Christianity In The New World

During the Lit Circles discussion last week, I chose to read Early American Religious Traditions: Native Visions and Christian Providence. It touched on the influences of Christianity in the Native American culture and the beginning of the separation of church and state. Protestants weren't as adamant to "save souls" like the Catholics because they were more worried about the well-being of their colonies. Trading was usually the only contact they'd make with the Natives but eventually religion would come into the picture. Several Native American tribes adopted ideas of Christianity while keeping their original traditions intact. The Native American Church of North America still uses peyote as a part of their religious practice.

The beginning of the separation of church and state originated when town leaders realized that toleration was necessary to growth within the community. William Penn and the Quakers capitalized on expanding their communities by opening the doors to Jews, Puritans, and many other denominations. America's ideas of religious freedom and separation of church and state originated long before the Founding Fathers.