America exited World War 2 as one of the two strongest countries. It saw itself as the defender of western culture and an agent against atheism. Most people were still protestant, but the country was making a shift towards religious freedom for the majority. Catholicism started to grow, and they even started their own educational system. Church attendance was at it’s highest ever in the 1950’s, but baby boomers in the 1960’s started to go against societal norms. Trust in government and trust in the church plummeted. There were four public concerns that are highlights in the shift: “civil rights, the “war on poverty,” opposition to the war in Vietnam, and women’s liberation” (Jacobsen 202). Christianity’s response to these events defined American religious life today as one being directly associated with politics. People don’t define themselves through theology anymore, they define themselves through ethics and public policies. “Specific denominational identities have been largely set aside” which has given rise to the growth of congregation-centered, non-denominational Protestantism (Jacobsen 204). Americans these days want churches that support themselves and that aren’t tied to a larger body. Where you go matters, not the specifics of what you believe in. People who are “religious” are associated with organized religion and are viewed negatively, while being “spiritual” is the new trend because it’s authentic, unique, and allows separation from the harsh rules and strict laws of the past. Americans don’t know or don’t agree with the religious denominations of the past so they choose to move away from organized religion as a whole. Americans are combining religions, picking and choosing what they like and dislike, or avoiding it altogether. The shift towards individuality over organized religion isn’t negative, but it’s changed people’s understanding of Christianity dramatically.

      Religious freedom is a huge characteristic associated with Christian Americans. The idea of “soul liberty” first came up in the early 1600’s by Roger Williams, and then continued through the Baptists and Quakers. It was to do with not constraining people’s religious beliefs and allowing them to find God on their own. This is an idea that is largely thought of today. People don’t want to be convinced into believing a religion, it isn’t authentic that way, they must find God themselves. When Americans do find God, He is much different than the God of the past. Early Puritans characterized God as believing all humans “deserve to be cast into hell,” creating an anxiety that came out during the Great Awakening (Jacobsen 217). People felt God come into their lives, they felt Him working through them, and this evolved into feelings of reassurance that they’re all going to heaven as long as they believe. Jesus became a friend, a father. He doesn’t force himself on anyone, but will provide salvation and happiness as long as you know He is real. Also, faith in America is largely associated with community. The Puritans spoke of it in the past, and Martin Luther King Jr. reintroduced the idea when he spoke of a community based on love. He wanted people to respect each other and to work together in a “beloved community.” Instead of seeking personal triumph, Americans focus on giving back to society and their community. This is the same when it comes to Christian Americans, and it all comes back to American’s freedom to choose a religion of their choice.

      If I could create a “super Christianity,” it would look much like the religion that Jesus spoke of in the New Testament. Loving God and loving your neighbor would be the only points people are concerned about. If people focused on loving each other, hateful rhetoric and violent actions would vanish. Religious freedom would be a large part of it, and not imposing your religious will on others would be a main idea. Loving your neighbors means loving people of other religions too. Don’t look down on those that believe in different things, it isn’t the Christian way. Also, people would teach those who are seeking religion and wouldn’t force it on them. Instead of missionaries focusing on turning others to Jesus, they should solely focus on helping the poor. If people ask about a religion or seek it out, teach them then, but don’t brainwash children to advance your own selfish agenda. I love the devotion African communities have for their god, and I love the urge to help the poor in Latin America, but hating or acting against others because they’re different in appearance or because they believe in different things would be the biggest change. Equality would be the strongest point, along with loving all people, and loving God most of all.