Category:United States
The United States is a country in North America.
- See American -/- English language -/- American Scholarship -- American Scholars -/- American Fiction -- American Authors
Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the United States
Christianity (in all its diversity) was carried to North America since the 16th century by European immigrants. Although some came to America as missionaries, America was perceived foremost as a land of freedom by many Christians who faced persecution in Europe. As a result Christianity has always been characterized in America by great diversity and freedom, which had led also to the emergence of numerous new American-born denominations.
The first Jews who settled in America in the 17th and 18th century were mostly Sephardic Jews from the Netherlands. In the 19th century tens of thousands of Ashkenazi Jews came from Germany and around two millions from Eastern Europe, making the United States the home of one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. As in the case of Christianity, Judaism grew diverse and new denominations added to the old ones. In spite of episodes of discrimination and antisemitism, Judaism became a very influential and highly visible component of American society.
Groups of Muslims came to America already during the colonial period as free people or among the thousands of slaves brought from Africa. It was only in the early 20th century however that the Islamic presence became more organized and the first mosques were built. While a movement of return to Islam has affected some portions of the African-American population, Islam has increased in recent decades thanks especially to the arrival of numerous immigrants.
Contemporary times
Today, the majority of American population (70-80%) are Christians; around 50% are Protestants and 20% Catholics, with smaller Eastern Orthodox communities.
America has the largest Jewish community in the world and counts 2% of the entire population.
In spite of episodes of intolerance and the trauma of the terroristic attack of September 11, Islam (1%) is a fast growing community, more and more integrated with mainstream society.
The American Constitution grants full freedom to all religions and maintains a strict separation between Church and State.
External links
Pages in category "United States"
The following 39 pages are in this category, out of 39 total.