Survey of Religion in America ED 301 ED 301 –Phil Kaiser-Parlette –Kurt Rausch –Kevin Hill

Lesson forReligious Tolerance Intended for grades Intended for grades

Objective: To inform students of the religious diversity of America To inform students of the religious diversity of America To help develop tolerance towards all religions To help develop tolerance towards all religions

Required Materials: Pen or pencil Pen or pencil Paper Paper An open mind An open mind Willingness to answer and ask questions Willingness to answer and ask questions

Major Religions of America: Christianity Christianity Judaism Judaism Islam Islam Non-religious Non-religious

Christianity Estimated 225 million U.S. population (76%) Estimated 225 million U.S. population (76%) Many different denominations (and sub- denominations) including: Many different denominations (and sub- denominations) including: –Catholicism –Protestant –Mormon

Christianity Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died for mankind’s sins and was resurrected. Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died for mankind’s sins and was resurrected. Primary origins from many sections of Europe Primary origins from many sections of Europe Place of worship called a church Place of worship called a church Holy book called the Bible Holy book called the Bible

Judaism Roughly 4 million U.S. residents Roughly 4 million U.S. residents World’s first major monotheistic religion World’s first major monotheistic religion Origins with Abraham, roughly around 1800 BC Origins with Abraham, roughly around 1800 BC Holy Book called the Torah Holy Book called the Torah Despite relatively small population, possess great influence over American foreign policy, specifically with regards to Israel Despite relatively small population, possess great influence over American foreign policy, specifically with regards to Israel Place of worship called the synagogue Place of worship called the synagogue

Islam Belief in Mohammad as the final Prophet Belief in Mohammad as the final Prophet Holy book called the Qur’an Holy book called the Qur’an Roughly 1.5 million U.S. residents Roughly 1.5 million U.S. residents Place of worship called a mosque Place of worship called a mosque

Other major religions in America Non-religious/Secular: 39 million Non-religious/Secular: 39 million –Agnosticism –Atheism –Deism –Humanism

Other major religions Buddhism Buddhism –1.5 million U.S. residents –Origins in southeast Asia

Other major religions Hinduism Hinduism –Roughly 1 million U.S. residents –Origins in India –Some holy books: Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita Upanishads Upanishads

Issues with Religion in America Constitution Constitution –1 st Amendment Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses: Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses: –“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof “

Supreme Court Cases Engle v. Vitale (1962) Engle v. Vitale (1962) –Mandatory prayer in school unconstitutional Lemon v. Kurtzman Lemon v. Kurtzman –Three criteria for determining degree of involvement of religion with schools Employment Division v. Smith Employment Division v. Smith

Religious Conflicts Protestants v. Catholics Protestants v. Catholics –Mistrust of Catholics through American history until relatively recently –Foreign conflicts such as Northern Ireland can touch home, taking the form of protests Post 9-11 Fear of Muslims Post 9-11 Fear of Muslims Tensions between Israel and Palestine affects U.S. foreign policy Tensions between Israel and Palestine affects U.S. foreign policy

Student Activities Listen to religious speakers from various religions Listen to religious speakers from various religions

Student Activities Do a comparison/contrast paper on the belief systems and practices of two religions Do a comparison/contrast paper on the belief systems and practices of two religions

Student Activities Visit different religious sites (i.e. Catholic and/or Protestant churches, Jewish synagogue, Islamic mosque, etc) Visit different religious sites (i.e. Catholic and/or Protestant churches, Jewish synagogue, Islamic mosque, etc)

Student Activities Try to participate in a religious holiday/event of which you are unfamiliar with Try to participate in a religious holiday/event of which you are unfamiliar with

Student Activities Do a report on the religious persecution (in America) of a particular religion or denomination Do a report on the religious persecution (in America) of a particular religion or denomination

Websites –Official Vatican website –Website of Islamic group and their efforts to support education religions religions religions religions –Population figures of religious groups in U.S.

Websites REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html –Brief information on a number of holy books /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm –Website detailing the free exercise clause and Supreme Court cases involving it

Sources of Information 1. religions 1. religions religions religions m 3. m m m

Sources of Information 4. /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm 4. /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm 5. REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html 5. REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html