americans and christianity

[teashoci]

Does anyone else here see the differance between americans views on christianity and scotlands,

in scotland i have never met anyone here who belives in christianity in a serious fashion, the very few who do are more spiritual and do not partake in organized religion. I think it is fair to say that anyone in scotland who went to church often and quoted from the bible would be looked at as a strange individual.

While in america everyone is fearful of god and worships at the feet of pastors who only worship money,

I saw an article on some magazine that identified atheist countries as being some of the most peaceful, afluent and low crime countries in the world such as japan, scandanavia and iceland for instance.

Do you think the presence of religion and god is a burden on western society,

[ANDY-J3]

Clearly there is a difference. In the UK for over a century the trend has been towards more liberal Christianity whereas in the US while this has also happened to a lesser degree conservatives and religious fundamentalists have become more entrenched in their views. Religion when it interferes with politics as it does in the US has to be bad but Americans seem willing to tolerate it in a way which Scots don't.

[kathyv]

[quote=teashoci]
While in america everyone is fearful of god and worships at the feet of pastors who only worship money,
QUOTE]

I know a great many Americans in the US who don't believe in God but do worship money. I also know many Christians who worship God but not money so I would caution you to avoid generalizing all Americans under the umbrella of Idol worshippers! Mind you, I know some of those that you describe as well, but you really can't say everyone any more than I can say everyone in Scotland wears a kilt.

I also think this 'fear' thing is supposed to be respect. Another instance of words and meaning changing over time and a 'proverb' changing it's meaning when the language changes.

[teashoci]

i agree kathy , sorry if it sounded as though i was generalizing,

I do find it very obscure when people call scotland a christian country as the majority of people are athiest and those that do belive in god are more spiritual than religous,

In no way can you trust the scottish census, because asking someone their religion in scotland is a political qeustion not a religous one.

I also find the idea of religion seeping into politics very very dangerous and abhorrant, it's against someones human rights to be inflicted with laws and bills that are influenced through religion when religion and christianity will dissipitae over the next century, like it has been doing since the start of the 20th century

[Sharp_Kid]

What I find most unnerving about the USA's relationship with religion is that they make such a deal about separation of church and state, yet the two are more closely entwined than in any other Western Super Power that I can think of.
I don't like the idea of a true believer in the 'unquestionable' coming of Armageddon having their finger on the button.
It's almost a self fulfilling prophecy.
It's scares me.
Lots.

[teashoci]

religion intertwined with politics constricts the publics freedom to think and act, it also constricts peoples choice to act on subjects that the church is against.

freedom of choice in matters of health care , scientific advancment , pro choice, international ideology and politics etc.

the church does not play a part in most peoples lives in this day and age and has no right to influence politics,

I am just so glad to live in europe where i think people have more freedom than our american friends in lots of ways and circumstances.

[TheLostOne]

I believe the reason the US makes such a deal with separating the Church and the State is because last time they mixed -when first colonizing here- people started being burned by radical religious believers for having unique qualities or more knowledge than was 'good'. If you look through the nasty parts of the US history, whenever the two seemed to mix, it turned out very badly for the innocents. It is indeed a scary thought. The US - lovely though it sometimes can be - is a large melting pot full of this and that and if there was a dominion of one type of religion I don't think we could stop it from interfering with state. Just look at our money, 'in god we trust'. I think that is as far as it should be.
Personally I am eclectic in my beliefs. I have looked a long time for something that supports what I believe, but I realize that there isn't anything that can fully encompass it and I am not comfortable with organized religion, so I don't know why I even bothered. If you break each religion down to the basics, you will find that there are similar qualities in each. I don't care what religion it is; human's are a very repetitious species and tend to have the same thinking patterns. I don't know what anybody else thinks on this, but I can't get to the point where I can convince my brain that one day it won't exist anymore.... It gives me a headache.

Just a thought........