PART I: THE ORIGINAL CAST

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PART I THE ORIGINAL CAST

• Each with long traditions
• Each dating back to or before - Columbus

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Religion in the United States is founded on a mix
of five different elements
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Review Religion in America
The Original Cast Native American Faiths Judaism
Roman Catholicism Protestant-Christianity Black Center African American Religion Nationhood
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PART II MANYNESS
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But Religion in American is amazingly diverse
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1. Sectarianism

• How are religions born?
• One persons life-changing experience
• Small, voluntary, circle of disciples
• Sect The first stage of a religion
• Ancient Christianity was a kind of sect

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Sect the first stage of a religion

1. Restorationism
2. Millennialism (often Pre-, sometimes Post-)
3. Perfectionism - Strict behavioral rules
4. Separation Strict Border between US THEM)
   break with the World

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Sects Example During the Protestant
Reformation of the 1500s

• Dozens of small SECTS
• Radical life-changes
• Voluntary Groups
• Restorationist/ Pre-Millennial Perfectionism
  Separation
• Example the Puritans

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Puritans

• 1550s Small band within Anglican Church
• Want to restore and purify the Church
• Millenialists Perfectionists Separate from the
  World
• In New England, they become THE church
• Descendants Congregationalists some Baptists
• Huge impact on US culture!

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Sects

• Sects, like the Puritans, grow into large,
  mainstream Churches
• Or die out
• Though some sects survive as very small, very
  committed groups THE AMISH

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2. Born in America THE MORMONS

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• Joseph Smith (1805-44)
• Book of Mormon
• Persecution 1844, murder of Smith
• Brigham Young (1801-77)

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Mormons

• CREED
• Reality Spirit Matter
• We all are to be as gods
• CULT
• Endowment Ceremony
• Baptism of the dead

• CODE
• Strict behavior standards
• COMMUNITY
• Strong family ties
• Strong Church ties

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2002 Latter Day Saints are 5 religion in USA
5,000,000 members one of the fastest growing
religions in the world
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3. Born in AmericaThe Christian Scientists

• Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910)
• Phineas Quimby (1802-66)
• 1875 Science Health
• 1879 Church of Christ, Scientist

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Christian Science

1. God as Principle, Force, Energy, Male
   Female Principle
2. Practitioners can get in tune with the Divine
   Mind
3. Result mental physical healing

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4. Born in AmericaTHE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

• William Miller (1782-1849)
• 1844 Great Disappointment
• Ellen White (1827-1915)
• Restorationism Sabbatarians
• Anti-Creeds (Trinity Hell)
• Perfectionism strict behavioral rules pacifism
• Pre-Millenarianism rejection of State

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WILLIAM MILLER (1782-1849) ELLEN WHITE
(1827-1915)
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5. Born in AmericaTHE JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

• Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)
• Adventist-like fascination with Second Coming
  (1874? 1914?)
• Restorationism, Millenialism, Perfectionism,
  Separation from World

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The Jehovahs Witnesses

• Anti-Creeds (reject Incarnation Trinity)
• Strict behavioral rules (no blood transfusions
  strict sexual ethics no holidays no oaths)
• Aggressive proselytizing
• 1931 Adopt name
• 2002 90,000 congregations 1,000,000 members

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6. COMMUNALISM Shakers

• Ann Lee (1736-1784)
• The Shaking Quakers
• Restorationism Millenialism Prefectionism
  Separation from World
• Community Living
• Simple Life
• Celibacy

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7. CommunalismThe Oneida Perfectionists

• John Humphrey Noyes (1811-1886)
• Restorationism Millenialism Perfectionism
  Separation
• Oneida Community
• Plural Marriage
• 1878 300 members

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Conclusion Just how far can religious experiment
go in America?

• The Branch Davidians
• 1929 Victor Houteff (1886-1955) breaks with 7th
  Day Adventists
• Reestablish the pure Kingdom of David!
• David Koresh (1959-1993)

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1993 US Government accuses Davidians of having
guns abusing children FBI, ATF raid the
compound in Waco, Texas 74 killed