Religious Diversity is a fact of life in this country.

We have seen from the surveys discussed in

class that as time progresses we are only becoming more diverse. This class has been centered around

how we deal with that diversity on personal, ethical and legal levels. Here we are going to discuss how

Religion has, and is, shaping America; and how society and the American way of life is changing religions.

We will also be looking at how we perceive and address minority religions in Utah and America as a

whole. Finally we will be discussing Pluralism, and how we can succeed in being a pluralistic society.

Becoming a pluralistic society is not only beneficial for the understanding of others beliefs but allows us

to have a deeper connection to those that we otherwise might not feel we have anything in common

with.

As we have discussed in class devoutly religious men founded our nation. Because of this it is

easy to make the argument that religious philosophy has been present in our countries laws and political

system from its fruition. Immigration has also played a role in the religious landscape here in the US. We

have watched diversity of the country increase through PEW research statistics. Through our landscape

project we have been exposed to a plethora of diverse ideologies. Nearly all of these religions claim to

be growing and expanding. While immigrants add to the diversity of our nation we too play a role in the

shaping those immigrants. Discussed in the landscaping project we see that while the older generations

feel accepted the younger generation feel less accepted. This has been explained by the fact that the

younger generation is often fluent in the language, active in the public school system and interacts with

those outside of their community. It would be extremely difficult to imagine a young person not being in

some way shaped by the American way of life. Also in the electronic age, where information is abundant

and free, religious ideas have become readily available. People that we discussed as spiritual shoppers

now have the luxury of picking and choosing bits and pieces of many different religions creating new

belief systems.
 Minority have always found it more difficult fitting in here in the US. This has been heightened

by extremism that has become more abundant (or at least more visable) in the past few decades.

Nationwide, we have seen distrust and discrimination of minorities as a result. While this discrimination

may not be directly related to religion, it is often related to attributes and physical representations of

ones religion. Discrimination in Utah, however, has remained low. This, I believe, can be credited to the

religious landscape here. We have seen these minority religious practices protected by our judicial

system such as carrying religiously justified knives in schools.

Our nation is becoming more diverse every day. How do we as a nation deal with this? Do we

fight it? Do we begrudgingly accept it but only associate within our community? Wuthnow defines

Pluralism as . . . Achieving a delicate balance between a commitment to a radically particular

way of relating to God and an ability to grapple sympathetically, even appreciatively, with the

fact that a large part of the worlds population does not relate to God in this way. (2005)

Pluralism by this definition offers an option to enter into discourse without abandoning your

own beliefs. To relate to your neighbor in a productive manner. So how do we make this a

reality? Wuthnow discussed many attempts of religious constituents and leaders to bridge the

gaps and convers with other one another. Not all succeeded but when they did diverse

communities became friendly. People felt understood and enlightened.

Diversity is one of the foundations of our Nation. It is abundant and inevitable. It is a fact that

cant easily be ignored and cant possibly be reversed. Diversity will continue to be more visible. How we

deal with this is critically important. Pluralism appears to be the best way to create the least

objectionable environment for all in it.

I, Justen Hawks, on my honor, have submitted this document to my e-portfolio, and accompanied it with

a sample of reflective writing.