Christianity has played a major role in the history of the United States, but American Christianity has never been a single church or uniform tradition. Protestant denominations, Roman Catholicism, Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, historically Black churches, evangelical and Pentecostal movements, and many independent congregations have developed within a constitutional system that prohibits a federal establishment of religion.
Colonial and early national history
European colonies brought different Christian traditions to North America, including Puritan, Anglican, Quaker, Reformed, Lutheran, and Catholic communities. Religious diversity, conflict, and dissent contributed to later protections for free exercise of religion and the prohibition of a national established church.
Denominational diversity
American Protestantism includes Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, Pentecostal, evangelical, Anabaptist, Adventist, and many other traditions. Roman Catholicism grew through immigration from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and elsewhere. Orthodox churches expanded through migration from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and later generations of American converts.
Black Christian traditions
Historically Black churches developed under slavery, segregation, and racial discrimination. African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Pentecostal, and other Black Christian institutions became important centers of worship, education, mutual aid, music, civic organization, and the civil rights movement.
Christianity, culture, and politics
Christian communities have influenced debates over abolition, temperance, education, civil rights, immigration, sexuality, abortion, poverty, war, and many other public issues. Christians have often disagreed sharply with one another, so it is misleading to speak of a single Christian political position.
Changing religious landscape
The United States also includes large Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Indigenous, and other religious communities, as well as a growing population with no religious affiliation. Christian participation itself varies widely by region, ethnicity, generation, and denomination.
Christianity in the United States is therefore best understood as a broad and internally diverse set of traditions shaped by migration, revival movements, racial history, denominational institutions, and continuing religious change.
