Religion has various purposes.  According to sociologists, these are social cohesion, social control, and emotional support.   Social cohesion means that people have a reason to bind together and belong to a group of caring people with similar beliefs.  It makes individuals feel less alone in the world. 

Social control refers to the rules, morals, and values that are taught in religious institutions.  People follow philosophies found in the Bible and the Koran for direction in life. 

Emotional support comes to people in times of trouble.  People are there to help, support and encourage others in times of need such as when someone is ill, someone dies, or their is a catastrophe of some sort.  Often times people turn to their religious leaders such as priests or ministers for advice with personal problems. 

Religious groups have varied rituals or ways of behaving.  Baptisms, communions, confirmations, weddings, funerals, special religious holidays are all conducted with some sort of formal ritual.  Most churches in America hold religious services on Sunday mornings. 

Although there are probably more Protestants in the United States than other denominations, the largest religious organization in the United States is the Roman Catholic church.  The Roman Catholic population increased beginning about 1820 when large numbers of Irish immigrants emigrated from Ireland to the United States because of the potato famine. 

Many churches in the United States work together cooperatively to help in times of trouble.  For example, in June of 1998, when a tornado touched down near Kutztown, Pennsylvania you could see the Amish people with their distinct dress working to help rebuild the houses and barns that were damaged.  Church groups often support food banks and homeless shelters.  Many churches send groups of missionaries or people to foreign countries to help people in third world countries learn to grow food or take care of their health. 

A big movement in the United States has been Fundamentalist Christianity.  These people believe that the Bible is completely accurate and take everything the Bible says very literally.  They also experience a personal salvation called “born again.” 

Recently  these groups of people have gotten very involved in political controversies such as abortion, homosexuality, prayer is schools, gun control and public education.  Politicians refer to this group as the Right.  The Constitution of the United States guarantees the separation of church and state, but the separation is sometimes hard to define in the United States. 
 

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Religion in Norway 
 

Wedding party in the United States. The bride (in white) and groom in the middle, flanked by 15 guests. 

Christening in a Roman Catholic Church. 

Girl receiving her First Holy Communion, a sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church. 

A group of children who have just received their First Holy Communion.