Most of the American population is religious people, while the church and the state are separated. America has a very global population, and mass migrations have had a significant impact on religious trends in the country. Religion in the United States has a state significance, and it has happened so historically. And it is precisely the course of the development of history that determines the number of representatives of a particular religion in this state.
The religion of the United States is a matter of national importance. When talking about official data, America also provides its citizens with unconditional freedom of choice in religion, without forcing or restricting them in any way (Kim & Kim, 2008). Therefore, there you can meet representatives of almost all world religions, as well as many smaller “divisions.” According to experts, the result is as follows: about 40% of the inhabitants of this democratic state attend church regularly once a week (Whitehead & Scheitle, 2018). These data fluctuate, but the result does not become less impressive.
Taking into account the ongoing ethnic changes, the church faces numerous tasks. It is necessary to unite all the disparate immigrant groups, improve their overall quality of life and help establish a connection with the American flock. It is essential to convey to people that the origin of a believer did not matter at all, that only his commitment to the faith is valued. Churches need to remember about charity and educational activities, which, given the ethnic diversity, are only becoming more critical. Christianity is a world religion, and the conditions of its worship should be equally comfortable for everyone.
North America is a multinational and multicultural state where various ethnic groups get along. Immigrant churches contribute to the formation of Christianity in North America because these segments continue to grow (Metro District, 2015). Immigrants from Korea, Spain, North Africa, and other countries are building Christian churches, thus increasing the influence of Christianity in the United States. Nevertheless, more and more Christian churches are becoming multi-ethnic, which is a fantastic fact. Despite differences in culture and traditions, people participate in a common cause and work for a common goal.
Against the background of the current events, the confessional leadership in the United States faces unique and complex tasks. The denomination as a consolidating factor manifests itself weakly in the United States, receding into the background before racial differences, social inequality, and stereotypes of interethnic relations (Tenneth, 2009).. As a differentiating factor, it turns out to be much more effective. It often leads to the appearance of significant cultural and social differences between representatives of different religions within the same ethnic group. Confessional leadership has a fundamental task of reducing the number of possible intercultural conflicts to a minimum and taking into account all cultural peculiarities (Metro District, 2015). It is necessary to train representatives of various ethnic groups who speak on behalf of their ethnic group and interact with the rest of the world.
Ethnic diversity is exciting, as people are interested in their variety and the uniqueness of their cultures. Nevertheless, to avoid possible conflicts, it is necessary to pay great attention to this process. Immigrant churches must become multicultural churches and stop being isolated. Isolation creates incredible difficulties in overcoming the racial barrier for many immigrants. The efforts of the church leadership should be aimed at facilitating access to American culture, at combating cultural differentiation that alienates immigrants and their children from each other.
Reference
Kim, S., & Kim K. (2008). Christianity as a world religion. Bloomsbury Academic.
Metro District. (2015, October 20). Dr. Stanley John [Video]. Vimeo.
Tenneth, T. C. (2009). Theology in the context of world Christianity: How the global church is influencing the way we think about and discuss theology. Zondervan.
Whitehead, A. L., & Scheitle, C. P. (2018). We the (Christian) People: Christianity and American Identity from 1996 to 2014. Social Currents, 5(2), 157-172. Web.