default header
19 August 2008
Historian Scott Hanson Discusses Religious Diversity in America
Ask America webchat transcript, August 19
R. Scott Hanson, a visiting assistant professor of history at the State University of New York at Binghamton and an affiliate of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, discussed religious diversity in America in an Ask America webchat August 19.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
Guest: R. Scott Hanson, Ph.D.
Date: August 19, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT)
Webchat Moderator: Welcome to our webchat! We're taking your questions now.
Learn more about: "One New York City Neighborhood is a World of Religious Diversity" at http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2008/August/20080729171918xlrennef0.9129907.html
Thank you for your questions. They will not appear on the screen until our live chat.
Webchat Moderator: Hello everyone! We'll be getting started in just a few minutes.
Dr. R. Scott Hanson: Good morning, everyone. I look forward to answering your questions. I began studying Flushing back in 1994 for the Pluralism Project at Harvard University. This ultimately led to my Ph.D. dissertation and forthcoming book, City of Gods. I am a historian who studies immigration, religion, and urban issues in America.
Question [LC Karachi]: Can you tell us what the Diversity really is? If it is the equal rights to perform your religion then why not it is a Part of the UN Charter & if it is, then what is the criteria to enforce it to the member countries?
Answer [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: As a historian who studies immigration and religion in America, I would define diversity in a different way — “diversity” is simply the presence of many different groups. “Pluralism” is perhaps the best word to describe the state of living in a diverse society. I wouldn’t say diversity is “the equal right to perform your religion” (that sounds like religious freedom or tolerance, or what 17th-18th century political philosophers sometimes called liberty of conscience). But I’m not an expert in international law or foreign policy and can’t speak with any authority about the UN Charter.
Q [LC Karachi]: What role the Flushing Remonstrance did played in & after American Civil War & does it has any impact on Declaration of Independence/US Constitution?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: The Remonstrance has no relation to the American Civil War, but Thomas Jefferson (the principal author of the Declaration of Independence) and James Madison (the “Father of the Constitution” and author of the Bill of Rights) may have been influenced by it indirectly. It is best understood as an early argument for religious freedom and tolerance in colonial New Amsterdam (later New York) that was part of a series of events that ultimately led to religious freedom in New York in the late 17th century.
We know from Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia 100 years later that he admired how New York and Pennsylvania had embraced religious freedom and had flourished because of it, but it is unclear and perhaps doubtful that he actually read the Remonstrance. [Note: the Flushing Remonstrance was published in 1657] For more info, please see the article by Judy Aita on America.gov at: http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2008/July/20080728133100xlrennef0.9696466.html.
Q [LC Karachi]: What is the basic difference between Flushing queens and other US communities which create religious diversity of this extent?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: Many communities across the U.S. are now religiously diverse. Besides Flushing’s history, the difference also has to do with how densely concentrated the diversity is in Flushing: over 200 places of worship in a small urban neighborhood about 2.5 square miles [6.5 square kilometers]. By contrast, in Los Angeles, California, for instance, things are much more spread out and you have to drive everywhere. The extreme case of religious pluralism in Flushing also would probably not be replicated anywhere, as it developed over time due to a number of particular local factors. But it doesn’t really make a difference if a community the size of Flushing has 50 or 200 places of worship — after a certain point it’s just very diverse, and I think other communities that are diverse would share some of the same issues.
Q [LC Karachi]: Would you like to share, what are the basic necessary steps to create Diversity at a grass root level in any county, city or country?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: I’m not sure diversity can be created at the grassroots level. The conditions for diversity seem to stem from a democratic government that permits immigration and protects religious freedom by law. Activists at the grassroots level could press for such changes, but it would ultimately need to be embraced by the larger, governing body.
Q [joe]: Tell me about your work?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: Hi Joe - hopefully, some of the other answers I've typed will tell you more about my work. You can also read more about my work on my Pluralism Project Affiliate page at http://www.pluralism.org. My book, City of Gods, should be out in mid-late 2009.
Q [LC Karachi]: What steps have been taken in Flushing, queens to encourage interfaith dialogue? & how Flushing is participating in this as a whole?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: There have several attempts since the late 1980s to bring various religious and ethnic groups in the community together led by local religious leaders and activists. Most often, such efforts are prompted by an outbreak of vandalism, bigotry, or larger crisis like 9/11 [the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001] but then fade. As a result, interaction between groups has been limited and relatively superficial, but at least leaders got to know each other.
Only very recently has there been more of an organized attempt to bridge the divisions and find common ground — in part because Asian Americans who grew up in Flushing are now more politically engaged with the local community than their parents (who were 1st-generation recent immigrants and held back by language barriers and unfamiliar with local ways). I predict there will be much more civic participation and meaningful interfaith activity in the coming years.
Webchat Moderator: To learn more about interfaith activities please visit: http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2008/July/20080731135352xlrennef0.6641504.html
Q [chat]: US is mainly Christian country. As you may know new projection shows US "majority" of white anglo-saxon protestant soon will be eclipsed. How do you foresee future of religious coexistence in a new demographic US? How will christians react to being possibly a religious minority some day?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: Hello. It's true that whites in the US are expected to become less of a majority later in the 21st century, but Christianity will remain the main religion -- mainly because many new immigrants from Latin America are also Christian.
Webchat Moderator: For more information about the impact of immigration on the religious landscape in America, please check out U.S. Religious Landscape Is Marked by Diversity and Change, at http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2008/March/20080313140042xlrennef0.357403.html.
Q [LC Karachi]: No single religion asks its followers to be cruel or be aggressive. It is we, the humans who interprets the holy transcripts in accordance to our own understanding. Isn’t this what we should be more focused on to create diversity?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: I agree that people have often misinterpreted religious texts and used them to justify all sorts of cruel and inhumane acts — the Spanish Inquisition, the New England Puritans’ persecution of witches, slavery, the decimation of native peoples, anti-Catholicism, anti-Semitism and the Nazi Holocaust, Islamic jihad all come to mind... Such troubles start when extremists from any religious group falsely claim to represent The Truth and seek to obliterate those who do not conform to their view.
Q [MainSt495]: Isn't NY classified as a "refugee" city, thus contributing to influx of diverse peoples? Do you think the current issues about immigrants threaten the spread of the healthy diversity?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: I think the real question people are wondering about now for the 21st century is if places like Flushing are now too diverse to still allow for a sense of community. I think it sometimes seems that this will be unattainable, but this is usually the case only with recent/1st generation new immigrant communities -- they need time to settle, build institutions, and assimilate first. But recent studies show that the 2nd-3rd generations ultimately become more civically involved -- as you're starting to see in Flushing now with the current City Councilman, John Liu -- the city's first Asian American to hold that office. [Note: Liu, who was born in Taiwan and came to America at age five, represents northeast Queens on the New York City Council.]
Q [chat]: Do you think religion too tied to government now? Do US people WANT religion tied to government? As you know now candidates just had a meeting in a church.
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: The question of religion and politics in the US goes back to the founding of the nation and continues to be something that comes up from time to time. In principle, the founders tried to separate the civil and religious spheres, and this is backed up in the Constitution. Occasionally, presidents and other public officials seem to cross the line -- but they are usually called on it.
Q [LC Karachi]: Does it is the Government, who creates the diversity or is it the religion which tell you to be broadminded enough to tolerate other religions, would you like to brief us?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: This is an interesting question. In every major world religion you can find a common message of tolerance, but I think a democratic government that protects religious freedom by law is the only way to guarantee this.
Webchat Moderator: For more information about religious tolerance in America, please check out Survey Finds Americans Are Religious, Tolerant, Nondogmatic, at http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2008/June/200806261547511CJsamohT0.6362116.html
If you would like to add some of your comments to our blog on religious diversity please visit: http://blogs.america.gov/religion
Q [élan]: The 1657 document Flushing Remonstrance protected Quakers. Does Flushing Remonstrance today protect other minority religion? What about sects?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: The Remonstrance doesn't really have any impact on today's religious diversity. It is something the local community in Flushing celebrates and scholars note, but it is the First Amendment to the US Constitution that protects minority religions. Federalist Papers 10 & 51 by James Madison also address the issue of minority sects and how the majority could never threaten their existence.
Webchat Moderator: For more information about religious diversity, please visit America.gov's diversity at worship page online at: http://amlife.america.gov/amlife/diversity/atworship.html
Q [MainSt495]: It seems the biggest recent growth in Flushing is among Chinese-speaking people -- how many live in Queens?
A [Dr. R. Scott Hanson]: I don't have exact figures for the Chinese immigrant community in Queens at my fingertips now, but recent growth in the area comes mainly from many countries in Latin America, East Asia, and South Asia.
Webchat Moderator: To view a video about Flushing, please visit the Voice of America webpage: "Flushing, Just Outside Manhattan, is Proud of Its Religious Diversity" at
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-15-voa27.cfm
Dr. R. Scott Hanson: For more info about issues relating to religious pluralism in the US, as well as abroad, be sure to visit the Pluralism Project of Harvard University at http://www.pluralism.org
It's been a pleasure joining everyone in this webchat. I hope the conversation will continue in the America.gov Talking Faith blog mentioned earlier.
Webchat Moderator: To continue the discussion on religious diversity, please visit the Talking Faith blog: http://blogs.america.gov/religion
For more information about religious diversity, including articles, photo galleries, videos and more, please visit America.gov’s Diversity Page: http://amlife.america.gov/amlife/diversity/index.html.
Additional information is also available at America.gov’s Diversity - At Worship Page: http://amlife.america.gov/amlife/diversity/atworship.html.
Webchat Moderator: Please join us for future religious diversity webchats, including a chat tomorrow, Wednesday, August 20, on Muslim Teens in America http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html#hafiz_20_aug_2008
A chat will be held on August 25 with Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) envoy Sada Cumber about Advancing Interfaith Relationships: http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html#cumber_25_aug_2008
And a chat on August 26 will focus on Running a Muslim Business in America:
http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html#uddin_26_aug_2008
Webchat Moderator: We wish to thank Dr. Hanson for joining us today.
The webchat is now closed.
(Speakers are chosen for their expertise and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of State.)
(end transcript)
