In Tolerance We Trust
“If what has been called the American experiment is to succeed, if we are to achieve at ever higher levels in this country a true and free democracy, with equal rights and opportunities for all, we must learn cordially to accept the fact of cultural pluralism and to adapt our patterns of behavior to it.” (Schultz, 17) Everett Clinchy, a Presbyterian minister, described the only way the United States would succeed is if the American people adapted and accepted other cultures and religions. Clinchy believed the United States had three major religious groups the Catholics, Jews, and Protestants. Before the World Wars the three religious groups were all strangers to each other. During World War II the three religions views …show more content…
(Schultz, 31) The NCCJ made sure Catholics, Jews, and Protestants were represented within the establishment. The NCCJ wanted each of the religions to understand each other. (Schultz, 32) This led to the creation of the tolerance trio. In 1933, the trio traveled the country to deliver speeches about misconceptions of religions. (Schultz, 35) For example, the trio talked about why Protestants were nervous about a Catholic being president. (Schultz, 36) Moreover, this allowed people to understand people of other religions beliefs and misconceptions people had of other religions. Religions became clearer for people to understand, which is why the trio was popular. The trio created a new sense of unity among religions, some called Judeo-Christianity. A tactic of the trio and the NCCJ was to incorporate democracy in their speeches. For instance, they told the American people democracy could not work without the tolerance of each other’s religion. Democracy justified the NCCJ’s religious agenda of unifying the three religions. Moreover, democracy and the NCCJ weakened Americans religious ideals because they blended religion and democracy as a method of unification. The NCCJ convinced Americans that in order to keep democracy strong tolerance of other religions was necessary. Judeo- Christianity strong presence in American society started an assimilation of religions into …show more content…
Church became less of a priority in American people’s lives. For example, the number of Jews decreased, and many Jews did not even choose to identify themselves as Jewish. It is almost as though toleration made people less faithful to their religious ideals. The person became so tolerant that they no longer felt the need to follow their religion so strictly. For example, Steve Karp described his experience of joining a non-Jewish fraternity. (Schultz, 158) At first he was afraid of the outcome, but in the end he liked the opportunity of having the choice of which fraternity he could join no matter his religion. (Schultz, 158) The choice made it easier for young Americans because they were not forced to identify with their religion when choosing a fraternity or sorority. Additionally this allowed students to step away from religions in other aspects of their lives such as where they live and who they marry marriage. Assimilation weakened religion because Americans did not feel the pressure of previous generations to include religion in their everyday life especially if they could have an identity without
“If what has been called the American experiment is to succeed, if we are to achieve at ever higher levels in this country a true and free democracy, with equal rights and opportunities for all, we must learn cordially to accept the fact of cultural pluralism and to adapt our patterns of behavior to it.” (Schultz, 17) Everett Clinchy, a Presbyterian minister, described the only way the United States would succeed is if the American people adapted and accepted other cultures and religions. Clinchy believed the United States had three major religious groups the Catholics, Jews, and Protestants. Before the World Wars the three religious groups were all strangers to each other. During World War II the three religions views …show more content…
(Schultz, 31) The NCCJ made sure Catholics, Jews, and Protestants were represented within the establishment. The NCCJ wanted each of the religions to understand each other. (Schultz, 32) This led to the creation of the tolerance trio. In 1933, the trio traveled the country to deliver speeches about misconceptions of religions. (Schultz, 35) For example, the trio talked about why Protestants were nervous about a Catholic being president. (Schultz, 36) Moreover, this allowed people to understand people of other religions beliefs and misconceptions people had of other religions. Religions became clearer for people to understand, which is why the trio was popular. The trio created a new sense of unity among religions, some called Judeo-Christianity. A tactic of the trio and the NCCJ was to incorporate democracy in their speeches. For instance, they told the American people democracy could not work without the tolerance of each other’s religion. Democracy justified the NCCJ’s religious agenda of unifying the three religions. Moreover, democracy and the NCCJ weakened Americans religious ideals because they blended religion and democracy as a method of unification. The NCCJ convinced Americans that in order to keep democracy strong tolerance of other religions was necessary. Judeo- Christianity strong presence in American society started an assimilation of religions into …show more content…
Church became less of a priority in American people’s lives. For example, the number of Jews decreased, and many Jews did not even choose to identify themselves as Jewish. It is almost as though toleration made people less faithful to their religious ideals. The person became so tolerant that they no longer felt the need to follow their religion so strictly. For example, Steve Karp described his experience of joining a non-Jewish fraternity. (Schultz, 158) At first he was afraid of the outcome, but in the end he liked the opportunity of having the choice of which fraternity he could join no matter his religion. (Schultz, 158) The choice made it easier for young Americans because they were not forced to identify with their religion when choosing a fraternity or sorority. Additionally this allowed students to step away from religions in other aspects of their lives such as where they live and who they marry marriage. Assimilation weakened religion because Americans did not feel the pressure of previous generations to include religion in their everyday life especially if they could have an identity without