Running head: AMERICAN-BORN CHRISTIANITIES 1

American-Born Christianities

Student’s Name

Institution Affiliation
AMERICAN-BORN CHRISTIANITIES 2

Religion in America has existed for a long time and is typically diverse with Christianity

emerging as the significant denomination within the country. Many Americans have reported

that religion plays a vital role in their lives, a proportion that has turned out to be unique among

developed nations (Smidt, 2013). Historically, America has been continuously recognized by

religious pluralism together with diversity, starting with the different native viewpoint of the pre-

colonial period. In the colonial times, Catholics, Jews, Anglicans, and mainline Protestants

arrived from Europe, and since then the eastern convention has been available since the Russian

of Alaska. However, the American religious landscape is currently facing a dramatic change as

white Christians that once dominated within the country now account for fewer than half of all

the adults living in the country. As outlined by Hemeyer, J. C. (2016), some of the American-

born Christianities engage Seventh-day Adventists, latter-day saints, Jehovah’s witnesses, among

others that will be outlined in the paper.

Seventh-day Adventist

The Seventh-day Adventist is considered the most significant single church within the

group of churches that; in turn, make up the Adventist believers that also involves the Jehovah’s

witnesses and the Latter-day Saints. This type of religion stresses on Christian belief that is

outlined in the biblical books of Revelation and Daniel, that the coming of Christ to the Universe

will be an actual and physical event. The return of Christ is believed to be a ‘grand climax of the

gospel’ where the living and the dead will be saved and taken into heaven while the unrighteous

will perish Hemeyer, 2016, p.163). Adventism started in the early in the nineteenth century, and

the United States became the location where its practices and tenets were adequately defined.
AMERICAN-BORN CHRISTIANITIES 3

The denomination acknowledges that they are the remnant church who are individuals called out

in the last days to be the true church. They focus much of their missionary activities, both in

America and overseas, on medical missions and hospitals. The Seventh-day Adventist has a

strong belief in healthy practices and modesty in dressing as this is an indication or a reflective

of their concern of being ready whenever Jesus returns.

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is informally outlined as Mormon

Church is a Christian church that is viewed by its members as a restoration of the original church

discovered by Jesus Christ. The name of the church typically outlines how this society of faith

understands itself as Christians, members of the one true church that respects and adheres all the

commandments together with the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Mormons believe in God the

Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the holy ghost as the case with many other Christians; however,

they do still think that they are separate people united strictly by the one purpose (Hemeyer,

2016, p.151). They also believe that different people have a pre-mortal reality in the heavenly

realm before birth. In terms of the lifestyle, the group embraces marriage, and every person is

strategically urged to marry and live a good life as a family unit acts as a small church. Latter-

day Saints also have a strong emphasis on education for both women and men where the

teenagers go to public and private schools to get knowledge regarding religious education.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jehovah’s Witnesses are viewed as a Christian denomination that is perhaps

acknowledged for its door-to-door evangelization strategies. They started as a small biblical

study group that was partly arranged by Charles Taze, who disputed several beliefs of
AMERICAN-BORN CHRISTIANITIES 4

mainstream Christianity, including Trinity and the immortality of the soul (Miller, 2014). He

started publishing the watchtower article in late 1879 that resulted in the development of the

movement and the beginning of the distribution of religious materials in earnest. The

denomination has a strong belief that the universe and its inhabitants are living in a period of

significant transition that will show the coming supremacy of Christ on the earth. The name

originated from Isaiah 43:12 that mean they are people who bear witness to God under the name

of Jehovah, the ‘personal name’ of God (Hemeyer, 2016, p.165). As part of the practice and

belief, the church does not allow teenagers to take part in any school celebrations or holidays

including Christmas, as they have a strong feeling that many of the customs engaging celebration

of holidays have come into Christianity from other religions regarded as ‘false.’ They also

believe that Armageddon is imminent and that God’s kingdom will be created on earth.

Video Summary

As outlined by Reverent Martin Copenhaver, theological education is significant and

matters in the current set up and ministries. He also describes that human souls are at stake in the

school of departments as outlined by how God expects humanity to live and serve him. In the

current position, the collective soul is at stake due to the ongoing proceedings taking place, and

the ministries have a significant role to play in advocating for social change. Forgiveness and

congregation are part of the meaningful Christian practice that ought to be embraced as they

enable people to learn how to receive strangers together with reconciliation.

Regarding the video on Christianity in America, it has been outlined that the past

Christianities were united against the wars that happened in recent times, including world war 1.

The mainline has been described to be evangelicals who in turn lost quite several congregations
AMERICAN-BORN CHRISTIANITIES 5

while the sidelines, including the church of the Nazarene, gained new churches. American

evangelism grew into twelve different groups ranging from peace church conservatives to lively

black Pentecostals.

References
AMERICAN-BORN CHRISTIANITIES 6

Hemeyer, J. C. (2016). Religion in america. Routledge, 151-165.

Miller, S. P. (2014). The age of evangelicalism: America's born-again years. Oxford University

Press.

Smidt, C. E. (2013). American evangelicals today. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.