so why are there so many sects in the usa

[MAXlMUS]

protestants, reformists, baptists, lutherans, calvinists, evangelicals, born again, quakers, mormons, anglicans, episcopalians, methodists, presbyterian, anabaptists... as well as hundreds of minor/unaffiliated churches, e.g. like the one that wanted to make a bonfire out of korans last year... why are there so many protestant sects in the usa? i'm guessing there's also quite a few in the uk and other protestant countries but why so many in the us?

[Monarchist]

This situation is due entirely to the deep Protestant conviction that individual conscience comes before all exterior authority that isn't the Word of God. Denominationalism seems to be effected by this individualism. Whenever a parishioner of X-Church hears something in a sermon and considers it an aberration, he leaves and builds his own church. There you go.

[Hilarion]

Originally, doctrinal differences. Which leads one to suspect that they put too much emphasis on doctrine.

As to why this phenomenon is especially prevalent in the U.S., well now you're getting into demographic history.

[SigniferOne]

Whenever a parishioner of X-Church hears something in a sermon and considers it an aberration, he leaves and builds his own church. There you go.

Indeed? Is that what happens? It doesn't seem to describe any of the church-goers that I know; whenever they have heard something in a church that they considered an aberration, they simply went to a different church instead. What you're talking about may be true for small minor denominations, merely because a person has a personal liberty to start what he wants, there is no state church like in all the countries where religion is dying: Sweden, England, and Italy, not to mention Eastern European countires where atheism is at 80%. But it does not apply to any of the big denominations.

[Blau&Gruen]

It has, I guess, something to do with mentalities, millieus, history of micro cultures in USA.

[NogaOsibisa]

I doubt usa is so much different from europe in that respect. Persons tend to idealize their own enviroment.

[Blau&Gruen]

There are different experiences that coin different ethical values.

[MAXlMUS]

there is no state church like in all the countries where religion is dying: Sweden, England, and Italy, not to mention Eastern European countires where atheism is at 80%

4 of the 5 most religious countries in europe are in eastern europe. the fifth is malta.

[SigniferOne]

4 of the 5 most religious countries in europe are in eastern europe. the fifth is malta.

Nominally 'religious'. Actual views, i.e. indifference to church attendance, keeping of holidays, reference to religion in any sort of personal moral or social framework, shows that Eastern Europe, e.g. Romania and Russia, are almost completely atheist. Ask yourself how much G.W. Bush invoked God in his official statements, and how many times Putin or the Romanian prime-minister. It is not comparable by a longshot. On the other hand, if you prefer counting dead religion, and would like to count those countries out of chest-thumping and jingoism, well in that case I won't stop you.

[MAXlMUS]

Nominally 'religious'. Actual views, i.e. indifference to church attendance, keeping of holidays, reference to religion in any sort of personal moral or social framework, shows that Eastern Europe, e.g. Romania and Russia, are almost completely atheist. Ask yourself how much G.W. Bush invoked God in his official statements, and how many times Putin or the Romanian prime-minister. It is not comparable by a longshot.

how is that a good thing? religion and state should not mix, otherwise you end with something similar to iran or saudi arabia

On the other hand, if you prefer counting dead religion, and would like to count those countries out of chest-thumping and jingoism, well in that case I won't stop you.

speaky in simple english plz

[Mr. Crow]

protestants in general are quite mad

[Scipio Africanus Maximus]

Well, if you look at history, most of these originated in Europe. Their practitioners came to America and found a culture open to religious freedom. It was the perfect atmosphere to spread their particular breed of Christianity.

[MathiasOfAthens]

Give me your tired, your humble, your poor and your religious fanatics...

[Sphere]

Even Jesus traveled to America after his execution for religious heresy.

[Mr. Scott]

If i recall it was largely a result of the 2nd Great Awakening. Many different religious sects were formed in the Burned over district in New York City. From there many of the established protestant churches either split or lost members to more appealing new churches. The Mormons came about during this time.

More recently, there is a stronger religious force in the US since the conservative movement began i the 80's. Since then the US got more religious then in the 60's or 70's.

Also, large immigration from the many different nationalities and churches caused this large diversity in the religion in the US.

The US got a large catholic sect cause of the Italian immigration and more recent Latin immigration.

to sum it up: immigration, modern conservatism, and 2nd great awakening.

[CamilleBonparte]

We Americans like to have a lot of sects.

[Marshy]

We Americans like to have a lot of sects.

I see what you did there.

[Marshy]

Keep in mind that the USA is a melting pot of people from all over the world who bring their cultures and religions. We have a little bit of everything here.

[Helm]

It's probably something to do with the the fact that they heavily into the competitive freemarket element in everything they do so the more the merrier. If they just had the one that would be a bit Communist.

[Helm]

Religion should just be an optional choice for individuals, particularly in secular and multi-cultural societies, and we particularly wouldn't want the likes of George W Bush running the place. So the more you can separate religion from afairs of the state the better.