Religion In American Life :: essays research papers

holiness In American supportReligion used to be a very crucial comp superstarnt in an Americans life.Protestantism was as American as Mom and orchard apple tree pie. Families would don their"sunshine best" and go to church building betimes on Sunday mornings. However, this office staff has changed quite a bit. After reviewing the 1994 statistics I poised from the Micase system and compare them to the statistics received inclass, I discovered a trend away from conventional unearthly beliefs andpractices, and one toward atheism or alternative spectral beliefs. After aresurgence in the 1970s and primordial 1980s, the Roman Catholic church beganexperiencing a slow, yet steady, decline in social rank. As social status in themore orthodox Roman Catholic church decreased, membership in Protestant churchesincrease. In recent years, the Catholic Church has turn over politically activeand more vociferous concerning its views on moral issues such(prenominal)(prenominal) as war, abortion,and euthanasia. It is my feeling that many Catholics are scrutinizing for sectsthat will deliver them to retain their faith in Christ without a central organic structure(i.e., the Vatican) speaking on behalf of them on issues that they are heart-to-heartof rationalizing for themselves. Among Catholics and Protestants, there is atrend toward less(prenominal) rigid attention of religious services. If we examine thefigures from free and Glocks 1968 survey, 54% of Americans surveyed at thetime go to church more frequently than once a month. This figure shrank to 40.7%in the 1994 survey. though the Catholic church insists on weekly attendance ofchurch, weekly attendance dropped from 52% in 1978 to 49% in 1986. Then,attendance plummeted, with only 28.3% of Catholics surveyed in 1994 claiming to go attended church in the last seven days. all the equal among those who remain withthe handed-down Christian sects, attendance is diminishing. Christianity used tobe an inbuilt part of close to family and community customs and traditions inAmerica. It seems that as Americans lives manufacture more complex, less time isavailable for formal religious commitments. Also, one may contemplate that theexponential growth of technology and education has rendered traditionalreligious teachings, such as creationism, obsolete and people are passing theChristian churches because their teachings do not agree with their personalbeliefs. However, not everyone is expiration the Catholic church for Protestantdenominations. In the last thirty years, the return of people claiming to haveno religious affiliation have increased almost five-fold, with 2% of the peoplesurveyed claiming no affiliation in 1967, and 9.2% claiming the same in 1994.Since the early 1980s, there has also been an increase in the design of peopleclaiming " other" religious beliefs.Religion In American Life essays research papers Religion In American LifeReligion used to be a ve ry important component in an Americans life.Protestantism was as American as Mom and apple pie. Families would don their"Sunday best" and go to church early on Sunday mornings. However, thissituation has changed quite a bit. After reviewing the 1994 statistics Igathered from the Micase system and comparing them to the statistics received inclass, I discovered a trend away from traditional religious beliefs andpractices, and one toward atheism or alternative religious beliefs. After aresurgence in the 1970s and early 1980s, the Roman Catholic church beganexperiencing a slow, yet steady, decline in membership. As membership in themore orthodox Roman Catholic church decreased, membership in Protestant churchesincreased. In recent years, the Catholic Church has become politically activeand more vociferous concerning its views on moral issues such as war, abortion,and euthanasia. It is my feeling that many Catholics are searching for sectsthat will allow them to retain their fait h in Christ without a central body(i.e., the Vatican) speaking on behalf of them on issues that they are capableof rationalizing for themselves. Among Catholics and Protestants, there is atrend toward less rigid attendance of religious services. If we examine thefigures from Stark and Glocks 1968 survey, 54% of Americans surveyed at thetime attended church more often than once a month. This figure shrank to 40.7%in the 1994 survey. Though the Catholic church insists on weekly attendance ofchurch, weekly attendance dropped from 52% in 1978 to 49% in 1986. Then,attendance plummeted, with only 28.3% of Catholics surveyed in 1994 claiming tohave attended church in the last seven days. Even among those who remain withthe traditional Christian sects, attendance is diminishing. Christianity used tobe an integral part of most family and community customs and traditions inAmerica. It seems that as Americans lives become more complex, less time isavailable for formal religious commitments. Al so, one may theorize that theexponential growth of technology and education has rendered traditionalreligious teachings, such as creationism, obsolete and people are leaving theChristian churches because their teachings do not agree with their personalbeliefs. However, not everyone is leaving the Catholic church for Protestantdenominations. In the last thirty years, the number of people claiming to haveno religious affiliation have increased almost five-fold, with 2% of the peoplesurveyed claiming no affiliation in 1967, and 9.2% claiming the same in 1994.Since the early 1980s, there has also been an increase in the number of peopleclaiming "other" religious beliefs.