My Religious Landscape Worksheets

Name: Haily Wilbert

I. GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD:

Location: West Valley

● Why this location:

I chose this location because I thought it might be more diverse compared to some
other cities in Utah.

● What we expect to find:

I expect to find a pretty diverse group of different religions that live in West Valley. I
also expect to see a high population of Catholicism.

● How we are going to approach this project (methods, tools, responsibilities etc.):

I am going to be using several of the websites listed on the canvas page, as well
as google.

Our Findings

● Christianity: 77.4%
● Catholic: 9%
● Protestant: 1.2%
Which denominations?
■ Lutheran:0.6%
■ Methodist: 0.4%
■ Pentecostal: 0.8%
● Orthodox: 0.5%
● Other Christian (identify):
■ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: 61.1%
■ Baptist:0.7%
■ Evangelical Protestant: 2.7%
■ Presbyterian: 0.4%
● Islam: 0.5%
● Hindu and Buddhism: 0.5%
 ● Judaism: 0.1%
● No Affiliation: 26.8%
● Other Non-Christian: 3%

What surprised you about this religious landscape?

There was not as much diversity as I was expecting. I was expecting less LDS and
more non-Christian groups. But I was surprised that LDS membership was not as high
as I expected. I was also surprised that Catholicism did not have a higher population.
What seemed ordinary about this religious landscape?
There is a large representation of the LDS church.

II. RESEARCH (UTAH, RANDOM STATE, NATION):

Our expectations: I know there will be many the LDS churches’. But I also expect to see
quite a few other religions such as Judaism and Hinduism.

A. Research for Utah:

● Christianity: 73%
● Catholic: 6.2%
● Protestant: 6%
Which denominations?
■ Lutheran: 0.4%
■ Methodist: 0.3%
■ Pentecostal: 0.8%
● Orthodox: <1%
● Other Christian (identify):
■ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: 55%
■ Baptist: <1%
■ Evangelical Protestant: 7%
■ Presbyterian: 0.4%
● Islam: 1%
● Hindu and Buddhism: 2%
● Judaism: 3%
● Other Non-Christian: 4%
Other interesting demographics we found:
22% of Utah does not have a religious affiliation. 18% nothing in particular.

B. Research for a Random State: We chose Hawaii

● Christianity: 63%
 ● Catholic: 20%
● Protestant: 11%
Which denominations?
■ Lutheran: 2%
■ Methodist: 1%
■ Pentecostal: 3%
● Orthodox: <1%
● Other Christian (identify): 1%
■ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: 3%
■ Baptist: <1%
■ Evangelical Protestant: 25%
■ Presbyterian: 1%
● Islam: <1%
● Hindu: <1%
● Buddhism: 8%
● Judaism: <1%
● Other Non-Christian (Identify):

Other interesting demographic findings:

26% unaffiliated. 20% nothing in particular.

C. Research for the Nation

● Christianity: 70.6%
● Catholic: 20.8%
● Protestant: 14.7%
Which denominations?
■ Lutheran: 2.1%
■ Methodist: 3.9%
■ Pentecostal: 3.6%
● Orthodox: 0.5%
● Other Christian: (identify)
■ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: 1.6%
■ Baptist: 9.2%
■ Evangelical Protestant: 25.4%
■ Presbyterian: 0.8%
● Islam: 0.9%
● Hindu: 0.7%
● Buddhism: 0.7%
● Judaism: 2%
● Other Non-Christian: (Identify)
Other interesting demographics:

22.8% unaffiliated. 15.% nothing in particular.

III. COMPARISONS and CONCLUSIONS ABOUT DIVERSITY (charts, narratives,

notes)
A. DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARISON between OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND UTAH
Comparing West Valley to Utah is very interesting. There is more representation of non-
Christian faith in Utah compared to West Valley.
B. DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARISONS between UTAH AND A RANDOM STATE
Comparing Utah to Hawaii, you can see that Utah has more religious people than
Hawaii. Utah’s representation of Christianity is 73%. Hawaii’s is 63%.
C. DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARISON between UTAH AND THE NATION
Utah is like the Nation in the sense that they have a large representation of Christianity.
The nation obviously has a larger representation of minority religions.

A.

B.
 C.

Questions:

● Are we as diverse? Not as diverse?

Based on the demographics, we are not as diverse as I would’ve thought. I think

the nation in general is not as diverse. There is a higher population of Christians in
Utah and especially members of the LDS church. Utah does have a higher
percentage of Hindu’s and Buddhist’s than the nation.

● In what ways do we measure up to and in what ways do we fall short?

Utah’s Christianity population is higher than the Nations. Utah also has a higher
percentage of Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism but the majority of Utah is LDS.
The national population of LDS members is only 1.6%.

● How does this information impact your understanding of the culture you live in?

It helped me understand that there is more than just Christianity in our state. It is
obvious that Christianity is prominent in American culture and it is an interesting
perspective to see how much more prominent it is.

● Does this information challenge any biases you have or stereotypes you hold?

I think it helped my bias and stereotypes with the LDS culture in our state, by
showing me there is many other religions. I also think that experiencing Buddhism
help change my view of it. It is an interesting religion and has very positive
teachings. It is also a very spiritual religion and the teachings reflect being more
positive and having more kindness.
IV: EXPLORE and DISCOVER (examples of Diversity in your area)

Site Visit #1: A Christian Religion.

Name of the livestream (place): K2 the Church
When it was streamed: (Date and Time) March 29, 10:30am
Who viewed this: Haily Wilbert
Why this place: I wanted to experience a basic Christian service.
Before you watch:
What do you know about this religion’s belief and practices?
Christians believe in Christ and God. It is based on readings and teachings out of the Bible.

What assumptions, biases, prejudices, or stereotypes do you hold regarding this religion? (Everybody has
these, they do not necessarily indicate intolerance or hate)
I think I had some stereotypes that Christians can be judgmental and not accepting.
Describe the space and its place in the community.
Go to the church’s website to find out a little about who they are and what is their history.
K2 the Church was established in Salt Lake in 2004. It is a non-denominational church; they believe in the
Bible and there is only one God.

Google search (or use another search engine) for images of the church that you “visited”. Can you tell
much about decoration or symbolism?
It has a more modern set up. It is in a building that used to share with a charter school. It has a very large
auditorium but there is not a lot of symbolisms of God. There are not any crosses in the décor.

Google search common symbols found at this type of church and explain their purpose.
A common symbol in Christianity is the Cross which represents Jesus’ death and the sacrifice he made.
Another symbol that is sometimes seen is the Ichthys, which is the fish. It represents many of the miracles
that Jesus performed.
Describe the Service:
Describe what happened during the service.
It opened with the pastor introducing the church and himself. Then there were 2 songs played by the
band. Then the pastor came back up and started the message with a prayer. After the message, the band
played another song. Before ending the service, the pastor talked about offering and its meaning and how
people can still give their offering.

What was the message?

The message was called Hope= An Anchor for the Soul. It was about how to place hope in God. There
was also an acronym for hope. H=Heir O= once for all P= Presence E=Eternity. This was a tool for people
to remember to place hope in God.

Who was presenting/officiating over the service? Was anyone else involved?
Pastor Dave Nelson was the speaker. There was a band that had played music.

What seemed to be the benefit of these rituals for those watching?

I think it was for Christians to hear teachings and tools from the Bible. I also think it is a moment of
worship for Christians and gives them a sense of community.

What else do they do there? (Check the website)

They also do baptisms and child dedications every few months.
Draw some conclusions:
Was it clear that this religion is part of a privileged majority? How so?
It did seem it had some privilege. It had a lot of new technology and was very modern. I think that is a
sign of a church that does not have struggles gaining members and does not face a lot of scrutiny.

Visit their websites again and see if you can find any information about their relationship to their broader
community…. Other religions, charitable organizations, etc.
It partners with several organizations; Foster Love and Extend the Family. It also serves the homeless
communities at St. Vincent’s and Recue Mission. It also partners with two other churches where they
serve mission trips and sponsor children in Honduras and Tegucigalpa.

What does it take to be a member of this community (Check their website for membership information)
There is no specific requirements or info on membership. They have a get connected page, which gives
visitors next steps they can take to explore the church.
Reflection
Do you believe an online platform can replicate an in-person religious service? In what ways is it
successful and in what ways did it fail?
It seemed similar to what service would be in person. It was still at their place of worship and involves the
same people. It was a good service and their music is interesting and not what I expected, it seemed
more informal and relaxed than what I expected.

Site Visit #2: A non-Christian Religion.

Name of the livestream (place): Salt Lake Buddhist Temple
When it was streamed: (Date and Time): April 12, 9:30am
Who viewed this: Haily Wilbert
Why this place: I have not experienced any Buddhist practices before.
Before you view:
What do you know about this religion’s belief and practices?
Their practices are revolved around attaining liberation they call Nirvana. They also practice meditation
and teachings that are based on the original teachings of the Buddha.

What assumptions, biases, prejudices, or stereotypes do you hold regarding this religion? (Everybody has
these, they do not necessarily indicate intolerance or hate)
I tend to assume that Buddhists are serious and do not have a lot of fun. I also think I assume that they
are very spiritual and focus on their kindness and what they project towards others.

Describe the sacred space and its place in the community.

Go to the synagogue/temple/mosque’s website to find out a little about who they are and what is their
history.
This temple’s sect is called the Jodo Shinshu. Services are held every morning that the Sensei is in the
Temple, they are in memory of people on the Eitaikyo list. Dharma School is held on Sundays. Once a
month there is a Shotsuki Hoyo service, in memory of members who have died that month. This temple is
one of 63 temples in the Buddhist Churches of America. The first movement to building the temple in Utah
was in 1912.

Google search (or use another search engine) for images of the place that you “visited”. Can you tell
much about decoration or symbolism? What was present in terms of these?
There is a lot of flowers and decorations surrounding the shrine of Buddha. Which are offerings for to the
Buddha.
Google search common symbols found at this type of worship space and explain their purpose.
Aum (Om)- mystical and sacred syllable, is the first sound of creation and symbolizes the three stages of
life. It is used in chanting to invoke the compassion of the Bodhistattva.
Bell- A symbol of the Buddha’s voice, represents wisdom and compassion. Used to call upon heavenly
deities for protection.
Enso- referred to as the Circle of Enlightenment. Symbolizes strength, elegance, the universe, our true
and innermost self, beauty in imperfection, and the oneness of all things in life.
Lion- Symbol of rotalty, strength, and bravery. The royal origins of the Buddha and his courage in
challenging injustice and suffering. Serve as guardians.
Mala- recitation beads. Represents the idea that as individuals we are not separate but connected to each
other.
Swastika- Symbol of peace, good luck, and positivity. Symbolizes the seal of the Buddha’s heart.
Imprinted on the body, palms, chest, or feet of Buddha images.
Describe the Service:
Describe what happened during the service.
The reverend started with the Shotsuki Hoyo for the Salt Lake Temple and the Ogden Temple. It was a
Hanamatsuri Service. After reading the Shotsuki Hoyo, the reverend did a chant.
What was the message, if any?
The main point of the message was that Hanamatsuri is a time for our world to transcend and become a
world of kindness.
Who was presenting/officiating over the service? Was anyone else involved?
Reverend Jerry Kyosei Hirano conducted the service.
What seemed to be the benefit of these rituals for those watching?
I think the Shotsuki Hoyo was to have a memorial moment for those who died. The Hanamatsuri is the
celebration Buddha’s birthday. It is also called the flower festival.
What else do they do there? (Check the website)
This temple also holds weddings, funerals, infant presentation ceremonies, and any other Buddhist
holidays through the year.
Draw some conclusions:
In what ways is this religion’s culture of origin represented?
There is a lot of symbols that are from the original culture and founding of Buddhism. They also chant in
Pali language.
Could you observe any aspects of Americanization or American Culture in the livestream?
The Reverend had used some Star Wars and game of thrones figures on the alter to represent a few
characters from the teachers.
Visit their websites again and see if you can find any information about their relationship to their broader
community…. Have they collaborated with other religious communities? Involved in charitable
organizations, etc.
The Salt Lake Temple is part of the Buddhist Churches of America, with the headquarters in San
Francisco. It is also affiliated with the main temple, Nishi Honganji in Japan.

Does this group appear to face any challenges or struggles based on what you have learned about them
in class or based on readings and research?
I think they face issues similar to the case study we did. Where they may be members of another religion
at the same time.
Reflection
How difficult was it to be engaged in an online service when it isn’t something you are familiar with or a
part of?
It was a bit difficult to pay attention, especially when there was chanting in a different language. It was not
too difficult because the service was only about 30 mins. It was intriguing to hear the dharma and the
quick message the reverend gave.

V. CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATION (COMPLETED INDIVIDUALLY)

Throughout this project you discovered much information about the religious
composition of America and how Americans identify religiously speaking. You
discovered the diversity level of your local neighborhoods, states and the country and
drew conclusions about how our local communities fit into the bigger picture. You had
the opportunity to “visit” two of the diverse religions found in your area, made
observations about their place in our community and reflected on their challenges and
contributions. Now let’s see how you can apply this information to broader related
concepts.
In a minimum of 150 words each, address the following questions. You may have to
do some additional research.

1) Much of what you discovered in your project is observable difference, or diversity. But
moving out of your comfort zones and attending religious services of those that are
different from you is more than just seeing diversity. Religious pluralism refers to the
active participation and engagement with diversity to come to a better understanding of
each other and one’s own beliefs and commitments. Do some research to discover
what your community (local, city, or state) is doing to encourage religious pluralism
and/or interfaith activity and give some examples.
BYU and Westminster partnered in an interfaith initiative to create more equal
and accessible campuses. There is also an organization call Salt Lake Interfaith
Roundtable, which is to promote harmony and understanding of all faith, cultures, and
belief systems. During Interfaith month, this year there were many events and open
houses from many different religions. It seems that Salt Lake has encouraged pluralism
and is trying to encourage interfaith activity. Even though a majority of Utah is LDS, it
looks like there has been a push for religious pluralism and coexisting. There have
become many high populations of different religions that have gained attention.

2) Overall, how do you feel we are managing religious diversity/pluralism in Utah? Are
we embracing it, ignoring it, or merely coping with it? Could we do more? Offer up
some solutions.
I think that Utah is managing religious diversity. It looks like more recently we
have started to embrace it and push for it with the rising population of multiple religions.
I also think we are coping with it though. I know that the majority is LDS and have
experienced how much influence it has on our culture and politics. While there is
encouragement of religious pluralism, there is still a lot of influence from the LDS church
which in my mind means we are coping. I think there is starting to be a move towards
pluralism and the inclusivity of all religions in Utah. I think Utah could be pushing for
pluralism and embracing it. Something I would like to see would be a festival where
most religions in Utah attend to educate people on different religions and create
religious tolerance and embracement.
3) Read the following article (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/american-religion-
trends_us_570c21cee4b0836057a235ad) and choose 2 trends to comment. Be
thorough.
 Belief in God has wavered: I think this is becoming a trend with the new
discoveries in science and the problems that happen in the world. I think people
see that there are new scientific discoveries of the universe and see that as the
possibility that God does not exist. I also believe this is a trend because people
have a hard time believing that there would be a God who would allow
pandemics, genocide, and other issues that cause the suffering of humans.
 Spirituality has taken center stage: There is a new trend of spirituality and that
religion is a personal experience. That it is a personal interpretation and opinion.
There are also many people who are unaffiliated but still believe in self-
improvement.

4) What do you predict the future of religion in America will look like?
I think that America is working toward becoming more religiously diverse. I think it
will continue to change and embrace pluralism as generations grow. It seems that with
every generation there is more tolerance and acceptance. So as America grows and
generations come of age, it does not seem unreasonable to predict that religious
pluralism will change in America. There has already been a decline in Christian religions
and more diversity of religions being established. I think there will continue to be a rise
in population of other religions. I also think people are drawn to the different teachings
these religions have. Buddhism teaches a path of kindness, which is similar to
Christianity but without the stereotypical view that Christianity is not as accepting. I think
Christianity will always exist, but I think it will struggle to maintain the most populated
religion in American in the future.