Why is it that there is such a large community of born-again and Evangelist Christians in the USA compared to the UK and Europe?

I have to hold my hands up, Lady Fuschia, and apologise to the world for the behaviour of Britain and Europe. When we opened up America to explorers and settlers we allowed many religious people who were being persecuted to travel on the adruous voyage. We had no idea at the time, I have to say in our defence, that the evolution of so many pilgrims and assorted preachers would lead eventually to George W Bush. I feel ashamed of our actions, and want to thank you, Lady, for allowing me to apologise to the world for our past mistakes.

A very simple historial answer:

The departure of the Puritans and the Pilgrims to the New World (later the U.S.) to escape religious persecution in Europe. Of course not realizing they'd to do that to others in the future, and even when the original colonist were around.

Not to mention the Mormons got their start in the U.S.

Because America is where Europeans went to be in order to worship freely.
Some European Governments even purged certain sects from their shores and sent them packing across the Atlantic to America.
The two World Wars fought on European soil certainly did much to rob many Europeans of their desire to worship God. Having seen Christendom's complicity in the two wars, many have turned more toward secular pursuits and lifestyles.

The US has always seen itself as being on the vanguard of human ideas: out in front, paving new paths for freedom, equality, etc. In other words, we think we're special. In religion, this tends to manifest as a kind of narrow-minded enthusiasm: "everyone should do what we do! Its the answer to everything!". That's the underlying message in evangelism: do as we're doing. Everything else is obviously wrong.

The US is far more religious than any other similarly developed nation.

"A Gallup Poll released in November 2003 found that six out of ten Americans said that religion was "very important" in their lives...In contrast, in Canada and the United Kingdom, two societies often perceived as quite similar to the United States, only 28% and 17% respectively described religion as similarly important in their lives."

We tend to be a majority (58%) Protestant:

"FAITH IN AMERICA
Protestant (White Evangelical) 30%
Roman Catholics 25%
Protestant (Liberal) 20%
Protestant (African-American) 8%
Jewish 2%
Other 15%
Source: City University of New York (2001)"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/wtwtgod/3518221.stm

The original immigrants (We must remember that the original inhabitants of America were not Christian. They followed their indigenous faiths.) to this country were faith groups seeking freedom from the Anglican and Catholic churches. They were not mainstream faiths. They also did not tend to be irreligious.

I'm not certain why this level of religious devotion persists in America when it does not in other similarly developed countries. I would hazard a guess that our isolation (country is large, and we are bordered on both sides by countries that are majority Christian) prevents us from having many experiences with people who's faith varies considerably from our own. Historically speaking, America was settled by the immigrants (Europeans) a relatively short time ago. However, this is also true of Canada, where this same level of religious furvor does not exist.

I have yet to read any explanation to this difference that isn't easily refuted.

(BTW, the blue is because there is a bug in this software when it renders links. It doesn't end them properly, so it thinks the rest of my response is also a link.)

Re: Because American evangelists and born-again consider themselves as "the Chosen people" (e.g. the American people)

In tracing "the american people" that believe in the born-again and evangelist kind of life, I go back the first settlers from England(forced to come to north america)- they were sooo evangelistic that they tried to force people to join their religion, which led them jailed in England and then given two choices- the hang-man's noose in england(for murder) or being the first american settlers.
In the sentence "They believe USA is the New Jerusalem, whose destiny has been given by God Himself." change a few words to what the puritans thought of themselves: "They believe
their new home is the New England, whose destiny has been given by God Himself." As they thought of themselves in England, they thought of themselves as being chosen by God to convert everybody to their religion- at least 200 years before any jews came to the USA.
Re: I guess in Europe, it's more like a sort of tradition to adopt one religion or another...it's less extreme.
Nearly all the religions, when they started were then considered extreme- the europeans use religion now as casual- with one note, the so-called new born-again religions in the USA try to raise anger in a person against somebody else as part of their attempt to gain more customers, I mean more followers. I say customers because the new born-again preachers are looking for biiiggg paydays, for which they will do extreme whatever.

Because the Great Awakening that was started in the UK hasn't died here. Where do you think it came from?

Many religions in europe were started and still operate somewhat as born-again and evanelist type of religions. At their start they considered themselves at starting all over, in getting away from their previous religions. The evangelist part of their religions have, for the most part, run to the limit of available new members in their own areas- but some operate missions or whatever in mostly africa, asia and south america. I am speaking of those religions that are supposed, to people such as yourself, to be old and never-changing and could never be part of anything new- that is in YOUR mind. YOU have decided that they are in the pastand not inthe future.
The religions, that I know of in europe, that started and still consider themselves at least somewhat born-again and evangelist include lutheran, catholic and eastern orthodox, methodist, greek orthodox and many others.
As a warning, I say that any religion should be approached with caution because tend to falsely portray other religions in their efforts to lure people to their religions with their born-again speeches- why demonize the person's last religion?

Because American evangelists and born-again consider themselves as "the Chosen people" (e.g. the American people) in order to help Israel and Jerusalem (in prevision of the Apocalypse) according to their interpretation of the Bible (and more specifically The Book of Revelations).
This is a veridic answer, not a political one or what, i saw it in last year US civilization lectures!!
They believe USA is the New Jerusalem, whose destiny has been given by God Himself.
I guess in Europe, it's more like a sort of tradition to adopt one religion or another...it's less extreme.

europe has a far higher rate of immigrants of different beliefs which makes it more easy for europian christians to talk to N-african muslims or Hindu´s etc.
They all tell us about the arrogance of christianity and how we are stuck in western thinking instead of world thinking. This means that if we think about all the problems in the world we only think about how it affects us.
While on the other hand we always were the richest and most powerfull area on this planet and thus able to make changes.
But we won´t cuz were arrogant and lazy.
I´ll stop my ranting now..