The main religion of the United States. Prevailing religions in the USA

More than 88% of the US population consider themselves to be believers. It can be confidently asserted that America holds a leading position among the developed countries in terms of the number of religious population.

Spiritual heritage

The US religion is quite democratic and dynamic. Its distinctive feature is differentiation. Recently, many new religious movements and directions have appeared in the USA in already existing religious organizations. Therefore, it is difficult to unequivocally answer the question about what kind of religion in the US. Strict adherence to traditions is no longer in vogue. Yet a few indigenous people try to preserve the memory of the past. They are the followers of the ancient Inca religion , which once lived in North America.

History of the development of religion in America

The history of the US religion is full of many events. Historically, America for a long time was a Protestant state. It was due to the fact that after the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus immigrants from different countries began to come here. The northeastern part of the United States was occupied by British émigrés who were persecuted by the Anglican Church. They were against the planting of Catholicism. Pilgrims established strict religious principles on the new earth. Any kind of entertainment was considered a mortal sin.

Gradually, many Protestant movements were formed in America. This happened due to the fact that emigrants from different countries considered it proper to establish their principles and principles on the new land, since they believed that it did not belong to anyone.

North America at that time was inhabited by Indian tribes who had previously come from Asia. First they settled in Alaska, then moved to America.

At the end of the 17th century, America's population was conditionally divided into black slaves and a white population, which was 98% of all Americans. All of them were Protestants.

South America began to be populated by the Spaniards, who clothed the Indians in the Catholic faith. Therefore, the population of Latin America is mostly Catholic. Other prevailing religions in the United States will be described in detail below.

Religious areas

Above, the US religion was briefly described. I would like to get deeper into the basic beliefs of America.

The majority of the US population professes Christianity. Approximately 55% are Protestants, and 28% are Catholics. In America there is also a small percentage of Judaists and representatives of other religious movements. Among African Americans living in the US, most Muslims.

In the 60 years in the US there was a religious upsurge. By that time, there were more than a thousand religious organizations in the country. Participants of cult movements are mostly young people.

The predominant religion of the United States is the religion of the New Age. Among them, we can single out a community of disciples of Christ, founded in the 19th century, Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutherans, Methodists.

The main religion of the United States is Christianity. Most of the modern currents flow precisely from it.

Christianity

The representative of Christianity in the United States is the Orthodox Church. In 1970, she received autocephaly from the Orthodox Church of Russia. Also in the US there are other churches under different jurisdictions, the largest of which is the American Archdiocese.

The management of the autocephalous Orthodox Church is granted to the Holy Synod. It consists of all the ruling bishops. Twice a year the Synod holds sessions. Between its sessions there is also the permanent Small Synod. The management team includes all the bishops of the church, representatives from each parish (men over the age of 18), members of the Metropolitan Council, members of theological schools and other organizations.

Chief among the bishops is the Metropolitan, who is elected by secret ballot. Under the Metropolitan there is the Metropolitan Council, which includes treasurers, two representatives from each diocese, the Chancellor and the Metropolitan himself. Separate dioceses are administered by bishops.

Protestants

Protestantism is one of the three areas of Christianity. On the question of which religion prevails in the United States, you can answer as follows: "Protestantism." The movement arose after Catholicism and Orthodoxy in the era of the Reformation. Protestants in the US are represented by a number of churches and independent religions. The main currents of Protestantism include Lutheranism, Evangelism, Baptism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, Adventism, Pentecostalism, Methodism and many others.

At the heart of the confession of Protestantism is the study of the Bible. Everyone should know the only source of the dogma and build his life on his basis.

The main tenets of Protestantism include the ideas of trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), the Incarnation, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ.

Protestants strictly follow the decisions established by the first two Ecumenical Councils (Nicene and Constantinople). Adherents of this trend are firmly convinced that only the faith and predestination can save mankind.

Distinctions of Protestantism from other religious movements

Protestantism has significant differences from Orthodoxy and Catholicism. They are included in the altered ritual and cult activity. Protestants categorically oppose the worship of the elders and saints, veneration of icons, confessions and participles, repentance, worship of holy relics, the cross of the cross and monasticism (except for separate branches). In some Protestant churches, they still perform baptism and communion ceremonies. But Catholics and Orthodox argue that in such a performance they are not endowed with God's grace.

The main features of worship in Protestant churches are prayer, preaching, singing of the Sacred Texts, modesty of ceremonies.

Most Protestant organizations do not even have their own church.

Which religion is official in the US? In the States there is none. Every citizen has complete freedom of religion.

Mormons

Mormons are called representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of the last days. This religious trend is very contradictory. Rather, it is more like an occult sect in which the Christian-biblical principle is manifested only externally.

In Utah, the main center of Mormons is located. Their main mission is to help people reach the Divine Kingdom. Its execution falls on the shoulders of the organizational structure created under the Church. The foundation of the entire Mormon church is the parish, which should consist of no more than 500 people. In each of them, missionary activities are carried out on the ground. As soon as the number of people in one parish exceeds the allowable, it is divided in half. The parish is headed by the president and two of his advisers. The number of parishes in one region is also limited. If in a certain territory they become very numerous, a special organization is created - the "stake", which is also headed by the president.

Sacraments of Mormonism

To the Holy Scriptures, Mormons include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Covenants and Teachings, and the Pearl of Great Price.

The canonized prayer of Mormons is absent. Rather, it looks like an improvised confession to the Lord. A special place is occupied by the rite of baptism, which consists in tripling immersion in water with the utterance of certain words, called the triune formula. Anyone who for some reason leaves the Mormon church, later has no right to perform this rite. This is punishment.

Seventh Day Adventists

This Protestant movement preaches that in a short time Jesus Christ will again descend to Earth. At first glance it may seem that this movement is no different from Protestant. However, several key features of the teachings of Adventists do not allow talking about them as Protestants. Seventh-day Adventists, rather, can be attributed to quasi-residences.

The Fundamentals of the Adventist Doctrine

1. At the second coming of Jesus Christ, there are five signs: the fall of morality, the existence of the papacy, the increase of people's fear of future events, the advent of Adventism, open preaching around the world.
2. Along with the Bible, Seventh-day Adventists also study the "Prophecies" of Ellen G. White. Based on this "divine revelation" almost all the doctrines of the Adventist Church are based.
3. The main point of the teaching is the worship of the Sabbath. He appeared on the basis of Ellen White's vision, in which she saw how all the Divine commandments glow with bright fire, except one, in which he is called to honor the Sabbath. On the basis of this, the Adventists concluded that all other religious directions have departed from the Lord, violating this commandment, and therefore can not be accepted into the Kingdom of God. Only Seventh-day Adventists can be saved.
4. Speaking of the soul, Adventists believe that it is mortal until the Lord resurrects it. They also deny the fact that a person can go to hell for his sins.

Over time, Seventh-day Adventist teachings became more like Protestant ones. And even Ellen White's authority began to be questioned.

Catholics

A splash of Catholicism in the United States occurred before the outbreak of the Civil War. During this period the country was actively populated by Irish Catholics. At that time Protestants prevailed in the States, Catholics felt a prejudiced attitude towards them. Nevertheless, Catholics had full access to all public institutions (hospitals, schools, institutes). But over time, they began to create their own organizations based on the principles of Catholicism. The freedom to choose an educational institution was not oppressed. Catholics could receive education in other public institutions.

Catholics were on hand, that in the US the church was separated from the state. This gave people freedom of religion.

The establishment of any one religion in the US is prohibited by the constitution. Therefore, when the Catholics began actively to open their educational institutions, the state did not welcome this. Too closely began to intertwine religion with the state.

A wonderful country is the USA. Culture, religion, history - everything here merges into one. Rather, religious currents arise from cultural customs. It is noteworthy that young people are more interested in such spiritual development. The US religion is brief - it is a protest to the world settled dogma.