Religious Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Religious Studies - Essay ExampleII. Historical Occurrences Historical events such as the conversion also played a part as the Fathers desired a break from the traditionalist British religions. The American Revolution itself has sacred tales of origins, the centre and the source for an American civil religion. (pp. 297, 298).III. Unity and Nationalism The need for a one religion and many religions also enforced the founding fathers to adopt the civil religion. As early as 1749, Benjamin Franklin was already speaking about the need for publick religion (p. 284). Deliberations of the continental congress 25 years after that birthed the US were filled with attention to religious elaborate (p. 284). They adopted a religious system with a theology, creed and set of symbols related to their political state existing alongside the churches (p. 284). They sought to promote nationalism. well-bred religion was designed to unite many people from many different nations into one state (a politi cal state) thus creating nation and a nation state (p.285). By the time George Washington took his first oath of office in New York, civil religion was in place. It had arisen out of England Puritanism, but especially out of a union of Puritanism with the engagement of Americans (p.285).Roman Catholism was introduced into America by Spanish, French missionaries and introduced to the new world sacramentalism. Sacramentalism did not end with the seven sacraments it was a means of understanding the riddle of the church, human life, and the natural world. From sacrament perspective the sign of matinee idols reality was Gods presence among humans. The Pope of Rome was that presence, the sign of the church representing the reality of God and acting as a conduit through whom God communicated with human. He was Vicar and stood equal to the bible as a source of spiritual authority. The Catholic Church unlike a sect or denomination sought to include ideally all the human race not withstandi ng territory or culture. It sought to include all saints and sinners. The church was the sign of Gods presence in the world. (pp. 66, 67)4. Do you think that its possible for modern Americans to return to the primitive religions of their ancestors Why or Why not Religion in the United States evolved over centuries from the religious beliefs of the Native American to the dominant Christianity. From Protestantism to Scientology most modern Americans ar still trying to find a balance in the many denominations and sometimes adopting new ones, clearly according to their beliefs, convictions or lack of faith in others. For the native Australian Americans culture was tradition was religion (p. 21), while in contrast for modern Americans religion transcended culture (p. 21). The current era of coexistence of one religion and many religions is a fact of American life (p. 371) and provides solace for Americans uprooted by a