American History - Colonial Religion

AMERICAN HISTORY

Colonial Religion

From the earliest times, religion has shaped American history. Although Protestants have dominated most of that history, others have contributed greatly to shaping American religion, and the country has proven an exceptionally diverse place concerning religion, mirroring its polyglot immigrant roots. Traditional Native American religion is practiced alongside Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, and Protestantism, among many other spiritual traditions. This religious diversity stems from many of the steps taken by colonial worshippers.

Religious diversity in America originated with Native Americans. The multitude of Native American societies throughout North America practiced many religions, each with its own unique religious beliefs and practices. A few characteristics were common to almost all Native American religions, however. Virtually every native culture possessed a well-developed religious system that was passed down from one generation to another orally. In addition, most societies recognized a supreme being who took on various forms and functions, and many recognized lesser supernatural beings, as well as a supreme evil being. Most Native Americans also believed in some type of afterlife where all that was good on earth followed them.

Native Americans hoped to please the supernatural beings of their religious beliefs to ensure favorable weather for crops or superiority in warfare over their enemies. Also, Native American religions usually did not distinguish between the natural and the supernatural, meaning that spiritual forces worked freely in the material world, influencing the outcome of everyday events. Despite this rich religious heritage, Native Americans were generally viewed as irreligious by the Europeans who came to North America beginning in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Europeans who arrived in the New World were fired by both political and religious motivations. Throughout the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, Europe experienced tremendous religious upheaval as the Protestant Reformation challenged the ascendancy of Catholicism across the continent. International political rivalries became religious rivalries, like that between Catholic Spain and Protestant England.

A key battleground in this spiritual contest was North America, which England, France, and Spain all rushed to colonize. French Catholics dominated New France, while Spanish Catholics controlled New Spain; they not only claimed political power in those regions but also attempted to convert the Native Americans who fell within their purview. They established missions in Florida, the Southwest, and the Great Lakes region. French Jesuit Jacques Marquette, for example, arrived in New France (present-day Canada) in 1666 and proved to be an important Catholic presence among the Native Americans