英语国家概况论文.doc

J I A N G S U U N I V E R S I T YReligion in America and China学院名称： 外国语学院 专业班级： 英语（研）11 姓名学号： 戴薇 s1100001任课教师姓名： 吴庆宏 2012年 6 月Religion in America and China英语研11 s1100001 戴薇Abstract: When religion jumps to life, it displays a startling quality. Religion has been linking people together while creating and preserving their cultures world view for thousands of years. In America and China, religions are different. This paper will have some detail information to illustrate them so that you can have a brief idea about religion in them, and the differences between them and the reasons for the differences.摘要：宗教从出现在人们的生活里,就扮演着重要的角色。宗教通过建立一种文化的世界观把人们紧密地联系起来。在美国和中国，两国宗教不尽相同，本文通过对比两国的宗教，让人们更多地了解宗教，了解两国宗教的具体在哪些方面不同以及引起这些不同原因。 Key words: Religion; America; China1. Introduction Religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. It is a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects. In somehow, it is something one believes in and follows devotedly as well. Mostly, when defining religion, people tend to emphasize religions as structured social systems, institutions, or organizations.Studying religion is very important. Since the “great” religions of the world have all evolved in historic times, it may be assumed that animistic emphases dominated the globe in the prehistoric era. In societies lacking any doctrinal establishment, a closed system of beliefs was less likely to flourish than an open one. There is, however, no ground for supposing that polytheistic and monotheistic ideas were excluded. But what is plain todaythat no historically given creed has an inevitable appeal to the educated mindhad scarcely gained a place in scholarly argument more than 100 years ago.There are three great world religions: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity. Buddhism was originated in India about 500B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, who was also called Sakyamuni. Its doctrine is found in the Buddhist Scriptures. It is mainly distributed over Southern and Eastern Asia. Its symbol is the Lotus. Islam was founded in the Arabian Peninsula in the early 7th century by Mohammed. Mohammed preached that Allah is the sole sovereign and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah. The doctrine of Islam is found in the Quran. Christianity was founded in 30 A.D. when the Apostles received the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the resurrection and gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ had placed the Jewish idea of the Kingdom of God at the centre of his teaching, but give the idea a new spiritual universal meaning. Paul, the founder of Christian theology. Christianity established itself throughout the Roman Empire as a highly organized hierarchy separate from the State, between two periods of persecution in the latter half of the 1st and 3rd centuries. Christianity has molded the shape of Western civilization. Its doctrine is the Holy Bible. Christianity has three major groups: the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Protestant Church.The paper is to talk about religions in America and China. It includes the main religion, the features of religion in America, the effect of religion; and Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity in China. From this paper, we will know more information about religion in detail, and its effects.2. Religion in America and China 2.1 Religion in AmericaIt is almost universally acknowledged that the United States is probably the most religious country in the developed countries, not only in terms of the number of religious believers, but also in terms of Church attendance. While industrialization , consumerism, materialism, hedonism, and mass culture in other countries have all significantly diminished the importance of religion in the their societies, if not completely secularized it, this has not been the case in the United States, as has been attested by the religious revival of the past forty years in America. Such being the case, it can be comfortably argued that religion plays a crucial role in the shaping of American culture.The people in the United Sates of America are great lovers of religion. Among more than three hundred million people, there are over three thousand religious denominations and sixty percent of the American people have religious beliefs, 36% of whom are Protestants; 24% of whom are Roman Catholic Church goers; 3% of whom are Jews and 2% of whom are Orthodox Church goers.There are about thirty principal groups in the Protestant Church. Over three fifths of all American religious people are Protestants. They are spread fairly widely in the country. There are the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Quakers( or the Society of Friends) and Salvation Army.The largest Protestant group is the Baptist Church, whose twenty-five million members is divided among more than twenty branches and concentrates particularly in the southern states. Some white southern Baptists, including ministers, have liberal attitudes in relation to peoples color and they have a belief that all human beings are equal before God whatever their color may be. Most of the black population, who have to stand up various kinds of difficult circumstances, are certainly Baptists.Next to the Baptist Church is the Methodist Church in terms of membership, which was founded by John Wesley in the 18th century. Most Methodists are united in the Methodist Church. Black Methodists are mostly in two distinct African-American Methodist organizations.The Quakers, or the Society of Friends might have been one of the great American sects. One of the greatest states, Pennsylvania, was built on a Quaker Foundation, and for some time around one thousand and seven hundred Quakers were the dominant group in New Jersey and Delaware. But the Quakers do not go out to attract adherents, and they remain a very small group with little over one hundred thousand members. They take no interest in politics, but they are greatly respected.There are two major denominations in America: Mormonism and Christian Science, which are the results of native developments, the creations of the American.Three chief features of American religion are identified in the US, the first feature of American religion is the wide variety of denominations; the second important feature of religion in the United States of America is the emphasis on social problems and humanitarian ideals rather than on the Calvinist concern with individual sin and personal repentance; the third feature of American religion is the separation of church and state.In America, as people have the freedom to choose which religion they want to believe in, and really, there are many religions that exist in this melting pot, religions do effects American peoples life.First of all, religions help people find their beliefs and spiritual belongings. Generally speaking, peoples beliefs and their spiritual belongings do take an important part in their whole life. They have to abide by some orders that are required in their religions and in fact are good for them, for instance, Christianity prohibits people from excessive drinking, taking drug and so forth. Whats more, people can seek comfort in their religions. That is to say, when they confront difficulties or suffer from sorrows, they in some extent can find positive spirits that comfort them and provide them with solutions. Secondly, religions, such as Christianity, assist people materially. As is known, in America, there are numerous religious organizations that supply funds and scholarships for universities and students. Many adolescents would like to apply for such scholarships to help them finish their studies or do some scientific researches. Thirdly, religions do a favor to adjust peoples relationships. Many religious organizations or local churches may hold some activities, such as religious party, camp, excursion, literature and art show, and voluntary works. Finally, religions have a significant effect on international affairs, especially affairs between America and the Middle East. Conflicts among religions can arouse misunderstandings between countries, or even completely opposite opinions. All in all, American people live in a circumstance that religions have penetrated every aspects of their life. 2.2 Religion in ChinaChina is a multi-religious country. Taoism, Buddhism, Islamism, Protestantism and Catholicism have all developed quite a following in our country. Freedom of belief is a government policy, and normal religious activities are protected by the constitution.Buddhism in China was in its infancy, and its transformative impacts on Confucian and Taoist thought and practice only beginning to be grasped. The study of the very complex history of Taoism as a religion is also mostly a more recent development.Taoism is native and has a history of more than 1,700 years. Its founder was Lao and its doctrines are based on his writings, the Tao teaching. Taoism, a polytheistic religion, is still quite influential in rural areas inhabited by Han Chinese.Islam spread from the Arab Countries to China more than 1,300 years ago. It now has more than 14 million believers among the Hui, Yugur, Kazak, Uzbek, Tajik, Tatar, Kyrgyz, Dongxiang Sala and Banyan ethnic groups. The Islamic followers mainly live in Provinces of Xinjiang, Ningxia, Ganxu and Qinghai in northwest China. There are also Islamic communities scattered in almost every city. The Muslims do not eat pork, dogs, horses, donkeys or mules.Catholicism and other forms of Christianity began to make their way into China very early. In 635, a missionary of the Nestorian sect came to China from Persia, the then called JING. The religion withered long before gaining a strong foothold in China. It was after the Sino-British Opium War in 1840 that the Christian developed rapidly in China. After the founding of New China, Chinese Catholic and Christian communities took the path of independence and self administration. Now there are more than 3.3 million catholic and nearly 5 million Protestants in the country.In contrast with America, although there are many religions in our country and freedom of belief is a government policy, religions have lighter effect on our country and society. 3. ConclusionReligions in America and China have great differences, although they have something in common. In America, Christianity is the dominant religi