The religious group i chose to focus on are the Mormons. This is because the majority of settled European Americans would have been Protestant, Catholic, Jewish etc hence religions which were brought over and carried on in America and not started there. The Mormon religion or Latter Day Saint movement was founded by an American named Joseph Smith Jr. in the 1820's, in western New York.
Although the roots of this religion are rather strange as are most religions in my opinion what makes it kep to America is the fact that the 'visions' which Smith recalled were of Jesus in the America's and also portrays the indigenous peoples of the Americas as Israelites. He also claims to have translated these stories from golden plates.
The headquarters are in Salt lake City, Utah.
This religion was able to flourish to gain over 14 million worldwide followers and this may be due in part because it was started in America, a place where any religion is free to be practiced. It may not have been as prosperous in a Christian dominated Europe.
This church also pratices plural marriage which is not legal in America but is a part of their faith. Another factor is that 10% of a followers income goes straight to the church much like how taxes go to the government. This is not only true of the Mormons but also other new fledgling religions such as Scientology.
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