Secularism

"Only by looking outward...does one really become a person, a creator of the "order of the spirit", a being capable of a miracle: the re-creation of the world"
-Vaclav Havel

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.