in which the majority of these churches have Americans as their fellowships. The United States was the first western nation that was primarily founded by Protestants and not the Catholics as was thought before to be. This particular fact of things is an apparent indication of America's readiness to put to the test the novel and insolence of tradition. Its full history includes the emergence of religious passion, and consequently opening the room to foreign religions such as the Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam also to Taoism. It has been the winding road of religious development in the American soil (Fischer, Claude S 12).

Religion in America grew as a result of the coming of the settlers who were coming to do farming. Also as the Europeans colonized America, they lead to the development of religion among them. As a result, the religion later influenced the culture of the people and even the political structure. The coming of the whites to the American soil resulted in changes in the ways of doing this; initially, the Americans worshiped the images even animals.

For many generations, before the Europeans came to America, the local people of America celebrated the gift that was given to them by the Great Spirit. In across America, Indian tribes such as the Sioux, the Iroquois, and the Seminoles did worship the great spirit, who most probably could be found in the animals as well in the inanimates objects. They also elaborate rituals and dances such as that of Sundance, round, snake, crow, ghost and others were also worshiped led by such natives leaders, for example, the Big Foot among other leaders who were in a position to preside over during the worship service. As a result to these growths and upcoming in the religious fellowship, this significantly leads to the increase in religious practices which probably lead to the influence in their spirituality, more critical it influenced much the culture of the American people.

The symposium that was conducted in Washington recently that was organized by the god in America it moderated on religious knowledge, media culture and educating for religious literacy, it was agreed that indeed knowledge overcomes ignorance and more so that tolerance will be a conflict.

America has been made a home of religious freedom and to a much extent a degree of religious tolerance that cannot be found and guaranteed in any part of the entire word. Quite remarkable, it is good to appreciate that religious beliefs influence culture in a variety of many ways. However before, the societies were civilized. Therefore this made it possible to mix both religious beliefs and culture more effectively. Religious beliefs helped to determine the values of the systems in the American people who are mostly used in culture. As the communities were able to decide on their value, they were able to air the voice since they had to the knowledge of their right. It can be taken as a positive impact of religion in the communities especially in the American soil where there was massive shipping of slave people to work on the settlers farms as casual laborers (Woodard, Colin 21).

In America, many of the rules and laws were based on the concept and doctrine that are articulated in the holy bible. It makes a great since the Puritans helped in building the great learning institutions of higher learning; such institutions include the Harvard and Yale universities. These institutions are known to be all over the world, and many people do admire to learn at this expensive school, this was made possible courtesy of religion. So with this, it is good to say indeed religion lead to change and development of culture in the American people and the entire state. These particular principles set forth an acceptable behavior among the natives and appropriate consequence for those people who will break the set policies. These are mainly in line with the Ten Commandments in the holy bible.

Another way the religion influenced the cultures in the American nation is that it impacts the issue of service to other people. It is like charity work. In their selfless characters, they turned inward and put their focus on the self and not the society. For sure religious organizations and groups helped in fostering community, giving and also to a much extend fellowship. By having common beliefs, this puts the people on accountability relationships. On the other hand, the research has depicted that participants or believers in the church, irrespective of their dominion, sect, they will live happier and longer life a compared to those who don't have any affiliation regarding religion (Woodard, Colin 26).

Religion in most instances leads to the unity among the people of America. In the United States of America, religious beliefs gave rise to the integration of people from a cultural perspective. The people of America were brought together during meals, also in listening to the same music in which all the people understand the message and the language in which it identifies a religious alignment and more important practicing almost the same methods of worshiping, this indeed gives the people a sense that they have the same identity.

Religion in America, 'the second great awakening' gave rise too many movements that were fighting for the change in the reforms; this happens in the early 1830s. The initial movement began at this point; this is because some shifts in the northern part had used the concept that all people were equal before the eyes of the Almighty God. It was with the intention of ending the slave trade that had endangered many people in America especially men who were considered more energetic as compared to women.

Also, there was another anti-slavery movement in South America that was using biblical references against slavery with the aim of condoning the act of practicing slave trade. During this very period, there was the beginning of a temperance movement. This group was using the quote from the Bible; Proverbs 20:1 which clearly describes the wine as a mocker. It was in the order of showing that God does not like drunken people into His kingdom

In the 1800s, another religious group led to reforms in the nation. This church was very active in promoting social and organizational changes in the united state of America. This religion now gave this time around those women who did have much or changes in the politics a voice. It gave rise to the political outlet before 1920. With this development, we saw many more women being elected to political positions. Also, many women were able to occupy essential spots in the government. When this is compared to other nations of the world, women positions in the political rank are minimal, and in some countries they have none. In the church movements and reforms, women were very active, and their work played vital importance in the women's suffrage movements also (Reese, William J 31).

Religious motifs of the American culture remain something that is still striking update. Several surveys of the American culture documents that religion is a general thing. Equally all Americans if not a significant percentage do worship or belief in the almighty god today. And these surveys also report that religion is essential in the lives of the American people. Beyond this affirmation, religious zeal is also evident when Americans are asked by the pollsters to get access to the various groups in the society. Regarding social boundaries' the Americans also improved on this, more Americans would disapprove if any of their children would like to marry an atheist than a Muslim. Edgell concludes that as part of what means to be a good American to most of the citizens is to some religious faith, a perspective that seems, however, to be changed slightly than little over the last half century (Reese, William J 36).

Religion helped and encouraged people to believe that their society can and should be perfect. This particular issue gave a first hand to the development of reforms across the whole nation of America were by all the people were now agitating for changes since they now understand that they have their rights which they were being deprived of by the foreigners and the local governments as well. These reforms were aimed at putting more efforts as they push for the abolition and temperance movement.

The second great reforms gave even more light to the natives of America. It gave the idea to the people the people could and should strive to make themselves even more perfect without waiting for any form of being made perfect. It furthermore led to naturally to the idea that they should work even more extra hard to earn themselves an ideal society. It means perfect people will automatically give an ideal community, and the reverse is very real and significant. All these ideas were emanating from religion, and it influenced much in the culture and reshaping of the American culture, this ideas was very detrimental in causing social reforms of the year the 1830s. Quite impressive is that with all these reforms that were brought up by the religion during the time.

It is also important to note that America was among the first nations of the world that religion can trace its roots to before it spread to other parts of the world. To this extent, the culture of America was shaped much by faith during the time of religious revolution of the world. Thanks to religion benefits have been achieved in the name or religion. When this is compared to the rest of the world, it is quite significant to see that belief for the positive lead to the cultural change from what the Americans use to have before the development of religion (Roberts, Kyle B 39).

Conclusion

Religion as also leads to the development of other organizations in the nation, theses organization as helped in the shaping of the structure of the communities in which they exist. As for today, other countries are giving room for the religion to take a position in the decision making for instance. The reason is that is a positive impact taking America as a control or point of reference. With this, it is enough to ackno...