Curious Mammal

If one is to take the ideas of postmodernism to a point then one will discover that we are dumber than we should be. Absolutisms and worldviews are all reflections of the reality "out there". They all are narratives that tell a story one way or another. Christianity, Science, Judaism, Taoism, Buddhism, Atheism, Islam, and others are all just stories trying to explain objective truth through a subjective medium, which ends up being impossible. However, these stories aren't useless, they are in fact very useful. They are based on reality and therefore reflect something "out there" even though they can't actually define what is "out there". I come to the point now that religions throughout the world are shrinking. Pluralism in America and the world abroad is getting smaller. In fact just by our being here we are standing, quite literally, on the graves of many people who practiced religion in a way that doesn't exist anymore. Early American Tribes...

These are some early themes and bullet points about American Religious History. Just as American identity can be defined as an aversion to dominant power centers, relying on self-reliance and individuality, so can this be aligned with an anti-conformity to dominant religions. Whereas dissent can mean different lifestyles and goals, so can it mean different religions, sects, practices. This is a unique aspect of "Americanness" and should not be discounted. Statistics of religious activity do not measure fierce dedication. By quantifying religious activity with numbers one does not get an accurate assessment of religious activity in America. In the voluntary system competition between churches helps define goals, values, and identity, as well as differences. It also leads to a ranking within the country. Identification with religious insiders and outsiders helps define roles within society and with each other. The implementation of voluntary churches in America (not havi...