America Is A Birthing Ground For Religion - 1708 Words

Historically, American history has been about the diaspora not so much the historical footprint and legacy. Wars have broken out and riots have been caused over that idea alone. That is what makes this country so unique; standing for diversity and intervention for the greater good time and time again. But one thing has persevered since the beginning of this great nation, and that is religion. America is a birthing ground for religion and has provided the safety needed to practice religion in such a way that is against the beliefs of most other countries. The birth of the nation offered religious tolerance, and colonies were created around their own idealistic religious beliefs. But with all good things comes a struggle to get there, and†¦show more content†¦These practices prompted radical puritans to fear these religious traditions that were so unlike their own, condemning blacks and the various ways they expressed hope in oppression. McMillan states, â€Å"As blacks occup ied the lowest rung within society, their ability to survive the ordeals of the witchcraft trials itself indicates something of the perceived power they possessed. The survival of the accusations of witchcraft also demonstrates Blacks’ insignificance in the eyes of the Europeans. This contradiction in categorizing Blacks as both powerless and powerful actually served to empower Blacks in the society of New England.† McMillan asserts his point by divulging into the traditional witchcraft of blacks, the puritan accusations against blacks, and the blame on â€Å"inherently satanic† blacks for sociocultural and economic oppression. At the same time we see the emergence of the Maryland colony, Lord Baltimore is all for religious tolerance amongst the colony. Baltimore analyzes the downfalls of most other colonies and rather than to strictly specify a declared religion amongst the colony, he establishes a strict religious policy. â€Å"The Religious Tolerance Act of 1 649- all colonies are protestant, lord baltimore comes over and starts the catholic church in Maryland†. Maryland stood in contrast to the middle colonies who were mostly composed of quakers and puritans. The quakers were established under