Contemporary Religion in America

Religion is a very difficult topic to approach. To discuss religion, is to walk through a mine field. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and beliefs. In contemporary America, it is popular now turn from established religions or to have no religion at all. It is not difficult to believe how science and technology played a major role in contemporary religion in America by making our society secular. As our ability to attain knowledge through technology broadens, it allows people to analyze their own religion and interpret it in their own way.

Religion has stricken much debate over its origins. Some finds propose that some sort of religion was present since the beginning of mankind. Evidence of sacrificial ceremonies can relate the relationship between man and animal, and between man and his natural environment. Another theory of the birth of religion came from the “Near East” from the polytheistic views of the Hindu. They believed there were gods and goddesses of fire, wind, rain, and earth which lead to them making ceremonial prayers for rain, sunshine, or health. The pantheistic views, from African and American Indian cultures, briefly meant all is God. And the monotheistic views which is believed to have come from 2000BC. One can only question, what purpose does religion serve in today’s society? And what does society, as a whole, feel it needs to know?

America is a melting pot of culture and race. Thus, bringing many different types of religious faiths to today’s society. Whether the beliefs are ancient, new, reconstructed or if people have no faith at all, it is all in America. It is difficult to scrutinize one religion without it concerning another. All religions have diverse beliefs ranging from; the belief of...

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...or having rebirth in nature. Meaning, people are still scared to ask the question, what is next after death?

I think that contemporary religion in America has not lost sight of its purpose altogether. The society as a whole cannot have one purpose. Each individual member of society needs to know how to find ones self purpose of life and reason of being. Though, the purpose is always adjusting, people can still answer the questions they ask; what is the meaning of life? Who are we? Where are we? Where will we go? Whether it is through Scientology, Christianity, Buddhism or Islam, these questions can be answered. People still go to church, temples, mosques, synagogues, et cetera, for the same reasons people did long ago, to worship and be grasped by a higher being. People believe that having a relationship with God or nature helps them answer ones purpose of life.