Significance of Problem

The relations between various faith groups in America holds a particular importance when examining the cultural and social fabric of American identity. When bonds of respect between religions are strong, America prospers, while when those bonds of respect are weak, the American identity suffers. Prime examples of this suffering are the Japanese internment camps that America instituted during WWII under the guise of keeping people safe. This deteriorated relations between mainstream American Christians and followers of the Shinto and Buddhist religions (the two most prominent religions in Japan at the time, and also the religion of many Japanese immigrants). Another example is the discrimination that American Muslims are facing due to a small subset of Islamic extremists who claim Islam and have unleashed devastating terrorist attacks on America. The significance of these relations is shown by how sharply the country has been divided over issues of morality and religion: hot-button topics like abortion, gay marriage, and even some political opinions are divided on lines of religion. The ever-present conflict between religions tears apart America's multicultural fabric and leaves behind a tangle of different groups, each fighting to claim the cloth for themselves. By helping to fix this religious divide, one can heal the country and move forward in a new direction.