African American Influence On Religion

As an African-American in the United States, I participate in activities to help me identify with my race. Yes, there are many types of African-Americans, but we all share similar ideas, values, and traditions that bring everyone closer. As African-Americans, we strongly believe in religion. Since slavery, religion has played a tremendous role in contributing to our beliefs. We believe there is a greater divine who knows our purpose, and has the power to control it. In addition, we believe prayer changes things especially when times become rough and unbearable. It is common for Black children to “grow-up” in the church and attend with their families every Sunday. Although I am in college, this has not change. I attempt to at least go twice out the month.

America doesn’t use any religion as a basis for governing or in the court of law. We live under an “innocent until proven guilty” policy and that makes everything much more neat and organized. Culture doesn’t play too big of a part in our society either. Although we are often mocked for not having our own culture, America is chock full of cultures. As Americans, we are allowed to embrace various cultures: Indian, Chinese, African, etc.. In many countries around the world, transracial marriage is often frowned upon, whereas here it is the social norm. Families are multiracial and their offspring are encouraged to embrace different cultures. We are known as a “melting pot”

Understanding religion is also complex. In American society, Christianity is the largest religion; however, there are vast differences among Christians, as to what one is to believe and how one’s beliefs are to be put into practice. It’s the mixture of beliefs and practices of other religions and the absence of any religious belief. America is indeed a melting pot when

The Latino political experience, much like the experience of other minority groups, has been about fighting for inclusion. In order to be included into mainstream society Latinos had to use different methods to get their grievances heard. In a system that was not designed to benefit minorities, Latinos had to put aside their differences and come together in order to address to economic, political, and social marginalization they faced. Due to restructuring and globalization large segments of the Latino population were excluded from effective economic and political access and participation. As their numbers increased Latinos began to utilize different methods to address the changes in their communities. They used two main methods which reflected two conceptions of empowerment, the electoral based and the household model.

There are so many views on how the African American community joined a massive movement called, “Christianity”. This religion has been a key role in the lives of the African-American since being bought over to America from the motherland of Africa. It is said that the white British men who kidnapped our ancestors, made them slaves and forced them to believe in this religion. In research, it is found that there were several polytheistic religions in African and Christianity was one. It is believed that when Christians were brought over from Africa, along with most of their own religions, some of them brought Christianity along with them, but those who believed in other religions were soon forced to convert to Christianity which they looked to freedom. During my studies, I came across a book entitled “The Talking Book” by Allen Dwight Callahan. In this book, he speaks about how the African American race accepted Christianity. One interesting story he spoke about in his book was when slave masters use to sit and read their bibles as the slaves were working. He said that while they were reading, the slaves would ask “What is that master?” and the slave owner would reply “the book is talking to me.” So, when the slave owner would leave, the slave would go pick up the book and put it to his ear to hear the book speak. While in Africa, their Christian belief was not molded by the words of a book, but rather the words of their ancestors. In

What is African American Religion? – Chapter 3 In the previous chapter of What is African American Religion, we were introduced to the black church and the Nation of Islam. Though these are the dominating black religions in America, as denoted by Joseph Washington, the study of African American religion has been centered on theism, and ultimately the black church (pg. 43).

In 1710 a small group of people went to Francis le Jau and asked him to admit them to the Holy Communion. Most of Africans rejected Anglicanism and Christianity during the eighteenth century. Many “assume is one in which Africans collectively and individually struggled to preserve a religious identity grounded in indigenous beliefs”. (198) Olwell had visions in servile respects first was only a small number converted and accepted baptism but had to get permission from their masters. Second was when slaves adopted Anglicanism they became isolated from other people. Which he “implies that slaves were still more likely to reject then adopt Christianity.”(199) Many West Central Africans did not reject Christianity because of Kongo and the Kongolese

The quest for complex subjectivity allows us to look beyond the standard mappings of black religion in America, seen in Christianity and the Nation of Islam. Rather than an individual following the rules and doctrine provided by a religion, in this quest, they examine what within them has brought them to their religious beliefs; and how do those beliefs provide fulfillment to their life. This expansion on black religion in America is positive, since it allows blacks to change their perspective from one of objectification to individuality. It allows each individual to gain a better understanding of what they seek out in life, in the world, and how they can achieve “More” throughout their existence. This is a form of enlightened thinking developed

The history of religion in the United States comes a long way dating from the early 1600s when the first pilgrim settlers came to this country. It has been noted that these settlers were highly influenced by the Protestant faith which led to a community level of influence in this country as well. The faith of theses settlers were motivated from the New World of Europe where they practiced their religion in a peaceful environment. Later in history, it was noted that people of Spanish decent started the famous network of the Catholic missions in California. When California became a part of the United States, Catholic churches and institutes were formed. These churches and institutes were also formed in New Orleans and Louisiana.

When Africans arrived in the New World, they were torn from "the political, social, and cultural systems that had ordered their lives" (p. 4). Albert points out that they only thing that the Africans kept was their religion. The Africans religious were adapted or transformed to American Christianity. Most of the African Americans religious life was hidden from the slave master. The slaves had combined their Muslim religion, African ethnic religion and Christianity to form Invisible Institution. Slaves were very secretively about their religious for their safety.

The Founding Fathers of the United States came to North America to escape the religious persecution of the Old World. Our Constitution was created with a proponent that state and religion can come together to achieve common goals. For the hundreds of years since then, a majority of Americans have surrounded themselves with one notion: the belief in God. Mark David Hall, a distinguished professor of Political Science from Hoover University, believes that although the US was not founded on Christianity, it embodies Christian rooted values and principles (Hall 2011). What would the United States be like without Christianity? Sometimes it is devastating to ponder such a serious and prevalent possibility. It is no coincidence that the drop in

Despite the ignorance and insensitivity of their oppressors, early African Americans instilled in their children the values of honesty, integrity and treating their fellow humans with compassion, an attitude that prevails in many modern African American families. During the period of slavery, African Americans found strength and unity through communal worship. In addition, African Americans, once freed from slavery, were very active in forming their own churches, most of them Baptist or Methodist. Although, my mother converted to Islam after marrying my father once he joined the Nation of Islam, she educated her children about her religious background which was Baptist. I rely on my faith to give me the inspiration I need to move forward

As Norman Mailer once put it, "In America, the country was the religion. And all the religions of the land were fed from that first religion. . . ."

David Machackeny does a case study on the United States to clarify that there is nothing new about religious plurality, but simply the growing presence in certain areas. In the western part of the United States many migrant workers

On July 12, 2007, for the first time in American history the Senate session that day was opened by a prayer; unlike any other prayer, it was given by a Hindu priest. At first sight, it would seem as though the ideals designed by the framers of the Constitution were alive and well; the pluralization of the United States of America, the land of freedom of religion, and the right to worship without persecution. However, the Christian right wing religious group Operation Save America entered the Senate floor and began to heckle Rajan Zed, the Hindu priest, perpetuating that Hinduism is an “abomination”, as Hindus do not worship “The lord Jesus Christ”. This leads us to ask the question: Is America a land of religious pluralism, or is it a