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filtherton · 03-05-2004, 09:09 AM

Maybe this belongs in philo. Perhaps not, though, since this often comes up here in politics.

So i've heard the comments and the characterizations of the u.s. as being founded on christian values. From my admittedly limited religious schooling i find that hard to believe in light of the fact that christ seemed to despise those who put the pursuit of money over the welfare of their fellow human beings.
The passage "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven"(to roughly paraphrase) comes to mind. I think jesus would probably not favor "letting the market handle it" when it comes to anything involving the quality of human existence, since letting the market handle it essentially results in excluding the people with the least money. In america we worship the market, not jesus. We worship the market like it is some some kind of polytheistic god of prosperity. Occasionally offering up sacrifices in the form of mass layoffs, and outsourcing- suffering be damned, we must feed the market. It seems ironic in this america founded allegedly on christian values that we use the economy as a measure of our success rather than the quality of life of all our citizens.

Which brings me to my main point. The idea of america as a fundamentally christian nation and by implied extension "god's country" is bullshit. I think it is used to justify positions and perspectives that otherwise make very little sense. America is blatantly on the opposite side of what jesus taught in so many instances that to claim america as a christian nation is like a pothead trying to claim sobriety because he doesn't drink.

Joint hanging off his lips he declines a sip from the bottle with a "No thanks, i'm straightedge"

50% plus divorce rates, poor people freezing to death under bridges, america declines to endorse gay marriage claiming "Sorry, but i'm a good christian".

It is very clear to me that america worships the almighty dollar at all times, while only invoking christianity when it is convenient.

What do you think? Does america have any claim on divine favor? Or is that something some christians need to tell themselves to help them sleep at night?

03-05-2004, 09:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	A christian nation?? Maybe this belongs in philo. Perhaps not, though, since this often comes up here in politics. So i've heard the comments and the characterizations of the u.s. as being founded on christian values. From my admittedly limited religious schooling i find that hard to believe in light of the fact that christ seemed to despise those who put the pursuit of money over the welfare of their fellow human beings. The passage "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven"(to roughly paraphrase) comes to mind. I think jesus would probably not favor "letting the market handle it" when it comes to anything involving the quality of human existence, since letting the market handle it essentially results in excluding the people with the least money. In america we worship the market, not jesus. We worship the market like it is some some kind of polytheistic god of prosperity. Occasionally offering up sacrifices in the form of mass layoffs, and outsourcing- suffering be damned, we must feed the market. It seems ironic in this america founded allegedly on christian values that we use the economy as a measure of our success rather than the quality of life of all our citizens. Which brings me to my main point. The idea of america as a fundamentally christian nation and by implied extension "god's country" is bullshit. I think it is used to justify positions and perspectives that otherwise make very little sense. America is blatantly on the opposite side of what jesus taught in so many instances that to claim america as a christian nation is like a pothead trying to claim sobriety because he doesn't drink. Joint hanging off his lips he declines a sip from the bottle with a "No thanks, i'm straightedge" 50% plus divorce rates, poor people freezing to death under bridges, america declines to endorse gay marriage claiming "Sorry, but i'm a good christian". It is very clear to me that america worships the almighty dollar at all times, while only invoking christianity when it is convenient. What do you think? Does america have any claim on divine favor? Or is that something some christians need to tell themselves to help them sleep at night?