If America is so religious why so few Shakers?
374255
maybe its location. maybe its birth rate. maybe its something else.
208136
Because either A. they are not saved and are so lost or B. they are not from America..the one's who are seem to be hypocrites..i see your point here 100%
918031
I don't think that should be a factor.  Our representatives should be experts in relevant fields.  Religion is not one of those fields.  There probably should, however, be someone knowledgeable about human culture who could explain to the aliens the place religion has on earth.
503031
I agree. We need religion back in the heart of this nation. No one can argue it was founded on Religion. God is mentioned in so many documents, letters and journals of our fathers. The sooner we wake up and accept this, the sooner we will change for the better.
1021123
I believe it is because so many questions come from USA where most people are religious, go to church and are puzzled by what information they receive there.  Clearly their concerns are not answered by their priest etc.  In Australia only 1% of the population attends church regularly so there is not the concern about religious matters, and therefore not the steady flow of questions of this type
1022258
Interesting that most people have said Nationalism, thats probably true if you're an American since we think we are so great. However in a global scale I think religion is more dividing than nationalism.
107498
Yes, as an american, I firmly believe that most americans are idiots. They pick a president based on things like the bible and gay marriage. First off, how many people have ever been to a gay wedding? (not many) Secondly, there's a separation of church and state in the constitution.....so why does the bible matter in government? They should be considering things like, who can "balance a budget", can reform education, positively influence the economy, etc. But hey.....most just care who does what with who in the dark. I think that's pretty stupid.
105262
America was founded on freedom.  Our forefathers didn't want the government imposing anything on its citizens.  In modern times, religious references in a public, governmental setting walks a fine line.
695954
God told them to and the actually believe it .\nPeople who believe in religions are easily manipulated .\nJust look at the republican party to see what I mean .\nThe rich Godless leaders have managed to convince the poor working believers that we are all the same .\nWe are not .Money and power divide america into the haves and have nots .
85485
I have heard of them and come from a similar group -- Quakers.\n\nThe Shakers are an offshoot of the Religious Society of Friends (or Quakers) that originated in Manchester, England in the early 18th century. Strict believers in celibacy, Shakers maintained their numbers through conversion and adoption. Once boasting thousands of adherents, today the Shakers number less than a handful of people living in Maine.\n\nHope this helps.
1054677
Christian fundamentalism. Americans are a lot more uptight about such things than most of the rest of the world. Our (American's) adherance to religious doctrine served us well through the developmental stages of our country, but I feel that we're getting to the time where we should probably start thinking for ourselves a bit more.
1008312
i am more afraid of the fact we have run-away legislation that is removing our civil liberties.\nWe have people of many faiths in government and the one thing i know about religion is none of them get along.\nI have noticed a trend towards more co-operation though among the different faiths in electing politicians.\nRELIGION is under a microscope these days and slowly more facts are pointing to it being silly superstition rooted in fear and the un-known.\nTHE bible or books of all religions include people that have lived around the times people write stories including there profits and unless your profit is the ruler or king of the land no information exists to support there existence\nPilgrimages did not begin till well after the stories were told and only slowly grew over hundreds of years .PEOPLE did not begin going to the site of jesus tomb or crucifixion for over 200 years.\nTHEY (religious leaders) are beginningto scramble to hold on to beleivers.churches are falling into ruin in america and new mega churches are springing up .THESE churches have seating for 10 and 20 thousand members and if you doubt there political involvement you have not noticed whats happenong in america.THEY have many political agends and community involvement at  the highest levels .THESE people once motivated buy there leader or politician become campaign advocates making calls walking precincts and turning out votes for the people choosen for them by there leaders.\nTHESE choosen politicians are as blind as a bat to the needs of americans and serve only the mega churches values this does not represent america but only about 1% of the community that is very active.\nIF democrats ever want to be elected they need a strong orginized base like these mega churches provide for consevatives.\nREMEMBER if i can get you in a room and tell you jesus said so that one hour sermon just got turned into a political ralley if given in a mega church.\nreligion is on its way out in america this is its last flash and appears  bright but the light will fade out quickly.\nWE can not ignor the impact of this and will need to remove and repair some laws written during this time over the last twenty years.\nRELIGION is becoming a thing of the past , only religious leaders of the catholic church , there politicians, support the mexicans here who just so happen to be predominently catholic.\nBUT my friend bush is attacking the press for giving him such a hard time for 8 months when he took (TOOK) office and had no support for anything and went on vacation till 9-11.NOW bush beleives he was meant to be the leader of the new crusades against fundimental religious leaders who have declared war on all christians world wide.THEY SEE our bible as wrong and the peoplle following the devil so bushes responce is bring it on and he will track them down to the ends of the earth never giving-up.\nHAD we not tried to change there way of live and not brought western ideas and crimes with us they would have ignored us but 40 years of interferance in there way of life lead to this point.I fear idiots like bush and a religious people but now we see them all for what they are and soon america will evolve beyond mystical and fear driven populations concerned more about personel gain and profit then religion.
414831
I don't understand how this country (US) could be founded on religion when the 1st amendment guarantees the separation of church and state. Politicians who seek votes by professing their religion don't look like idiots to me. To me they come across as being anti-American.
436612
You can compare 'The United States' with other countries (don't forget that 'America' is one of two continents), and you can compare 'religion in The United States' to 'religion in other countries', but you can't report on 'the difference between America [sic] and other countries [sic] religion' because they aren't the same thing.
287929
First, there are those who don't believe in HIM. Second, some people are so involved with matters of living, that they don't recognize that he is knocking. This include  people who consider themselves Christians. They are too involved with making money, their free time off, vacations, etc.The only time they have for God is one hour on Sunday, and they are back to their usual routine. Look what happen after 9/11. Churches around the US were up to capacity, but as time goes by, the crowds get thinner and thinner, and pretty soon, only the regular church goers were left.Some people tend to call upon God only to aid them in their needs. When their needs are fulfilled, then God is cast aside again, until they need Him again.I know that this sounds like a harsh judgment, but thats the way it is with some people.
986427
Actually there is.  There is over a million Muslims in the USA and over 800 Islamic centers of worship.   There are very many very wealthy Muslims in high places and quite a few are very good friends with the Bush's family.\nMany upper middle income family's, that are doctors, lawyers, and company owners of stores, gas stations, etc.  Who are very loyal to this country and they do vote.  They have a very influential lobby and a lot of influence over our governmental process, just as any other Americans do.  So do the Jewish religion.  As the above guy said, There is a Saudi lobby that is very powerful.
456772
America is a secular country.  The main religion is the worship of the almighty dollar!\n\nThe United States has no official religion.  In contrast to the United Kingdom, in which the head of state is also head of the established church, the United States has a separation of church and state.  Freedom of religion is a fundamental constitional doctrine.\n\nHowever, Christianity is certainly the majority religion.  The United States has a more actively religious population than many other western democracies, especially the UK.