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RELIGION

A newcomer to the United States can ask an American about
religious customs in the country or the area where they live. It
would, however, be very impolite to ask directly what their beliefs
are. In fact, it seems like the only people who discuss their
religious backgrounds at any length are stand-up comedians, who
often build entire acts around how their family's religion has
affected their lives.
Americans on the whole are fairly religious, and any religion
that has ever existed on this planet will have at least a few fol-
lowers in the United States. Christian groups are the most com-
mon, and conservative ones tend to be very active in politics.
There is no official government religion; the separation of the
church and the state is one of the basic principles of American
government.

MONEY

When it comes to money, it is considered bad taste to ask
someone how much they earn or how much they paid for
something. Since Americans do love a bargain, they will
sometimes volunteer how much something cost if they got it for a
particularly good price.

POLITICS AND OTHER NO-NOS

Many Americans do not like social arguments or heated
discussions in the same way that some Europeans do. Therefore, it
is not wise to bring up the subject of politics unless you are reason-
ably sure that your comments are generally in agreement with the
beliefs of the other people present.
Americans may seem quite willing to discuss sexual matters
and family problems with most people, judging by the huge
number of revealing talk shows on television. Actually, the people
who bare their souls on television shows are the exception rather
than the rule. As in most countries, sex is a very personal matter