12.“National religion” in the usa. Religious diversity.

The degree of religious diversity in America becomes evident when one compares the religious composition of American society with that of its neighbors. Mexico’s population is 96% Catholic. Canada’s three largest denominations: Roman Catholic, Anglican and the United Church of Canada. To account for 86% of America’s total church membership it is necessary to add together 19 separate denomination. The 1st amendment to the constitution prohibits an established national religion and protects the individuals’ right to practice the religion of his or her choice. The freedom of worship is the result of the separation of church and state that’s why there is no organized national church in the USA. Americans however have developed a number of informal practices which combine national patriotism and religion. These practices are referred to as “national religion” of the USA their main function is to provide support for the dominant values of the nation. Although the official separation of Church and State provided a climate for these diverse religious practices to flourish Protestantism because of numbers and influence occupies a dominant position in American society. The Protestants insist that the individual is the center of religious life he must stand alone before God. In place of the power and authority of a priest Protestants substituted the priesthood of all believers which means that every individual is responsible for his own relationship with God. There is a large number of Protestant denominations established in America each having a “live and let live” attitude toward the others. So diversity is accepted and strengthened.

Major Protestant denominations in the USA are: Mormonism, Christian science, Seventh-day Adventism, Jehovah’s witnesses, Pentecostalism, Baptism Methodism Lutheranism and others.

The Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal and Reformed churches along with the Congregational church constitute “mainstream Protestantism” in America. Baptists and Methodists once peripheral sects are now usually considered part of mainstream Protestantism as well. Other protestant denominations such as Pentecostals and Southern Baptists are sometimes referred to as “radical” Protestants. Worship services of radical churches are less formal and liturgical than services of mainstream Protestants.

There are some others denominations in America that are not considered to be protestant or Christian.

So non-protestant are: Orthodox, Catholic church, Jewish.

Non-Christian denominations are: Hinduism, Islam, Sickism.

13.Religion in Great Britain.

British people are perhaps less religious than most others but religion is now as it has always been an important factor in national life. There is complete religious freedom and anyone may belong to any religious faith that he chooses or to none at all. The Church of England is the established Protestant church in England though perhaps a quarter of the English belong to other religious denominations and many others don’t have any active religious attachment. The Queen is the head of the church of the England she was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Westminster Abbey. The Establishment of the Church is part of the law and important changes concerning the church cannot be made without the consent of Parliament.

The Church of England was established by an act of Parliament in 1558 when Elizabeth became queen. Though Protestant it has Catholic elements.

The clergy are not paid by the state but out of the church’s own funds supplemented by money from parishioners.

The Church of England has kept its bishops and its deuces each with a cathedral. England is divided into 42 dioceses. Every diocese has a Cathedral a dean and 5 or 6 residentiary canons. There is also a choir school whose boys or men of the choir with clerks provide fine music each day.

Bishop are appointed by the Queen who acts on the Prime Ministers advise. The 2 Archbishops of Canterbury and York and 24 senior bishops have seats in the House of Lords but rarely go there. When the Lords debate a moral or social issue at least one bishop normally speaks expressing a Christian rather than a party point of view. Nowadays there are different sects in Britain. The Baptists and the United Reform Church are perhaps the most important though many Presbyterians in England are in fact Scottish people who have taken their own religion southwards across the boader. The Quakers have always been a very small and select group and have their meeting houses for the most part only in large towns.

More important numerically than any of these old sects are the Methodists who follow the movement started by John Wesley in the 18th century. Methodism now is probably the main religion or the people in many northern mining and industrial areas and also in Wales.

The Jewish community is declining nowadays. Since World War 2 and its aftermath few Jews have come to live in England.

Among the religions that brought to Britain by people who have come from Asia Buddhism has had an attraction for some of the native British. Although there is large number of Hindus their religion seems not to be widespread. Many Sikhs maintain their distinctness more strictly.

There are now nearly a million Muslims in Britain and the number is increasing. The biggest new religious building og the 1970sis the London mosque. Many Muslim leaders are active in maintaining the distinctness of Islam and numerous Muslim schools have been brought into the state educational system.