The American people group is the second largest worldwide and therefore diverse in its ethnic expressions. Only the Han Chinese, Mandarin in China is larger. Understanding the modern American people group starts with knowing how its unique melding of nationalities, ethnicities and races made it what it is today.
Rising from the original thirteen British colonies, the United States (US) declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. By 1776, people of English, Irish or Scottish descent mostly inhabited the colonies, though Native Americans and African slaves were severely mistreated at this time and were not considered citizens. After independence, immigration from other European countries such as Germany and Italy increased. As the US quickly expanded its geographic borders during the 19th century, newly arriving immigrants tended to settle in cities and towns founded by others from their home country. Today, remnants of this can be seen from the Irish influences in Boston, Massachusetts to the German towns of South Texas and throughout the country.
The American people group was formed during the 19th and 20th centuries as: 1) African slaves were freed after a bloody civil war; 2) Culture was developed through the melding of European traditions and expressions of Christianity and 3) Racial equality improved. The latter half of the 20th century also experienced a massive immigration of Mexicans and others from Latin America, especially into southern states. This trend is estimated to change the demographics in the four Mexico-bordering states to be majority Mexican decent by 2050. By the 2nd or 3rd generations most Latin Americans integrate, at least somewhat, into the English speaking American people group. The variety of races and vast geographic area Americans cover makes defining this people group difficult.
The US has never seen a significant diaspora of Americans outside of its borders, yet a small number live in over 100 countries, including Mongolia.
Americans in Mongolia usually either work at the embassy or they teach English. They must get used to a country that has less in the way to offer for infrastructure.
Americans have a more individualistic than group mentality. Typically, individual achievement is valued over brining honor to one's family, as seen in most Asian contexts. Once children reach eighteen years of age (or shortly thereafter) both men and women are usually expected to move out of their parent's home. Today, most American couples live together before they are married and more than half of children are born to parents who are not married.
Christianity has influenced most aspects of American values, morals, laws and customs since European colonist first settled on the continent. Each of the original 13 colonies (states) were shaped by the particular stream of Christianity its founders brought with them from Europe. Though the US government, by Constitution, never established an official religion or "church", before 1850 each of the founding States maintained laws referring to Christianity. Though Christianity has undergirded American life for most of its history, economic and political ideology has had a greater influence on beliefs that are common among the people group.
Today, fewer Americans attend church and call themselves Christian compared with any other time in history. Among Western peoples, Americans are still the most involved with Christianity, but theological liberalism and secularization have drastically changed American culture. American's value of individualism extends to religion in that individuals are encouraged to choose their religion over simply accepting their family's beliefs and practices. Often, the political ideology of freedom of religion is held in higher esteem than the actual beliefs and practices of the religion itself.
Christianity is still common among Americans, but the faith has largely been marginalized to personal devotion. The historic influence of Christianity over the broader culture has mostly been lost.
American Christianity faces two main challenges: First, millions of Americans raised in a church environment are leaving Christianity. Second, the theology and priorities of many denominations and churches have drifted away from what Christianity has historically believed and the Bible itself. Though Christianity is the majority religion of the American people group, one great need is for the American people to be re-evangelized with the Gospel of Christ.
Pray that a revival would occur among American Christians that would stir them to deepen their faith in Christ, not just their Christian heritage as Americans.
Pray that the American church would be a spiritual light to non-believers who immigrate to America.
Pray that God would preserve the American church as it faces a secularized culture that seeks to pervert and change its beliefs and purposes.
Scripture Prayers for the Americans, U.S. in Mongolia.
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| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
