Religion in America Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 647 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 2

Religion

There is a rather complex juxtaposition between the ideals of the founding of the United States and the presumption of religious conversion. The historical and sociological paradigm of religion in America actually spans the great migration of tribes from Asia over the Alaskan land bridge and evolved into various Native American cultures and the European contact between the early 1600s and even into the 20th century. Most of the Amerindian cultures worshiped a naturalistic religion that focused on harmony with nature, a group of Gods that represented spirits of parts of nature, and ways to explain all the natural phenomenon (weather, birth, death, etc.) that are common to human cultures. Religion was more all-encompassing and an approach to explain the universe. Since everything within the universe was part of the natural order, and therefore sacred, these cultures tended to revere all that was in nature and placed humans as Guardians who had the responsibility to revere Mother Earth.

Stuck Writing Your "Religion in America" Essay?

View All Our Example Religion in America Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written



With European contact, however, the situation became more complex. Now cultures were in conflict with one another. For example, Dutch Missionary, John Megapolensis, writing about the Iriquois tribe in 1644, noted, "They are entire Strangers to all Religion, but they have a … Genius which they put in the Place of God… but present Offerings to the Devil… They have otherwise no Religion. . . (Lippy). Yet imagine, if you will, the confusion that Amerindian cultures might have when confronted with the notion that their Gods and Spirits were false, and this new religion, posited by strangers to their lands, was the only correct path? For instance, a Huron tribesman noted to a French Jesuit missionary in 1635, "You tell us fine stories, and there is nothing in what you say that may not be true; but that is good for you who come acorss the seas. Do you not see that, as we inhabit a world so different.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Religion In America" (2014, February 13) Retrieved May 2, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/religion-america-182679

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Religion In America" 13 February 2014. Web.2 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/religion-america-182679>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Religion In America", 13 February 2014, Accessed.2 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/religion-america-182679
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example