Religion. US vs. UK

The US can be considered multireligious from the beginning due to religious freedom serving as an important factor for settlers and immigrants, thus producing a more diverse society in terms of faith. Britain, on the other hand, has mainly been a Christian dominated society and religious pluralism was not a feature of the British until after the Second World War and the arrival of more diverse newcomers.Therefore, in recent years, the trend that can be observed in British religion is its increasing diversity. 

Generally speaking, religion plays only a marginal role in British society, just like it does in most of Europe. Religious affiliation is usually weak, although most Britons tend to state one. Attendance at church is seldom more than occasional. But most Britons still choose to get married and baptize their children in church. We can say that a new habit pertaining to religion has been developed in Britain: believing without belonging. 

  

This can be illustrated by the figures of the Church of England.

26 million Britons stated a religious affiliation and identification with the Church. But less than 2 million Britons are active in the church on regular basis. So what was challenged in Britain was not the belief in God but participation in organized religion.

On the other hand, increased secularization is also evident in British society, with 25% stating that they have no religious affiliation and 7% not stating a religious affiliation. Overall, fewer than one in five Britons participates in religious activity in any kind of sustained manner. 

The notable exception to this tendency can be found among Britain’s so-called new religions, such as Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism brought to Britain by newcomers since WWII. Increased mulireligiosity coupled with increased secularization can then be considered main characteristics regarding the position of religion in Britain today. 

 

For centuries, the British were predominantly Christian, the only notable divisions being between the churches of England and Scotland and between Protestants and Catholics. But the arrival since 1950s of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent has brought more Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus to Britain. Unfortunately, the diversity has brought social tensions, in part because these new religions are identified with ethnic minorities and, thus, are an element in the racism that has become a feature of society in Britain, and in part because of the broader conflict between Muslims and the West. 

 

OFFICIAL POSITION OF RELIGION IN BRITAIN

State and church are not separated in Britain. The Church of England is the established church, meaning it is a national religion. Consequently, the monarch points the leaders of the church in England and is its Supreme Governor, referred to us the Defender of the Faith. Furthermore, the leaders of the Church of England, 24 senior bishops and the two archbishops are entitled to serving in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, giving them a position of influence, far beyond other religions in Britain. Additionally, British schools teach a compulsory religious subject in school emphasizing Christianity, which has caused some controversy regarding whether it violates the principle of religious freedom. 

 

Prince Charles has also advocated the change for the monarchy in connection with religion, stating that the monarch should be the protector of all faiths, not the defender of the faith. Despite these debates and challenges in multi-faith society, discrimination based on religion has been illegal since 1829, when religious freedom was established. And some critics argue that the link between state and church is not as prominent or problematic as its opponents argue. 

RELIGION IN THE US

 

Religion has historically played an important role in the US, and it continues to be central in American society today, indicating that there is more fertile soil for religion in the US compared to Britain and other western countries. It is assumed that “the more technologically advanced the country becomes, the more religion is downgraded”(Russel Duncan). The US, on the other hand, which has both modernized and globalized, has not seen a decline in religion. Rather religion remains a growth industry. In comparison, there are more places of worship and more people stating that they are religious in the US compared to Britain. 

In the 2004 poll, 80% of Americans stated that they have always believed in God, whereas in a similar poll in Britain, less than 45% said the same. Still, there is a lower formal membership in the US than in Britain, since no state or national church has been established. There have been experiments with the government established religion at times, such as the Puritans and pilgrims in Massachusetts, the Anglicans in Virginia and Georgia, the Jesuits in California, and the Mormons in Utah, but “American history is punctuated with religious freedom” (Russell Duncan). 

 

The mixture of the large numbers of believers of different faiths has demanded tolerance and helped persuade the founders to state in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. 

The separation between state and church must also be seen in connection with the experiences of religious persecution many American new comers had seen in the Old World. They associated established religion, as seen in Europe, with authority, oppression, class, hierarchy, and believed this to be undemocratic and in violation of the principles of the New World. 

This separation between state and church, coupled with strong religious affiliations, make the US both remarkably secular and remarkably religious. This is also illustrated in the civil religion evidence in American society which goes beyond individual affiliation. American civil religion is a notion of a broad umbrella religious belief visible in nation, culture and identity. This is illustrated by national symbols like the Constitution,  bills and coins, and the belief in exceptionalism. 

The country semi-official motto “In God we trust” is located on every piece of currency and the Pledge of Allegiance as long included the words “One Nation, Under God”. 

The US military employs chaplains and builds churches on military bases. Religious groups are supported by having tax-exempt status. All of this seems clearly contradictory to the historical American rejection of an established religion, as does the continuing tradition of lightning a Christmas tree on the White House lawn. 

Even though Congress cannot sanction any religious holiday, presidents are often photographed, praying or attending church services. In other words, the First Amendment ensures freedom of, not from religion, which remains a central aspect in American culture. Americans represent a classic enlightenment view of tolerance and non-interference in the lifestyle of other people. Consequently, open religious prejudice is rare, since Americans have the so called faith in faith.