Religious Freedom
Where else in the world can we go and find so many different types of religion, denominations, and worship styles without the fear of one intimidating the other. In America, we can openly worship without worrying about the government throwing us in prison or worse. In fact, Article I of the U.S. Constitution protects us from government intervention.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Why does America have such deep roots in religion?
Religious persecution drove settlers from Europe to the North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America. New England colonies, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were established "as plantations of religion." The majority of settlers were enthusiastic about creating "a city on a hill."
Puritans who were English Protestants, wanted to reform and purify the Church of England were considered unacceptable Roman Catholics. The English state and church were unsympathetic to the Puritan demands and savagely punished them. In 1630 up to 20,000 Puritans emigrated to the America from England for the freedom to worship. The New England colonies were called the "Bible Commonwealths" because they sought guidance from scriptures in regulating their lives. Scripture was sited as authority in many criminal laws.
In 1654, twenty-three Jews fled Brazil to New Amsterdam (later to be called New York), and by the following year has established religious services in this small community. Small numbers of Jew continued to settle in the American colonies and by 1776, had established several synagogues.
By 1680, ten-thousand Quakers had been imprisoned in England where 243 died of torture and mistreatment. Because of this reign of terror, the Quakers sought refuge in New Jersey in the 1670s. By 1685 as many as 8,000 Quakers had settled in Pennsylvania following the Quaker leader William Penn.
In 1683 the first group of Germans settled in Pennsylvania which included Mennonites and Dutch Quakers and by 1720 large numbers of Lutherans and German Reformed also settled in Pennsylvania. In 1634, two ships of about 200 settlers found its way to Maryland. Among the settlers were two Catholic priests that escaped the anti-Catholic laws of England who were spiritually led by the Jesuits.
After the Glorious Revolution of 1689 in England, the Church of England was established in the colony and imposed the English penal laws depriving the Catholics the right to vote, worship publically, and hold office. However, the Catholics remained faithful awaiting better times, which turned out to be the American Revolution.
It becomes obvious why religion was an integral part of everyday life in early America and it is obvious why today, religious freedom and tolerance in America are an important part of American life.