Religion In American Culture Essay

1. British citizens fleeing religious persecution founded America. The United States Constitution established freedom of religion as a fundamental right for all citizens. Webster’s dictionary defines a religion as an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.1 This paper will cover the origins of some religious beliefs in American culture. Also, some well-known deities and some not so well-known. American culture is diverse in religious observances, so now we will explore them in more detail.

2. Religions have originated all over the world, we as Americans had a larger part in this than most are aware of. The following are a few examples, but are by no means all encompassing. In 1921, American astronomer Edwin Hubble looked outside the Milky Way for

Behind every belief structure, there is a central being or group of beings that inspires belief. Many observed religions in American culture tout a supreme being ranging from God in the Christian sense, the Great Buddha as relates to Buddhism, and Ala as observed by the Nation of Islam. Some of the following may seem outlandish to some, but these are actual religions Americans believe in. Some are less well known, like the Flying Spaghetti Monster. In the church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Pastafarians not only believe in a supreme monster made of spaghetti, but also believe that pirates are divine beings and with their disappearance, there is a direct correlation with the increase in global warming.4 Some followings believe in not one specific being, but follow many deities such as Wicca, believing in a Great Goddess and a Great Horned God. Jediism has also grown in popularity in America, although originally British, their belief in “The Force” has gained immense popularity. One can legitimately identify as a Jedi serving in the United States Military. With what you just learned about deities, I’d like to summarize all you’ve learned about religious