3. The Land of many faiths

Being the country of immigrants, America is usually referred to as the “land of many faiths” as it is one of the most diverse religious societies in the world.

3.1. Judaism. After Christianity, Judaism is the second-largest religious preference in the US. Jews have been present in the US since the 17^th century, though large scale immigration did not take place until the 19^th century, largely as a result of persecutions in parts of Eastern Europe. The CIA Fact Book estimates 7 000 000of Americans belong to this group. Approximately 25% of this population lives in New York City.^[

3.2. Buddhism entered the US during the 19^th century with the arrival of the first immigrants from Eastern Asia. The first Buddhist temple was established inSan Franciscoin 1853 byChinese Americans.

During the late 19^th century Buddhist missionaries from Japancame to the US. Simultaneously to these processes, US intellectuals started to take interest in Buddhism.

The first prominent US citizen to publicly convert to BuddhismwasHenry Steel Olcott. An event that contributed to strengthen Buddhism in the US was theParliament of the World’s Religionsin 1893, which was attended by many Buddhist delegates sent fromChina,Japan,ThailandandSri Lanka.

3.3. Islam. The history of Islamin the US starts in the early 16^th century with the confirmed arrival of Muslim explorer and sailor Estevanico of Azamorand early Muslim visitors. Once very small, the Muslim population has increased greatly in the last one hundred years. There is much controversy over recent estimates of the Muslim population in the US. Much of the growth has been driven by immigration and conversion.

Up to one-third of American Muslims are African Americanswho have converted to Islam during the last seventy years, most of whom first joined theNation of Islam, though many later transitioned into mainstreamSunnism.

3.4. Hinduism. The first time Hinduismentered the US is not clearly identifiable. However, large groups of Hindus immigrated fromIndiaand otherAsiancountries since theImmigration and Nationality Act of 1965. During the 1960s and 1970s Hinduism exercised fascination contributing to the development ofNew Agethought. During the same decades theInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness(aVaishnaviteHindu reformorganization) was founded in the US. Acclaimed Hindu statesmanRajan Zedbecame the first to recite Hindu opening prayer in United States Senate in Washington DC in 2007.

At present, estimates for Hindus in the US suggest they number nearly 800 thousand people or about 0,4% of the total population.

4. Religious education in the usa

In the United States, religious education is often provided through supplementary “Sunday school”, “Hebrew school”, catechism classes, etc. taught to children at their family’s place of worship, either in conjunction with worship services or some other time during the week, after weekday school classes. Some parents send their children to private religious schools, called parochial schools^*.

Many faiths also offer private college and graduate-level religious schools, which may be accredited as colleges.

Under US law, religious education is forbidden in public schools, except from a neutral, academic perspective. However, on February 7, 2003, the Secretary of Education issued guidance on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. This guidance explains the responsibilities of state educational agencies and local educational agencies with respect to this aspect of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).