RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

By: Andi Reynolds, Cody Rogers, Karla Simunovic, Tyler Jensen

OBJECTIVES

Set a three mile radius in the Salt Lake Valley and discover and
find if we have a diversity in the religious setting.

Compare our findings found in Salt Lake to the national level of

religious diversity.

Visit two of the religions found within the 3 mile radius and gain
personal knowledge and experience from those visits.

Reflect upon what we have learned from this project.

KEY
Red

LDS (53)

Yellow

Buddhism (10)

Green

Catholic (4)

Purple

Episcopal (4)

Pink

Non-Dem (4)

Salt Lake Region

Christian
Reformed

Christian
Science

Congregational

Blue

Atheism (4)

Greek
Orthodox

Pagans

Jewish

Unitarian
Universals

Jehovah
witness

Daoist

Wasatch
Pantheists

Methodis 2
t
Presbyter 2
ian
Islmaic

Baptist

All religions with 4 or more

buildings were plotted on this
map. The others due to limited
space were only named in the
table.

Unitarian Universals Daoist

Christian Science
1% Jehovah 1%
Wasatch Pantheists
1%
Witness
Greek Orthodox
1%
1%
1%
Jewish
Islamic
1%
2%
Baptist
Presbyterian
2%
2%

Congregational
1%

Pagans
3%

Methodist
2%

Atheism
5%
Non-Dem
5%

LDS
60%

Episcopal
5%
Buddist
5%

Religious Diveristy in the Salt Lake Valley

LDS

Buddist

Episcopal

Non-Dem

Atheism

Pagans

Methodist

Presbyterian

Islamic

Baptist

Christian Science

Congregational

Greek Orthodox

Jewish

Unitarian Universals

Jehovah Witness

Daoist

Wasatch Pantheists

Religious
Diversity by
state: (excluding
Christianity)

Most Americans identify as

Christian. To illustrate the
diversity this map shows
the second largest religions
in every state.
Buddhism is the second
largest religion in 13 states
mostly in the West.
Judaism is the second
largest religion in 14 states,
mostly located in the
Northeast.
Hindu is the second largest
in Arizona and Delaware.
Bahai is the second largest
in South Carolina.

Just for fun, this

graph goes to
show how much
of a Christian
nation America
really is.
Especially when
compared to the
world chart
alongside it.

Other one just

because, is this
graph of the
growing interest in
more diverse
religions in
America. Also, this
shows the slight
decline of
Christianity in the
U.S. over the years.

SALT LAKE
BUDDHIST
TEMPLE

SALT LAKE BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Located on 211 W. 100 S. Salt Lake City.

Built in 1912 and rebuilt in 1962

1 of 63 Buddhist Temples in the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA).

The temple practices Jodo Shinshu Honganji Ha Buddhism, originated

in Japan.

16 ministers have served in the temple since 1912.

Less than 2000 members.

DAILY RITUAL

Shoes are to be removed when entering the building.

A purification fountain is near the shrine when entering where

members rinse their hands before the service.

Before the service, incense is burned in front of the alter. This is done so
that the mind is cleansed and open to listen to the teachings of
dharma. Incense are believed to have healing powers.

Palms are placed together and the nembutsu is recited.

Can be recited in either English or Japanese.

SERVICES

Services are every morning at 10:00 AM

Once a month there is a service in honor of those who have died that
month called the Shotsuki Hoyo Service.

Eitaikyo Service is in November. It is a service for those who have made

donations to the temple.

Additional services are held on holidays.

Every week there are meditation and yoga classes available.

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Obon Japanese Festival
Held in July
Biggest event held by the temple
each year.
The temple organizes a street festival
where they sell authentic Japanese
food and church members perform
dances and taiko drumming.
Temple tours are given
An Obon Memorial Service is held to
recognize the story found in the
Ulambana Sutra.
Profits made go toward temple
activities.

HOLY TRINITY
CATHEDRAL
279 300 W, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 8410

The influence of the Greek

Orthodox members here is Salt
Lake has been felt for over a 100
years. The Industrialization
happening in Utah in the early
1900s brought many Greek
people to the Salt Lake Valley.
Established in 1905, this Greek
congregation known as the Holy
Trinity Church of Salt Lake City
became the 14th organized Greek
Orthodox Parish Community in the
United Sates. Although there was
an established meeting building,
this Greek community erected and
consecrated the building you see
now on August 2nd, 1925.

THEIR PRESENCE IN SALT LAKE TODAY

TODAY THIS RELATIVELY SMALL
COMMUNITYS PRESENCE IS
STILL BEING FELT IN SALT LAKE.
EACH YEAR THEY HOLD A
GREEK FESTIVAL INVITED THE
COMMUNITY TO COME LEARN
AND ENJOY GREEK TRADITIONS
WITH THEM. THIS EVENT IS
GROWING IN POPULARITY
FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
JUST LIKE ALWAYS, THIS GREEK
COMMUNITY IS VERY CLOSE. IF YOU ARE
GREEK AND LIVE IN SALT LAKE COUNTY,
THAN HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL KNOW
WHO YOU ARE. EVERYBODY AND
ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO JOIN WORSHIP
SERVICES AND VISIT THE BUILDING ANY
TIME A CLERGYMAN IS THERE. IF YOU ARE
LUCKY, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF WITH A
GYRO AND BAKLAVA IN HAND IF YOU
CHOOSE TO JOIN IN.

OUR VISIT
We were lucky enough to get
the chance to visit Holy Trinity
Cathedral together as a group.
We were welcomed by a kind
Greek man cleaning up after the
Festival the night before. We
were showed around and had
all of our questions answered.
We give the experience a 10 out
of 10. We all left impressed with
the kindness that was shown
towards us.

Conclusion
In conclusion to our findings, yes, we do have more Mormons when comparing our area

of Utah to the United States as a whole. Utah having 60% being Mormon compared to
the United States having only 2%. Although, Our compiled list of churches in the 3 mile
radius chosen goes to show Utah is much more diverse than many would have thought.
Within our 3 mile area alone there was 10 Buddhist buildings. Along with, approximately
0.7% of America is Buddhist, 0.7% Hindu, and 1.9% Judaism. While Utah has
approximately 0.5% Buddhist, 0.5% Hindu, and Judaism 0.08% which also shows Utah
isnt as sheltered as many thought.

SOURCES

http://www.slbuddhist.org/bca-history.html

"Google Maps." Google Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2016. <https://maps.google.com/>.

"The Pluralism Project." The Pluralism Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.

Kuruvilla, Carol. "America Is Getting Less Christian And Less Religious, Study Shows." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/12/pewreligious-landscape-survey-2014_n_7259770.htm

Wormald, Benjamin. "Religious Landscape Study." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS.
N.p., 2015. Web. Sept. 2016.

Enwemeka, Zeninjor. "Americas Most Common Religions By State (Besides Christianity)." Boston.com. The
New York Times, n.d. Web. Sept. 2016.

"Religion in Americaupdated February 2016." SJA: Religion in America. N.p., n.d. Web. Sept.
2016.