A MULTITUDE OF FAITHS

American Religion: Diversity and Tolerance

The people of the United States, or their ancestors, came from all parts of the world. Those who came brought their religious beliefs with them, while new religious movements took form on American soil. Americans, therefore, are not a people who, as in most of the world, have shared a common culture, including a common religion, for many centuries. As Americans are a mingling of many peoples, American religion is a mingling of many faiths.

One result of this is that no one religious group is predominant. There is no single majority religion, only a wide variety of minority religions. Another result is that Americans, while religious, tend to be tolerant of religious differences. This tolerance is not perfect, but it is widespread enough to make toleration, along with diversity, a major characteristic of American religion.

This essay will explore the nature and development of American religious diversity and tolerance. It will begin with a brief account of American religious origins, and how diversity and tolerance have grown over time. This discussion will include the ways that toleration has been limited and offset by bigotry at various times.

As a specific example of the place of one religious faith in American life, the role of Islam will be considered, as well as the Black Muslim movement, a sect that originated in the United States, having initially little relationship t

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Category: Philosophy - A