Why is America so religious in the first place?

[retromike22]

"Religion is much more important to Americans than to people living in other wealthy nations. Six-in-ten (59%) people in the U.S. say religion plays a very important role in their lives. This is roughly twice the percentage of self-avowed religious people in Canada (30%), and an even higher proportion when compared with Japan and Western Europe. Americans’ views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations."

http://www.pewglobal.org/2002/12/19/among-wealthy-nations/

How did this happen? I'm not saying it's wrong, but it definitely is unusual for a wealthy country to be less religious.

I think a possible reason, was that because of the Native Americans here, the first European immigrants felt a need to Christianize them, and so kept up discussion of the faith. They did the same with the slaves, in making them Christian. I also think this is why Latin America has a high religious rate as well.

[CathKhan]

'Cause we're cooler than e'ryone else.

[True Federalist]

I think a lot of stems from the fact that by the colonial period, Europe was in a fairly settled state with well-established clerical hierarchies that controlled most aspects of being churched.  Alternatives were hard to come by, even where tolerated,  The Reformation was to a great extend over who would control those hierarchies, not whether they should exist.  Thus for the laity, their role in the church was largely one of pray, pay, and obey.

Over in the English colonies at least, there were not a lot of clergy compared to home.  The lack of clergy compelled the laity into a greater participation in the church, or there wouldn't be one.  Also most colonies had colonists coming from several different European traditions.  If the church you went to did not satisfy your religious needs, you were likelier to find one nearby that would.  As a result the laity had more buy-in to religion than those who remained in Europe.

[Dr. Cynic]

'Cause we're cooler than e'ryone else.

Of course, most Europeans would think just the opposite

[dead0man]

I think a possible reason, was that because of the Native Americans here, the first European immigrants felt a need to Christianize them, and so kept up discussion of the faith.

Keep in mind that a lot of the early immigrants here were very religious people that left Europe because Europeans were jackwads when it came to religions that were a tiny bit different than whatever the King was practicing that week.  If you cared about your religion and had the ability (and gumption) to leave, you did.  Of course the next 400 years watered that down a bit, but I'm sure it plays a part to this day.

[A cowboy always follows his beard]

Because we are younger than Western Europe/Japan.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

interesting topic

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

as far as comparing the US to Europe...the bible says that godlessness will spread in the last days.  not sure if it matters that some areas of the Christian world are farther along in that process than others.  though perhaps the US is Mystery Babylon and will play a role in defending Israel in the run-up to the antiChrist being revealed.

[a Person]

Because we are younger than Western Europe/Japan.

Wouldn't that have the opposite effect?

[A cowboy always follows his beard]

interesting topic

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

as far as comparing the US to Europe...the bible says that godlessness will spread in the last days.  not sure if it matters that some areas of the Christian world are farther along in that process than others.  though perhaps the US is Mystery Babylon and will play a role in defending Israel in the run-up to the antiChrist being revealed.

The US isn't a Christian nation either, John Adams says so.

Because we are younger than Western Europe/Japan.

Wouldn't that have the opposite effect?

No, we have a younger history than Western Europe/Japan, and when they were younger they were more religious but the "grew out" of it. Canada managed to "grow out" earlier for some strange reason/

[a Person]

interesting topic

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

as far as comparing the US to Europe...the bible says that godlessness will spread in the last days.  not sure if it matters that some areas of the Christian world are farther along in that process than others.  though perhaps the US is Mystery Babylon and will play a role in defending Israel in the run-up to the antiChrist being revealed.

The US isn't a Christian nation either, John Adams says so.

Because we are younger than Western Europe/Japan.

Wouldn't that have the opposite effect?

No, we have a younger history than Western Europe/Japan, and when they were younger they were more religious but the "grew out" of it. Canada managed to "grow out" earlier for some strange reason/

Ah. I thought you meant as in the US has a younger population.

[asexual trans victimologist]

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

Japan's irreligiosity is also massively overstated relative to actual quotidian life in the country, even by Japanese people. I've said on this site in the past that Japan is probably one of the only 'low religious identification, high religious observance' societies on Earth. It's certainly the most extreme example that comes to mind.

[Judäischen Volksfront]

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

Japan's irreligiosity is also massively overstated relative to actual quotidian life in the country, even by Japanese people. I've said on this site in the past that Japan is probably one of the only 'low religious identification, high religious observance' societies on Earth. It's certainly the most extreme example that comes to mind.

Despite over 60 years of so-called athiest government, I also find that China is definitely more religiously devout than anywhere in the western world, save the southern US. Though overt discussion of faith will elicit laughter.

[asexual trans victimologist]

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

Japan's irreligiosity is also massively overstated relative to actual quotidian life in the country, even by Japanese people. I've said on this site in the past that Japan is probably one of the only 'low religious identification, high religious observance' societies on Earth. It's certainly the most extreme example that comes to mind.

Despite over 60 years of so-called athiest government, I also find that China is definitely more religiously devout than anywhere in the western world, save the southern US. Though overt discussion of faith will elicit laughter.

Yes, very much so. The Asian way of 'doing' religion, if it wasn't always very different to the Western way, has certainly become so over the past century or so, with secularization being mostly superficial in many countries.

[Senator Napoleon]

I sort of agree, religious expansion intro the Americas certainly helped strengthen the institutions within American culture. Never doubt the effectiveness of brute force.

[Is JCL in mushy sappy love]

America was founded in the mist of religious (Christian) Revival. We haven't anything like that since the beginning of the last century and the rise of Pentacostals. We are on the verge of a revival that would make the First Great Awakening look like child's play. The Jesus Culture Awakening conference last summer in Chicago (this summer in NYC and Los Angeles) are just small previews of what's coming.

[A cowboy always follows his beard]

Now, why isn't Canada as religious as we (the USA) are?

[Ghyl Tarvoke]

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

Japan's irreligiosity is also massively overstated relative to actual quotidian life in the country, even by Japanese people. I've said on this site in the past that Japan is probably one of the only 'low religious identification, high religious observance' societies on Earth. It's certainly the most extreme example that comes to mind.

Despite over 60 years of so-called athiest government, I also find that China is definitely more religiously devout than anywhere in the western world, save the southern US. Though overt discussion of faith will elicit laughter.

Wait a minute... China is the Western world? When did this happen?

[asexual trans victimologist]

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

Japan's irreligiosity is also massively overstated relative to actual quotidian life in the country, even by Japanese people. I've said on this site in the past that Japan is probably one of the only 'low religious identification, high religious observance' societies on Earth. It's certainly the most extreme example that comes to mind.

Despite over 60 years of so-called athiest government, I also find that China is definitely more religiously devout than anywhere in the western world, save the southern US. Though overt discussion of faith will elicit laughter.

Wait a minute... China is the Western world? When did this happen?

'Than anywhere in the Western world', not 'Than anywhere else in the Western world'. I don't think the attempt was to suggest that China itself is Western.

[Ghyl Tarvoke]

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

Japan's irreligiosity is also massively overstated relative to actual quotidian life in the country, even by Japanese people. I've said on this site in the past that Japan is probably one of the only 'low religious identification, high religious observance' societies on Earth. It's certainly the most extreme example that comes to mind.

Despite over 60 years of so-called athiest government, I also find that China is definitely more religiously devout than anywhere in the western world, save the southern US. Though overt discussion of faith will elicit laughter.

Wait a minute... China is the Western world? When did this happen?

'Than anywhere in the Western world', not 'Than anywhere else in the Western world'. I don't think the attempt was to suggest that China itself is Western.

I can't read.

[King]

Less population density and no state church.

As weird as it sounds, American Christianity is tribal.

[asexual trans victimologist]

Less population density and no state church.

As weird as it sounds, American Christianity is tribal.

And the Canadian ecumene is small enough relative to the size of the country that this might not be the case there (at least, not in the Canadian 'heartland' along the St Lawrence and Great Lakes), plus the whole ambiguous history of Catholicism in Quebec. Makes sense.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

We are on the verge of a revival that would make the First Great Awakening look like child's play.

i don't know anything about the "First Great Awakening", but I highly highly doubt we're on the verge of a revival.

---

The Jesus Culture Awakening conference last summer in Chicago (this summer in NYC and Los Angeles) are just small previews of what's coming.

who is this group and what do they believe?

[asexual trans victimologist]

We are on the verge of a revival that would make the First Great Awakening look like child's play.

i don't know anything about the "First Great Awakening", but I highly highly doubt we're on the verge of a revival.

You should read up on it, jmfcst. I'm not saying that to be snide or something, I genuinely think it would interest you a lot.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

We are on the verge of a revival that would make the First Great Awakening look like child's play.

i don't know anything about the "First Great Awakening", but I highly highly doubt we're on the verge of a revival.

You should read up on it, jmfcst. I'm not saying that to be snide or something, I genuinely think it would interest you a lot.

ok, just browsed the Wiki article.  I’ve never been much interested in church history, aside from the letters of early church fathers such as Justin Martyr.  Not sure why I’m like that, but I’m not even interested enough to parse through the reasons of my own lack of desire to know.

Guess it’s because I don’t find relevance in it for me.  Even though I attended a Catholic church in my early years and went through communion, I didn’t come to Christ through a church, and I’ve been going to a inter-denominational church for the last 19 years.  I don’t like church politics.  Heck, I don’t even like work related politics – which is one of the reasons why I’m a contractor.

In fact, from the time my family stopped going regularly to church (probably when I was around 8 or 9), until the time I was saved in my apartment in Oct ’92, I probably went to church less than 10 times.

I don’t like to hear about “church”, per se.  But I do like coming together as a body of believers to worship Christ and hear the word.

[opebo]

interesting topic

but, I think Japan is off topic for comparison since it's not even a Christian nation.

jmfcst, one may be 'so religious' while not being Christian, Jew, or Muslim.  For example many people here are quite active in their 'Buddhist practice', and for a minority it makes up nearly their entire leisure time activity.