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- In the United States of America, religion is a focal point in a large quantity of individuals’ lives. In rare countries, you can find that their population practices the majority of all religions like America does. The U.S. has a level of religious freedom that its citizens take pride in and strive to uphold through laws and cultural beliefs. Through religion, people are able to form and confirm their values and views based on sanctified texts and beliefs. The opportunity to choose a religion allows people living in the U.S. to explore what ideology fits their identity.
- My perspective on religion in the U.S. is based on my upbringing as a Roman Catholic. From birth, I was introduced to the religion by being baptized and grew up going to church every Sunday and receiving all my sacraments. What I understood was that religion was a necessary part of one’s life to become a well-rounded individual. Later on in life religion became a smaller factor in my life and as I got older I learned that for some, my religion was a negative force in theirs. And for many, religious freedom was not an option. Although I did not choose to become a Catholic, for it was brought to me by my parents, I grew up and decided how much of the religion I wanted in my life. In the U.S. religious freedom is a factor of our culture but it is multi-faceted.
- Someone outside of the U.S. might view the religious and cultural aspects differently from someone who lives here. They could see the U.S. as having complete freedom of choice compared to many other countries. For example, in Italy, the main religion is Roman Catholicism which is deeply ingrained in the country’s culture. In the U.S. there are a variety of religions that dominate the population including Protestants, Mormons, Christians, and more. When an entire country is mainly a single religion it can be harder to find a community of like-minded people if you practice something else. So someone outside the U.S. viewing the country might think that there is a greater religious diversity, while some might view that as the opposite of cultural unification.
- Thinking and writing out my thoughts on cultural aspects from the viewpoint of myself and someone who is not familiar with the religious culture of the U.S. helped me open my mind to what I might encounter when going abroad. I have the advantage of traveling to a country where I practice their main religion which allows me to understand their morals and practices. Preparing for traveling abroad for an extended period of time goes beyond booking flights and packing. To adapt and thrive you must be open and eager to learn how other people live their lives. For me, this will mean covering my shoulders in a church or acknowledging that beliefs around religion are different from those of my home country. Going forward, I will continue to consider the many cultural aspects of where I live compared to where I travel.
