Religious groups in America - how would you explain these patterns?

The Presbyterian Church of America

Although in the United States of America the government and religion are seperate, that does not mean that religion and American identity are seperate. Infact many of the first settlers to America had fled there to be free of religious intolerance so they could pray and commit to their chosen religion in peace. http://www.pcanet.org/ The Presbyterian Church of America is a fairly new religious denomination in the United States as it was only organised in 1973. Since that time it has grown to include over 1,450 churches with over 300,000 members. Their official website goes into many details about the religious denomination including their beliefs, vision and 'what they are all about'. Through their vision it is rather clear that the Presbyterian church wishes to be entwined in all lives, not just those of the American Identity, for they state "The Presbyterian Church of America exists to glorify God by extending the kingdom of Jesus Christ over all individual lives through all areas of society and in all nations and cultures. Later on in the same passage they also state "We are committed to worship that practices the presence and power of God within the Church to the transformation of the surrounding culture through biblical application in population centres throughout the world." The idea of spreading Presbyterianism throughout the World is backed up by over 600 missions in over 60 countries. Clearly they are trying to represent faith as part of a global identity and not just an American identity. Through the faith of the Presbyterian Church is a generic faith, like all others that want to be the faith of the world, for they, apparently, only read the true scriptures that have not been defilled, but are written exactly the same as the first time that someone put pen to paper to write them. They have an education system for children through sunday schools, an idea that is not unknown and many and American child has gone to Sunday school, it is part of how many grew up. However, I wonder how many American citizens have come into contact with the Christian Education and Publications committee that is there to keep a watchful eye over women and help them learn what women should do through seminars and other such learning devices. The church does not seek political or civil careers, however they encourage their members to become a part of working society and reach great heights. Although they themselves will not play a large part in the politics of America, with a bit of encouragement their congregation plays a great part. They have University Professors and political people who all speak the word of Presbyterianism, infiltrating it through the cracks of the American Identity and seeding thoughts. They themselves said they were the fastest growing denomination in America. This religious denomination it seems, has the idea of the American Identity at its core, but it wants to branch out and make a generic people, where cultures no longer exist and everybody thinks the same way.

Mormon

The history of Mormon is not long, less than 200 years. The formal name of it should be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, it has become one the most important denominations in the United States or even all over the world. The basic beliefs of the Mormons and they called it "the Restoration of Truth". They believe that God is your Father in Heaven. He knows you personally. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and your Savior. His life and teachings are the way to peace and happiness. Here is the Mormon's official website: http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/ and http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e419fb40e21cef00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD

I believe that every religion has a good porpose, they want people to live in the world better and better. But there are some radicals, they did this in a wrong way.

Evangelical Lutherans Church in America

I decided to look at the "Evangelical church of Lutherans in America" because I remember there being a lutheran family in the film Catch me if you can with Tom Hanks & Leonardo Di Caprio. Also I studied Me and Vicci studied Martin Luther last term in History.

Evangelical Church of Lutherans in America is a major Protestant sub-faith based with headquarters in Chicago Illinois. It is the largest Lutheran chapter or community in America (Missouri Synod,Wisconsin Synod) and apparently the Seventh Largest religion in America. The ELCA is a tri part system structure, what i mean is it has over 10,000 congregations with over 4.6 million Baptised members, 96 Synods (Dioceses) and the Main Lutheran Council.

#The Split to Moderate-left# Rationalism, Piety, Old and Neo-Lutheranism:***

The ELCA is geographically strongly centered in Upper MidWest America- Missouri,Illinois,Wisconsin,Minisota, but is a wide spread faith too.

What makes the ELCA distinctively American to me is their motto firstly,"Gods work, Our Hands" to live what they preach, it reminds me of the American characteristic of pragmatism. The Lutherans have a history of being strict and practical in their faith. In other words ELCA faith isnt just a sunday morning faith its an everyday faith.

Secondly they seem to be very open about their politics but somewhat unsure on where they stand as a comunal faith. Unsure on abortion or gender.

thirdly They are evangelical like many Protestant faiths and preach about the "Born again" anabaptism. Where newcomers find "Salvation from eternal Damnation" they live again. Similar to me with the new man/women notion in life where migrants turn a chapter to lead a better life, an improved them, fundamental given that Lutherans are all about migration.

Scientology- Cult or Religion?

Scientology- an interesting concept. Endorsed by once respected celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, this Religion has become a source of controversy across the globe. Personally, I think it's an absolute joke. Although my personal opinion may come on a little strong, you may find that I am not the only one who thinks so. My website this week is the official Scientology website, but it gives us an insight into one of the most news worthy Religion's in the United States today.



http://www.scientology.org/



Founded by Science Fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology was established in 1953. It was basically considered to be a new form of psychotherapy as a technique known as Auditing was used to help council individuals. Auditing in lamens terms is digging up your traumatic memories of the past in order to be released from the damage to your life that it has caused. Often mocked for it's outrageous claims that psychiatry kills and that we have little alien spirits living inside us, it is sometimes debated as to whether this is a real Religion. Seen as a cult, some considerable donations have to be made should you become a member of this 'church' and it is well know that the more advanced in the the church you are, the more privy you are to the secrets that are unknown to the lower levels. Across the website it emphasizes happiness and what you have to do to achieve it, but without giving you any concrete information, it plays you videos with some relaxing spa like music and soothing images....it's almost hypnotic.



Now if this isn't ringing alarm bells with you, I'm not sure what will! If you were to compare this to Christianity, I suppose you could say that the closer you are to God and the Messiah, the more secrets are unlocked from the Bible. Now doesn't that sound a little strange to you?! It seems to me that only in America would you find a a Religion like this. Freedom to worship who and what you want, which I suppose is what faith is all about. Just because I think it's wrong, doesn't make it so. Atheist's don't believe in anything, but it doesn't make them wrong. I suppose America is more prone to producing gimmicky things like this and you start to associate the country and it's citizens with the weird and wonderful. I think Scientology is a great representation of America. It's become the new Kabbalah thanks to all the celebrities and all the news stories. It embodies how anything is possible and in the land of opportunity, almost anything can be successful. Even an alien cult that made Tom Cruise do this.....