American Religion 美国宗教发展历程文档格式.docx

American Religion 美国宗教发展历程文档格式.docx

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AmericanReligion美国宗教发展历程@#@ReligioninAmerica@#@InaChristianworld,manycountriesintheWesthaveexperienceddeclinesinreligiousobservanceandincreasesinsecularizationinthetwentiethcentury.Thisisoftenattributedtotheinfluencesofindustrialization,consumerism,materialism,hedonism,massculture,anduniversaleducation.TheUnitedStates,however,seemstobeanexception.Despiteitsmaterialisticimageandintenseworshipof“mightydollars”,theU.S.stillremainsthemostreligiouscountryintheWesterncountries.IncomparisonwithEuropeancountries,Americanotonlyhasagreaternumberofreligiousbelievers,butalsoenjoysamuchhigherchurchsurvey,TheEconomistreportedthatabout95percentofAmericansbelievedinGod;@#@fouroutoffivebelievedinmiracles,lifeafterdeathandtheVirginMarybirth;@#@6.5percentbelievedinthedevil;@#@75percentbelievedinangels;@#@andnineoutoftenownedabible.Similarly,surveysbytheGallupOrganizationintheearly1990sindicatedthatamongAmericansunder30yearsold,about36percentattendedchurchonregularbasis,whilecloseto47percentofthepeopleatorover50wenttochurchonceinaweek.@#@IsAmericaareligiousculture,shapedbymenwhosoughtfreedomofworship,withGodconstantlypresentintheirmindsevenwhentheChurchhasbecomeformalized?

@#@Orisitasecularculturewithreligionplayingonlyamarginalroleinmen’sdailylivessincetheUntiedStateslongtimeagoseparatedChurchandState?

@#@ToanswerthesetwoquestionsisnolessthanlookingintothedynamicsofAmericancultureandthecomplexityofAmericansociety.Thefactofthematteristhateachofthesequestionscanbeansweredaffirmatively.Americaisassecularasaculturecanbewherereligionhasplayedanimportantroleinitsoriginsandearlygrowth,andhasbeeninterwovenwiththefoundingandmeaningofthesociety.AmericaisalsoasreligiousasaculturecanbewhoselifegoalsareworldlyandwhosedailystrivingsrevolvenotaroundGodbutaroundMan.@#@GodandMan@#@ThemixtureoftheocracyandsecularismisactuallyoneoftheAmericanreligiousheritages.OnecanfindthestrongreligiousbaseofAmericanlifeandthoughtintheolderPuritancommunitiesofNewEnglandandinthenewfrontierstates.TheCalvinistdoctrineofpredestination,forexample,playedadominantroleintheearlycolonists.PeoplemovingtothefrontiersintheWestweremostlyinspiredbythevaststretchoflandavailableforattainment.Theydreamedofgettingrichquick,andatthesametimetriedtocomforttheirsoulsbywagingreligiousrevivalsthere.AtthetimeAmericansembracedEnlightenmentideasandappliedthemintheirpolitical,socialandeconomiclife,theystillconstantlyreferredtotheHolyScriptureforconvictionandreassurance.EveninthecontemporaryAtomicAgewherescienceandtechnologyhasdevelopedtoanunprecedentedlevel,therehasbeenanactiverevivalofreligiousfeelingamongtheAmericanpeople,oldandyoung,inmoderncities.Toacertaindegree,thismixtureof17th-centuryrationalism（ScienceandTechnology）,andmid-20th-centuryrevivalmayhelpexplainsomeofthecontradictionsintherelationsbetweenGodandManinAmerica.@#@Americaisregardedasa“Christiancountry”.TheinfluenceofJudaic-ChristiandoctrinesuponAmericanculturehasbeenprofound.Forexample,thereligiousdoctrineofthesoulissocrucialandpervasiveinWestern（includingAmerican）conceptionsofmanthatnoonewoulddenythatJudaic-ChristiandoctrineisamajorelementinshapingAmericannationalcharacterandculture.InthemindsofAmericanChristianbelievers,theideathatmanhasasoulandthatallsoulsare“equalbeforeGod”hasbeenbasictotheethicalevaluationofindividualpersonality.Theideaoftheworth,dignity,andinviolabilityoftheindividualunquestionablyowesmuchtothisbelief,asdohumanitarianideasandvariousphilosophiesofhumanequality.@#@Historicallyspeaking,thewholeideaofGodandindividualsoulgoesbacktothesixteenthcentury.AsthechildoftheReformation,AmericanstookovernotonlyitsdominantlyProtestantheritage,butalsoitsdeepindividualisticstrain.EveryEuropeansectthathadfounditselfconstrictedorintroubleemigratedtotheNewWorld,whichthusbecamearepositoryofallthedistillationsofReformationthoughtandfeeling.SincetheReformationhadbrokenwiththeauthorityoftheRomanCatholicChurchandlefttotheindividualmeaningoftheScripture,Americabecameacongeriesofjudgingindividuals,eachofthemweighingthemeaningandapplicationoftheWord.ABible-readingpeopleemerged,drenchedinthetraditionoftheOldandNewTestaments.Thismayhelpexplainthestressontheideaof“covenantwithGod”inAmericanthought.ItalsosuggestswhyapeoplesoconcernedwiththemeaningoftheHolyWrithavebeenthef