ABSTRACT
The majority of US Americans are either descendants from immigrants or immigrants themselves. There are two notable exceptions, however: the native Indians and the African Americans. The path towards integration and political emancipation was often accompanied by harsh conflicts and occasional violent clashes between the African Americans and representatives of the white majority. Religious practice has been a dominant feature of the early settlers and has continued to mark community life until the middle of the 19th century. The inner-community order was largely driven by religious beliefs and practices. The American religious practice may present an interesting alternative to the European standard of powerful religious churches that often act in conjunction with political parties or institutions. The American balance of exerting individualist behavior in the economic sector and aspiring to egalitarian values in one’s religious practice has created a strong tie between selfish capitalist behavior and socially responsible actions of each individual.
