Secularism

Ever since its colonization in the late 16th century, the predominant religion in European North America has been Christianity. The growth of the religion as a whole over the past few centuries can be attributed to its expansion throughout the western hemisphere since that time. The religion's role has served to unite the settlers and provide them with a basis for moral and ethical social standards. In recent years and through expanded means of communication, religion has become an underlying substance through culture rather than an overbearing authority as it had sustained in the past; though, this does not imply that its effects do not influence, even dominate, American civilization in less over-toned ways. However, within the past 50 years, Americans who consider religion a very important part of their lives have dropped down 15%. The rise of secularism - the indifference to religion - can be attributed to many causes throughout the ages; however, the peak of change in such a sort amount of time is alarming when relative to how long the institution has remained an accepted and trusted venue of information for Americans.

Because of it's longstanding in the territory, the western world religion has developed and adapted to the western way of life; our legal systems, education systems and government all carry hues of Christianity's influence. Catholicism and subsequent Protestant schisms make up the clear majority of religious organizations present throughout America today, as well as historically. It is through centuries of generations following these ideas that we have created the society we live in today. However, over time these ideas have become less and less relevant or conventional to the events and technology of the age.

Throughout the 19th century, emerging ideas took light through such progressive icons such as Charles Darwin. Darwin postulated that "Negroes and Europeans" were in actuality similar through his idea of evolution. Darwin realized his revelation through a publication entitled "The Origin of Species". The theory in question relates all living matter to have ascended, or evolved, from a less developed form. The most referenced claim Darwin makes (which is also the target of much criticism) is the claim that mankind's origins stem from the ape family. Through the critical information he presented, Darwin's radical ideas shook the basis of society's understandings of existence. Though he was met with much adversity concerning his "heretic" claims, he succeeded in stirring a cultural re-examination of communal authority and its sociological purpose.

The reason behind such alarm concerning Darwin's theory was that it was the first claim of its kind to actually contradict religion itself. To assert that longstanding theological beliefs on creation were wrong was a viewpoint not so boldly taken by many during the time period. However, religion's response to such claims came in such a way that seemed to pique the interest of those outside the issue. Through clerical contention of the theory, a spark ignited in the minds of academia - and through ever-advancing means of communication - ran like wildfire through America's preconceived understandings of society.

With the rise of the Communication Era, society seemed to gradually become self-aware of cultural events and issues rather than continue living isolated from them. The issue of evolution was one of the first that challenged people to take on a removed view of cultural ideologies and customs. Some argued that the public could successfully assume humanity's perceived role through Darwin's eyes - inquirer of nature - only through free nations, such as the sovereign state of America.

Through the medium of free speech and thought, Americans were given a means of viewing society and the role of authority through the lens of the "bigger picture". The independent nation of America - accustomed to the cultural oppression of the Church of England - seemed to welcome notions of scientific understanding as long as the message behind theological texts remained a vital aspect in the hearts and minds of its citizens. The struggle with examining religion from the "bigger picture" is that theology does not clearly define lines of interpretation; what may have intended to serve as figurative means of criticizing human action could be translated incorrectly when viewed literally, and vice versa. The availability of communication has also provided religion with a venue for communicating their beliefs as well. However, the abuse of such power is one of the contributors to the secularized America we live in today.

The next likely perpetuators of secularized America society are the numerous wars experienced throughout the past century. The suffering and death inflicted by them have left evidence of the horrors mankind is capable of inflicting on one another. Through the carnage of man, society was able to witness a very relevant display of a seemingly godless period. The atrocities of war serve as a reminder to the brevity of life; rendering the immediateness of death as a small window to rationalism or, as some may argue, to fulfill personal desires.

The resulting "baby boom" of the two wars could potentially be seen as the generation taking the prospect to use this window of opportunity. Through the horrors of war, the nation is slightly secularized, which makes the opportunity taken to "live life" a reaction to the slow separation of the community and the church. The atrocities of World War Two probably carried tones of this due to them being anti-Semitic in nature - a religiously fueled genocide. The affected generation seemed to begin to further seek life beyond the boundaries of social structures that had potential to carry out the violence their time had seen.

The most important aspect of this generations suffering is how their new ideals were to be passed onto their children - the current generation. The embodiment of the struggle between religion's materialistic and functional uses makes itself known in 20th century America, because what the fleeting generation passes onto the next determines what type of society they prepare for the future. As the nation struggled within itself to find the correct solution to the nurture and education of the next generation, the rift in culture seemed to only widen with the recent displays of violent behavior. The Vietnam War which followed shortly afterward came at a critical moment in American history, one where society's instability was up for question at the time of entering a new conflict. Serving to only widen the rift created through the baby boom, the Vietnam was vibrantly presented the realities of war to the generation's youth - acting as it had in the previous war - only sooner. The absolute effect of the conflict has no yet been seen, as many repercussions are still being experienced today

One of the results of the baby boomers introduction to war was the desensitization in the media. Violence began to take center stage along with sex to become the core focus of American entertainment. Since the inception of the television, secular ideas are transmitted publicly everyday. The combination of television as a potential tool for communicating information to the masses and its use as an instrument to perpetuate materialistic goals in capitalistic society create a large margin for abuse. However, the margin also extends to those unintentionally contributing to a demoralized society. Ill-timed discussions of pivotal topics such as death, sexuality, and spirituality may negatively affect a child if exposed. This is not to say that religion does not have a problem with misrepresenting ideas to impressionable groups; it merely contends that religion had an organized means of teaching, regardless if its system had been abused by man at some points during the process. In response, religious organizations in America began to backlash. Voicing their opinions on the current state of American morality, religion has gone about social re-construction in a variety of unsuccessful ways.

Overbearing activists and Christian extremists have reverted to back to early methods of condemning secular ideas, though the consequences for the followers behind them are nowhere near as excessive as before. The only similarity is that the primary methods for deconstructing theories of scientific rationalization still drawn upon stubborn Catch-22 ideologies which rely on themselves to exist. The purpose of religion is a purely for the betterment of oneself and society, however because of the threat of secularism, Christian institutions may divulge from their politically correct ideologies in favor of combating an opposition in any way possible.

Other devices for communication are utilized by Christian sympathizers in many ways as well. Evangelical Christians take a page from the benefits of the Communication Era by voicing their ideas through the venue of television. Although aiming to come across as sincere and legitimate, most Americans tie Evangelicals directly to the link between television information and illegitimacy. Because the faith between consumers and suppliers is based on a mutual trust, cases of Evangelicals such as Michael Blagg completely hinder any progress they aimed to make. American secularism through the eyes of an American is most likely very differently that that of a different creed, those who follow radical Islam.

The true extent of American secularism is its far reach into the Middle-East - despite its purpose there being a negative one. That fact the secular rise in America has managed to stir up the culture of a society halfway across the world illustrates the important aspect of modern Islam and its guidelines on acceptable behavior in society as well as to what extent it will move to enforce them. Fundamentalist Islam has already shown disgust and distrust towards Americans based solely on our means of entertainment (as described above).

Although American media is rarely ever shocking to the country of origin, upon reaching other points of impact along the globe, the themes may not translate into well into the region's local customs and practice. This does not go to say that American's are traveling world-wide to shove American television programs down the throats of others. Rather, the constant, subtle violations do the most to make waves with Islam. The extent of words and actions displayed within American media highlight an alarming number of contrasts between the social expectations and guidelines of the United States and Islamic fundamentals.

The second aspect of American life that is often depicted through the media and interpreted negatively by Islamic states is the capitalistic structure of our society. Many radicals perceive Americans to be centered on the material desires; the fact that American media is splattered with relentless ads for goods like food, toys, and other luxuries only fuel this notion in the mind's eye of Islamic states on the other end of the world. The main build up of this cultural tension erupted in the pseudo-imperialist invasion of Iraq. The quest to "ensure the safety of the free world" was interpreted as American's far-reaching authority into the lands of those who reject its intentions.

By tying together historical cases of American imperialism during the 20th century and an over magnified sense of capitalism and consumerism in the 21st century, it is easy to see how Islamic nations view American intervention as having motives beyond selfless action against political injustice. Theories on motives involving oil and land only serve to amplify the stigma to American involvement on a global scale.

Lastly, the comparison of America, a Christian nation, intruding upon a Muslim state, reflects upon an ongoing struggle that has roots in ancient times. The manipulative or incessantly persistent tones religious institutions of Christian radicals and extremists have used to combat secularism may be viewed in the wrong way when seen by someone outside of America. The rise in extremist Christians aiming to return the secularized Americans back into a united Christian body may be seen as a means of forcing beliefs onto citizens, something Muslims will not tolerate Christians doing in their lands.

Another issue is the fact that George W. Bush - a born-again Christian seemingly embodying these radical and extreme Christian ideals in an executive manner - is the commander in chief during the period of this perceived capitalistic imperialism. This only makes underlying motives a more possible option to Islamic fundamentalists. This "Holy War" serves as a parallel to the Crusades of 11th and 12th century, in which Christian armies swarmed Islamic lands in an attempt to convert the populace to Christian ideology. The threat of history repeating itself under a new title does not help comfort Islamic concerns.

In conclusion, through an ever expanding and self-educating society, America has increasingly become more and more distance from religion, or secularized. From this, disregard for moral behavior under the traditional ethical standards are more and more common in society, most notably in the American media. To contest this, America has seen a spike in Christian radicals and extremists. With all of this going on at once, a voyage into a land that is already on the look out for signs of American imperialism seems nearly impossible. Under the circumstances of the time, it's easy to tie in all the facts to understand the Islamic stigma toward America and its seemingly backwards society. The danger they believe they face is a Holy one, whether it is the morality standards of an unconventional American media or the overbearing Christian ideals held be those combating the increase in secularism, the tension between both groups seems to stem from a common misunderstand and critical assumption of one another. Although there is no immediate solution to any of the world's problems at this point in time, a stumble in the right direction would be for both sides to step back and see where the other is coming from and actually address their concerns.