Over the years, American churches have experienced a lot of challenges. Cultural clash is among these challenges where it became hard to attract the immigrants into the churches. This was mostly due to the language barrier because the American churches preachers could only communicate in English and so the immigrants from other countries such as Spain and Mexico could not understand the language.
It was hard to find church leaders who had leadership skills to lead the masses. Also, there was not enough space to accommodate all the worshippers who attended church services. The American religious life started experiencing some changes starting from the year 1960. The American people also began experiencing some changes brought about by religious beliefs. This essay will try to explain factors that are influential in shaping the future of religion in America.
Research has shown that many Americans have no religious preference; they are confused as to which religion to follow and practice. The percentage of those with no religion is shown to increase sharply. For instance, in the year 1992, those without religion stood at 8 percent while last year (2013) the figure increased to 20 percent. Additionally, the black Americans are also believed to be more religious than the whites (Hout, Michael and Claude 4).
Many researchers have found out that religion is one of the main factors that contribute towards good behaviors among American teenagers. The process of shaping the behavior of youths in America should start from their early childhood. It should, therefore, be introduced in primary schools and kindergartens.
Parents are advised to make sure that their children comprehend the importance of religion and its impact on their life. This is because research has shown that religious teenagers are unlikely to engage in behaviors that are health-compromising such as smoking, drugs and committing suicide in a bid to avoid stress and hopelessness. Religion helps in guiding them on how to avoid all these during their adolescence stage where there are a lot of temptations (Smith 17).
Religion and health are believed to be related. The relationship between the two is accelerated by research programs conducted by researchers. It has been found out that religion can influence the outcomes of physical or mental health of individuals.
Religion offers education to people on how to regulate their lifestyle and health associated behaviors. It also helps in developing health beliefs and generating positive emotions. The American population should be informed about this relationship that will change their view towards religion (Ellison and Levin 700).
Media should be used to inform people about religion. More print journals should be published on the recent impacts of religion and its importance to the social status of Americans. This will help a big deal in the spread of religious activities. Media is one of the fastest modes of sending information and it has an effect on the wider population.
The sociology of religion should be printed on top-rated journals to generate interest among readers. They should publish their journals in various languages so as to help those who do not understand English get the information. These activities by the media will help in the distribution of religion because it is no doubt that in America religious beliefs are salient (Sherkat and Ellison 368).
Another factor that influences religious socialization is geographic mobility. Research has shown that the regional concentration of religious groups in one area has resulted in some behavioral characteristic patterns. People migrating to areas where there is less commitment to religion are believed to change their attitude towards religion.
African Americans from the rural south have strong faith in religion and are not easy to influence to change to nonreligious persons. In addition, it alters the religious affiliation such as joining other religious movements by changing the social ties of individuals. Emphasis should be on spreading the religious beliefs to all regions in America (Sherkat and Ellison 368).
Gender is another factor that is believed to have an effect on religion. Research shows that gender is historically viable; women as per the research are more religious than men. This is as a result of women being disadvantaged and lacking power in the community. Women are now looking for opportunities in religion believing that this will help them reduce their problems. This explains the increased number of women with religious conviction (Woodhead 58).
In conclusion, there are many factors that are influential in shaping the future of religion in America. These factors will either influence people to view religion negatively or positively. Some of these factors are family issues, health and well-being, politics, social life, media, and geographic mobility.
Religion is important because it helps us reduce family problems through avoiding bad politics, choosing good areas to establish a home and also socializing with good elements in society. Religious groups are advised to pass on the importance of religion to all people living in America in order to attract them into having a religious belief. This will help in shaping the future of religion in America.
Works Cited
Ellison, Christopher and Levin Jeffry. “The religion-health connection: Evidence, theory, and future directions.” Health Education and Behavior, 25.1 (1998):700-720. Print.
Hout, Michael and Claude Fischer. “Why more Americans have no religious preference: Politics and generations”, American Sociological Review, 67.1 (2002): 165-190. Print.
Sherkat, Darren and Ellison Christopher. “Recent Developments and current Controversies in the Sociology of Religion.” Annual Review of Sociology, 25.1 (1999):363-394. Print.
Smith, Christian. “Theorizing Religious Effects among American Adolescents.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 42.1 (2003): 17–30. Print.
Woodhead, Linda. Religion and Personal Life: Debating Ethics and Faith with Leading Thinkers and Public Figures. London: Darton Longman & Todd Ltd, 2003. Print.