Changes in Religion in U.S. history to 1865

Running head: RELIGION IN U.S
Changes in Religion in U.S. history to 1865
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Changes in Religion in U.S. history to 1865
The issue of religious freedom played a significant role in the history of the United States as religious ideologies and changes in those ideologies have been used in various dimensions including social and political. The religious history of the United States of America started way before the independence of the United States of America. Religion in America was started by British settlers who sought refuge in America with the hope of escaping religious persecutions they were facing in their countries (Clifton, 1960). Most of the colonists wanted a chance to choose religion of their choice and with the arrival of the first pilgrims in America in 1620, the journey for the search of the perfect religion began.
Roman Catholic beliefs had been entranced in most parts of the world including America and the ideals provided the main religious beliefs before the emergence of other religions through the British colonists. The puritans were English Protestants who wished to reform the Church of England and rid it of some unacceptable Roman Catholic practices. They arrived in America in 1630 in large numbers after a series of religious persecutions in Europe. Theologically, the puritans are known to be "non -separating Congregationalist". To ensure the dominance of Puritanism in America, persecution of nonconformists happened but eventually these ended and other religions stated to appear (Dolan, 2003).
The Quakers arrived in 1656 and are said to have been radical puritans who carried extreme puritan beliefs. They also expanded the puritan concept of a church of individuals regenerated by the Holy Spirit to the idea of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or the "light of Christ in every person (Maria, Anthony, 1998). The Quakers differed from the puritans over the issue compelling religious uniformity.
German immigration in the mid 18th century brought with it the Lutheran religious beliefs. The immigrants mainly consisted of reformed members of other sects including German Baptists. Deism represented religious ideals which stressed morality and rejected the Orthodox Christian view of the divinity of Christ and viewing Jesus as human just a teacher of morality. Deism affected the development of Unitarianism in America.
The first landmark in the history of the American religion was in 1730s and 1740s which was characterized by a wave of religious enthusiasm. This is often known as the first great awakening and it marked the emergence of evangelicalism. The preaching and beliefs often left the audience with a great sense of guilt and made religion to be a personal matter. The new style of preaching targeted slaves. People become passionate and emotionally involved in religion. The underlying premise in evangelicalism was the conversion of individuals from a state of sin ...