Why do Britain and America differ so much in their religious attitude?

Question

Is it something to do with the personality of people who first went to America, perhaps?

Or is the diversion more recent? After all, most people in Britain went to church regularly just 100 years ago.

Or maybe there isn't a difference at all? Although only a small percentage of British people attend a religious service regularly, does anyone know how the percentage of American people who attend religious services compares to this?

(By the way, I'm really talking about Christianity here, primarily because it's the religion I have most knowledge of, although I'd be interested in how people of other religions think the attitude differs (or not) between Britain and America.)

Answer 1

Very true - interestingly though it wasn't always - the forefathers and founders of the US were men of the enlightenment and refreshingly secular. Many of them were deists if not outright atheists.

Now look at the US. A born again Christian president blames invading Iraq on God by saying he told him to do it!

At the time of Jefferson England, where I live was the more religious country. I don't know if its the fact that Britain has had to be so cosmopolitan dealing with Europe whereas The US is so insular. I'd blame a dumbing down of American media and their poor education system for the rise in religious fundamentalism.

Answer 2

You asked an excellent question. Good thinking, and keep searching.

Yes, I think it has very much to do with the founding fathers and mothers. But it also has to do with our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the very social fabric of our society, including our many church, synagogue, mosque, and temple communities.

On the other hand, you can find many similarities. I do not know the percentage of those who attend worship service. I will add that this is meaningless, as many Americans, in our "rugged individualism" know that you don't have to go to church to have faith, and many who do go to church are hypocrites. Read your Gospels, read your Books of the Prophets, Elijiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and so forth.

There are Jews, Moslems, even Buddhists and Hindus in the U.K. as well as in the U.S and Canada. If you are going to discuss religion in America, you must include the others, as we are indeed a multicultural society, as is the United Kingdom.

Answer 3

I wouldn't say that the CofE is a state (official) religion in the way that, say, Communism was the official ideology in the USSR (for example). The main effect it had was that from (some point in) the reformation to the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 Catholicism was outlawed (underground masses, etc.). But these days the CofE as state religion is has more of an effect on national identity (i.e. Queen as head of state and church) than on the nation's religious identity.

Answer 4

Americans are more conservative and less likely to think for themselves, fitting in and conforming is almost an obligation here. There is very little freethinking and eccentricity.

Those of course are massive generalisations and there are many counter-examples but middle America is a pretty scary place for a Brit to venture...

And the statistics are very real, only 5% of British people go to church regularly whereas in the USA its over 50%. I met very few British people who were not atheists or close to it having been to University, here in the USA you cannot make that generalisation.

Answer 5

I can´t give any statistics, but there seem to be more agnostics in England than in the US. Most of the British people I met who belonged to the C of E never attended church, only the few Catholics I knew attended on a regular basis.

It probably has something to do with the pilgrims moving to the colonies in order to worship freely.

Answer 6

Simply put, Britain is a much older culture and has matured over time. Britain has evolved to the point that it recognizes that not everyone is homogeneous, that people have differing views and that being rigidly attached to one religion is simply not a healthy state to be in when you have so many different views. Best to leave religion in Churches, Synagogues or Mosques, but leave civil discourse and law to democracy.

The US, for all it's democratic bluster, really isn't as free as it thinks. Theirs is a nation built on religious puritanism and thus tends towards a more rigid view of religion and government, ironic when they have a separation of church and state ideal in their constitution. That ideal however has been under attack of late. I have lived long enough to recognize the ascendancy of fascism, and the religious right in America is definitely ascending into a fascistic force......quite frightening really.

Answer 7

Look at British TV. It would be rated R if it were here in the US. Their society has changed. Must more liberal. Although the US is also changing.

Also only 30% of Americans say they are born again. Even though like 70% say they are christians. The bible says one must be born again to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
So what does this tell you?
The road is narrow.
†

Answer 8

Well, we were colonized by the Puritans after all. And "religious freedom" only meant free to practice the specific brand of religion that the colony was founded in, at least at first.

As for attending religious services, I only know a few people who do. And most of them are older.

Answer 9

properly the geography is a element, human beings bang on approximately freedom. yet i think of the psychological state of a few human beings exhibits the there is any such difficulty as too lots freedom. They escaped the religious persecution of europe (something we've provided that ditched) and went out into the desert, sat down with a bible and commenced tearing out the pages they didnt like till they got here up with something they enjoyed. After some hundred years you ended up with each and each physique of those extraordinary offshoots of christianity and mormons and scientology. Ive travelled the south of the u . s . a . and ive travelled the midsection east - and the lack of understanding and blind faith is strikingly comparable. the downside being that as others have mentioned Islam is becoming to be worryingly huge interior the united kingdom. Unchecked immigration from places like pakistan have not helped.

Answer 10

Because the British have learned a long time ago, your religion is your own business, it should affect national politics not at all. Nor should people be trying to legislate other peoples morality as long as it doesn't break the law, IE sex with minors, bestiality etc.