Christianity History

During the early 17th century, when Christianity first emerged in America, the goal of its earliest settlers was not only to strengthen the Church of England but also to spread their faith throughout the land. As a single, cohesive unit these settlers worked arduously to develop a country of strong Christian identity. Now, nearly 400 years later, their work has proved to be in vain. Yet despite America's increasing lack of concern in religious affairs in the 21st century, the country still remains widely Christian. According to a 2002 census, nearly 80% of the United States population identify themselves with the Christian religion. With this in mind, one cannot help but ask: "Why is it that after several hundred years of religious regression, America still remains widely Christian? Can this secular entity be considered a Christian nation any longer?" The answers to these questions lay within the fact that the term "Christian" has lost its true meaning in America. It has been tossed around so frequently, that in the end, it becomes like any other word. To many, it is merely used as a "name tag" with no real sense of identity. Ultimately, the lack of identity in American Christianity is what makes it so appealing. When one can concoct a unique form of doctrine to meet his/her own needs and in the end, claim it to be yet another "form" of Christianity, why wouldn't a person find it appealing?

The lack of identity of American Christianity is the direct result of constantly changing interpretations of a single belief system. In 2002, a survey asked a group of Americans to clearly define the term "Christian" as they understood it. Nearly 90% of those surveyed responded with the same basic answer: "Someone who goes to church". This ignorance is what has driven America into the crux of blind conformity. American society has become so fixated with its own individual definitions of salvation and what it means to be Christian that it can no longer keep track of what it currently believes. This in turn, creates a skewed perception in the mind of the "believer". What was once considered immoral or sinful may suddenly become an acceptable norm in society. The issue of homosexual marriage is a perfect example. Homosexual relations, which are clearly condemned in the Bible, are, in today's society accepted by many of today's liberal Christians. While a