Why are Americans more religious than Europeans?

Answer 1

I wish I knew... Americans think they are superior to a certain extent and they must be associated with the superior being? Makes a little sense.

And for those asking how one might know that... Europe is much less religious than America. They are much more secular and religion doesn't matter nearly as much. England and the Netherlands (I think) have nice pockets of atheism and non-belief there... and what's more, they are not made fun of or persecuted like they are in America for not believing.

Answer 2

I studied this in senior year of high school. The USA is more spiritual than Europeans are. "God" does not seem convincing in a world where life is governed by reason. Americans like to think of God as a guide in their everyday lives...a motivator, a healer, a means of enlightenment. Europeans are not considered religious if they don't attend church every week. I'm pretty sure the attendance rate for church in france has decreased into the single digits.

Good question.

Answer 3

You should clarify WESTERN Europe. Eastern Europe is very religious, with VERY Catholic countries of Poland, Croatia and so on. Plus Catholic countries in Western Europe (Ireland, Spain, Italy) are still pretty strongly religious.

But, why christianity is more or less dying out in Protestant countries like Scandanavia, England, Germany is an interesting question. Frankly I think there is a longer and richer tradition of intellectualism in those countries, and intellectualism tends to be antagonistic to religion almost always (and vice versa too!)

Interestingly, mainstream Protestantism in the US is dying out too. Denominations like Lutheranism and Presbyterianism are losing members every year. Since US has a lot of "home grown" charismatic/pentacostal religions (the ones that are growing), the US has a higher % of religious believers.

Answer 4

Americans put on a big show relating to religion, and wear it like a garment, but I don't see any actual difference between Americans and Europeans when it comes to REAL religious beliefs.

Religion in the US is like a huge puddle of water... big show, no depth

Answer 5

Remember who were the first Yanks? The puritans. They didn't leave England to escape oppression, they left so they could practice it.

At a time when all of Europe was going through the Enlightenment, all the extremist religious nuts went to the US.

Answer 6

Because there are more American's than Europeans maybe?

Answer 7

I believe the individuals who reported we've been in accordance with Religous Freedom, no longer religious unfastened! i think of all people might desire to have self belief in some form of better ability, no count if this is Our God, or yet another. If the main ideal Teenage era isn't saved quickly, only 4% of the yankee inhabitants will admit to being Evangilist Christians! Please help unfold the be conscious, save the yankee Dream fro furture Generations!!

Answer 8

Simple, America was founded by Puritans who were fleeing persecution by Europeans. Basically they thought that religion in Europe was too liberal. That's why we have such a, well, Puritanical religious majority.

Answer 9

you would think it would be the other way around. But it just goes back to our founding fathers. Some were some weren't. But everyone finds peace somewhere in religion. It's just been our way of life.

Answer 10

ignorance?

It seems the higher a country values education the less religion plays a part in the people that live there.