Religion in Superior
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Religion in Superior is diverse and encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs with Christianity being the largest religion with 76% of the population identifying as Christian as of 2015. Protestantism is the largest Christian and religious denomination in Superior making up 63% of the Superian Christian population with Luthernaism, Calvinism and Evangelicalism being the largest Protestant denominations. Due to Superior's German-influenced culture, Lutheranism has been the largest denomination in the country and has been one of the most influencial forces in Superior's cultural and social history. Around 24% of Superian Christians identify with various other Christian denominations including Catholicism (both in Avignon and Rome), Mormonism, and other faiths. Anglicanism makes up a significant percentage thanks to the spread of New Anglicanism into Western Superior and Mainline Anglicanism following the annexation of Central Canada after the Crimson Spring.
Superior also has a sizable population of religious minorities including Jews, which make up 5% of the general population, and Native Superian religions at 1% with various other religious minorities existing in Superior as well. Around 13% of the Superian population is irreligious which includes atheists, agnostics, deists, and spiritual but not religious. New age spiritual movements are recognized by the Superian government, but aren't registered as official religions, though aren't treated too differently than officially recognized faiths. The First Amendment of the Constitution of Superior establishes freedom of religion with a state church being deemed unconstitutional and barring any infringement upon the practice of religious groups and denominations. Throughout its history, Superior has been defined by religious pluralism and diversity with both being heavily celebrated in the country. Historically, the influence of Lutheran protestantism on Superian society, culture, and politics has been extensive and continues to leave an impact in the modern era, though other faiths have been represented in government.
In the modern era, religion has a complex role in Superian society. In general, religion is viewed as important by 59% of the Superian population, a high percentage compared to other developed countries, with Lutheranism historically playing a major role in the lives and identity of Superian citizens. The National Lutheran Church of Superior, established in 1868, is the oldest and largest religious institution in Superior and one of the biggest Christian institutions alongside the United Congregations of Superior, Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Methodist Church. Religiousity varies by state with Wyoming reporting the highest rates of religiosity in Superior while Minnesota has the lowest rates in terms of adherence, personal importance, and church attendance. Generally speaking, Western Superior is the most religious area of the country and has been nicknamed the "Bible Belt" as a result. Unlike other trends seen in Europe, religious adherence has seen an increase in Superior. Almost all religious groups and sects are represented via numerous organizations, especially among religious minorities such as the National Muslim Association of Superior, Jewish Civil Society, and the First Nations Congregations Association. Numerous secular organizations and advocacy groups also exist such as the National Humanist Association and Secular Alliance of Superior.
History
The religious history of Superior originates from the arrival of English and German settlers to the New World seeking religious freedom from Europe. German settlers would arrive in the United States during the 17th and 18th centuries and would expand to the Midwest in what would become the Kingdom of Superior. In the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa among others, they would establish their settlements and make up much of the overall population. By the time of the American Civil War, the American Midwest had a large ethnic German population. As a result, Lutheranism would spread and be the dominant religious denomination in the region surpassing the Native beliefs as the region's largest religion. During the Superian Revolution, political leaders such as Stephen Miller would promote the German-influenced culture of Superior to form a national identity distinct from the former United States, later the United Commonwealth, and would promote Lutheranism which influenced early Superian society both during and long after the revolution. In 1868, the National Lutheran Church of Superior was established as the country's first major religious denomination and would have considerable influence and role in Superian society influencing both early Superian culture and politics.
Following the drafting of the Constitution of Superior, the First Amendment would establish freedom of religion stating that "Parliament shall garuntee the right to freedom of religion and practice and shall not infringe upon one's right to worship nor establish any official state church, denomination, or religious body". Said amendment would establish a de-facto policy of secularism and ensured that the religious freedom and right to practice would be protected by the new government. The constitutional convention was also held at a time that other groups were moving to the new nation including non-Lutheran Protestants and Roman Catholics. Miller and his government sought to protect the rights of all religious groups in Superior and would write a letter to a local Methodist church stating that the federal government would "ensure and protect the rights of all Superian people no matter their beliefs or denomination. All are free to practice and worship in our new kingdom". By the start of the 20th century, Superior had been heavily influenced by Protestant Christianity, especially Lutheranism.
During the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, countless Russians fled the carnage and would migrate to Anglo-America with many settling in Superior. This, along with future immigration from other Slavic peoples from Europe, lead to the establishment of a sizable Eastern Orthodox minority and later lead to the creatio of the Orthodox Church of Superior. Many eastern religions and their adherents arrived in much larger numbers following the Chinese Civil War and other conflicts in Asia with Asian Superians bringing over their region's beliefs, though many adhered (and still do) to Christianity. During the Cold War, the Superian government would emphasize the nation as a Christian nation and a nation of believers that was open to everyone of every faith where they could practice openly as a means of contrasting it with the United Commonwealth which heavily restricts religious practices.
Starting in 1989, the New Liberal Initiative would heavily downplay state emphasis and near promotion of Christianity in favor of adhering to Superior as a nation of religious diversity and pluralism where all people regardless of their religion or lack there of were allowed to come. The Liberal Democratic governments that followed would also be open to advocating for the rights of nonreligious Superians and struck down many state and federal laws that favored religion over nonreligion even those who weren't enforced. While Alexander Harper would publically admit to being a devout Christian and called Superior a nation of believers, he would not reverse the New Liberal era religious policies stating that he was obligated to represent all Superians including nonreligious and secular citizens as President.
Freedom of religion
The federal government of Superior would establish no national church or state-endorsed religion in a policy modeled after the former United States and its government. During the formal creation of Superior's administrative divisions and the creation of states, they would be barred from establishing any state-approved religion or favortism towards specific religions or denominations per the orders of the federal government and the constitutional convention.
Provisions of the Superian Constitution in regards to religion were inspired by the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom such as formally barring any religious test for office and would deny the government on every level (federal, state, and local) the ability to establish a state religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, thus protecting all religious groups, bodies, institutions and denominations from interference by the government and ensured the protection of their right to worship. The government has since avoided establishing a state church or imposing any laws showing favortism towards any religion, though the National Lutheran Church would earn the nickname as the "nation's church" due to its influence and role in early Superian society and culture.
During the Interwar era and Cold War, the Superian government would pass legislation protecting the rights of all religions in the country and prohibiting the restrictions on all religious practices with the exception of any religiously motivated crimes and illegal acts. This was done in response to the tight restrictions on religious practices in the United Commonwealth and their refusal to recognize certain faiths like the Catholic Church – Avignon with many Avignonese Catholics fleeting to Southeastern Superior to states like Iowa and New Anjou. During the New Liberal Era, the Superian government would institute a formal policy of secularism stating that all levels of government would be neutral in regards to religion, would respect all religious practices, and would show no favoritism towards certain religions, denominations, nor favor religion over nonreligion and vise versa.
Christianity
Christianity is the largest and most popular religion in Superior with 76% of the population adhering to it in a 2015 study by Pew Research Center. During the 2019 Superian census, a similar percentage of respondants stated that their religion is Christian. Among the Christian population in Superior, 63% are Protestant, 13% are nondenominational, and 24% are various other denominations such as Catholicism (both the churches in Rome and Avignon), Eastern Orthodoxy, and a sigificant Mormon minority. In regards to Protestantism, Lutheranism is the largest due to the German influenced culture of Superior with Calvinism and Evangelicalism being the next biggest Protestant denominaitons. Others include Anglicanism, both traditional (Episcopalian) and New Anglican, Methodists, and various others.
According to the Sociological Association of Superior, the biggest Christian denominations are as followed:
- National Lutheran Church of Superior, 15.8 million members
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Superior, TBD members
- United Reformed Church of Superior, TBD members
The prevelance of Christianity in Superior has lead to the creation of cultural regions known as "belts" (among other names) such as the Bible Belt in Western Superior which consists of the highest concention of evangelical Protestant christians, the Anglican Corridor in Northeastern Superior with the highest concentration of Anglican Christians, and the Catholic Valley in the southeast (Iowa and New Anjou) which holds the much of the country's Catholic population (especially Avignonese Catholics).
Protestantism
Protestantism came to the Americas through European settlers who arrived in the 1600s long before the American Revolution. Many German settlers would settle in the Midwest during the expansion of colonial settlement beyond the borders of the original Thirteen Colonies and would bring their Lutheran beliefs with them. By the time of the American Civil War, German Americans made up a significant portion of the population in the American Midwestern states. Lutheranism would become an influencial force in Superian culture and society as the National Lutheran Church played a role in establishing the first schools and universities in Superior following its independence. Swedish Superians would bring Calvinism over and Presbyterianism would develop as well. Following the Crimson Spring, other Protestant denominations would be included into the country and grow such as the United Reformed Church of Superior (successor to the United Church of Canada) and later the expansion of the Methodist Church.
Protestantism is the largest Christian denomination in Superior and the largest religious group as well making up 63% of the total Superian population. Lutherans are the biggest making up TBD of the general population and TBD of the Protestant Christian population. Calvinists and Presbyterians come in second with the United Reformed Church and the United Congregations being the main denominations for both groups. Evangelicals, a trans-denominational Christian movement, make up a very sizable percentage of the Superian population and are the most prominent within the Bible Belt in Western Superior. Anglicanism is prominent in Superior and is split between two sub-groups; Episcopalian Anglicans and New Anglicans. The former remains aligned to the Anglican Communion while the latter is part of the New Anglican Communion based in Sierra. New Anglicans are largely based in the west while Episcopalians are in the northeast. Other denominations include Methodists, Baptists and Adventists among others. With the exception of the Methodists, the other denominations are relatively minor.
Generally speaking, Lutherans and Anglicans are some of the wealthiest religious groups in the country due to their historic influence in Superior and Canada both before and after the Crimson Spring. Both groups and Jews are some of the wealthiest religious groups in the country while Methodists and Presbyterians/Calvinists are middle class and other denominations are either middle or working class. Many of the the first universities and colleges in Superior were founded by the National Lutheran Church and other Protestant groups.
Evangelicalism
The first Evangelical Christians in Superior were recorded in the early years after obtaining independence and were largely centered in the eastern states where most of the Superian population was before many began moving out west to settle the new areas. Early Superian Evangelicals were either those who lived in the area while under the United States or American immigrants who settled in the country after the Contingency War and settled down, many of them were converts from the Third Great Awakening, one that persisted in Superior and saw many new born again converts. The first evangelical churches were constructed in the 1870s and the 1880s by settlers out west. Evangelicals were initially part of the National Lutheran Church as part of an evangelical faction, however independent evangelical congregations were created across the country.
Catholicism
The Catholic Church first arrived in the United States due to the arrival of Catholic immigrants from Europe who fled due to similar reasons that the Puritans did. Most would arrive on the East Coast, but many would move to the Midwest in the modern-day territories of Superior. The Catholic population would grow thanks to the arrival of European immigrants into Superior such as Italians, Portuguese, and Catholic German migrants among many others. The first Catholic university in Superior is Saint George University. The 1934 Second Western Schism would go on to divide the Superan Catholic community as it had done in numerous other nations as well. Generally, the anti-Landonist policies of the Superian government would lead it to recognize the Catholic Church – Avignon before recognizing the Catholic Church – Rome in the Catholic Act in which both were recognized as formal religious institutions whose members were entitled the same rights as other Superians and were allowed to maintain their own affairs and practices per their respect to state and federal law. Despite this, the government favored the Avignonese Church over the Roman Church and Romanists suffered discrimination in Superior during the Great Wars and the Cold War before the passing of the Religious Liberty Act of 1965 which banned all discrimination against Roman Catholics and against other religious groups and denominations while banning the government (of all levels) from favoring one religion over another.
As of the 2019 census, around 12% of the Superian population is Catholic of which around 61% is Avignonese Catholic and 35% are Roman Catholics. The remaining 4% primarily being Independent Catholics. Sizable Catholic populations exist in all states, however the states of Iowa and New Anjou have the largest Catholic populations in Superior and where much of it is concentrated in. Both states and other surrounding counties make up what is known as the Catholic Valley, one of the four religious belt regions of Superior. Catholic refugees from the United Commonwealth, both during and after the Continental Revolutionary War and Crimson Spring, have contributed to the growth of the Catholic population in Superior. Ethnicity plays a role in both churches with French Superians being majority Avignonese Catholic while Italian Superians are mostly Romanists. The Catholic Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in Superior and remains a sizable minority within a majority Protestant country. Economically, Superian Catholics vary by socioeconomic background, though Catholics of Italian descent are more working class in comparison to those of French descent. Around TBD colleges and universities were founded by the Catholic Church as of 2019.
Orthodox Christianity
Orthodox Christianity would first arrive in the Americas in Alaska during its time as a colony of the Russian Empire (commonly known as Russian America). Other Orthodox Christians would arrive through immigration and missionary work throughout the 19th century after Alaska was purchased by Sierra and numerous Slavic immigrants coming to Sierra during waves of European immigration to the Americas and later when many Slavs, especially Russians, moved to the Americas admist the chaos of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War. Generally speaking, Slavic Superians have made up a majority of Eastern Orthodox Christians in the country.
Other Abrahamic faiths
Judaism
Islam
Other religious groups
Buddhism
Hinduism
Irreligion
Atheism, agnosticism, and humanism
Deism
Spiritual but not religious
Other faiths
Native beliefs
Norse paganism
Government positions
Religious freedom is garunteed by the Constitution of Superior and as such, the federal government is constitutionally obligated to protect religious freedom and show no favortism towards any religious group or denomination. State governments are also barred from instituting any state church or religion and are constitutionally banned from showing formal favortism towards specific religious denominations and is also barred from favoring religion over nonreligion and vise versa. The Religious Freedom Act of 1998 instituted the Superian government's modern policy of secularism and established an official policy of governmental neutrality on the issue of religion, however the issue of religious influence in politics and lawmaking remains controversial and is still debated in Superior in the modern era. The policy of accommodationism is also controversial as well.
Numerous presidents have often spoken highly of religion and have stressed the importance of religion in Superian society. George Miller during his first inaguration said that Superior was a "nation under the guidence of the almighty sovereign of the great Holy Bible" and also called the National Lutheran Church the "guiding force and moral soul of the nation". John Claremont said that Superior was a nation that was "built upon the foundation of Lutheran Christianity for all who seek Christ's wisdom" and that it was a nation that respected religious freedom in contrast to the restrictive religious policies of the United Commonwealth and its veneration of Isaiah Landon to a level comparable to a religous martyr. James Carr said that Superior was "both a nation of believers, but one that is open to those who aren't" when sigining the Religiosu Freedom Act of 1998 into law and established the policy of secularism. Alexander Harper said that Superior was built on Judeo-Christian values and that he would seek to "pass public policy that ensured such foundation will remain intact" during a campaign speech in 2007, but vocally opposed reversing the policy of secularism. In 2016, Jennifer Granholm said that Superior was only a Christian nation in a demographic sense and stated that religion and politics must remain completely seperated.
In 2022, Isaac Dillon signed an executive order which symbolically declared the administration's recognition of "Superior's Judeo-Christian cultural and national roots and origins" while also acknowledging its policy of secularism calling it "the best and only way to ensure truel religious freedom for a nation of many believers". The executive order was signed on May 1 after a symbolic resolution passed Parliament which declared a "formal recognition of Superior's Judeo-Christian origins". Both the resolution and the executive order were highly criticized, but Dillon and his administration along with parliamentary allies reaffirmed their commitment towards a secular national government.