American religiousness

[DRSB]

American religiousness is exceptional, obviously. At least one third of the population adheres to radical religions, say fundamentalists. Mind you, this is the world's greatest democracy and industrial motor we are talking about! Why is that?

Church attendance is apparently a question of identity, so much so that people prefer to at least report it even if they don't actually do it.

"In the United States, church attendance is obviously valued highly in most circles, and respondents may respond to questions about attendance in terms of their image of themselves as "good" people."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the ... what-we-do

Any thoughts? Americans, please share!

[Trolldor]

..exceptional? Compared to what?

[DRSB]

Exceptional in terms of there being enough fundamentalists for every corner and roughly as many of less radical orientation. Those are big numbers, methinks!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Deersbee, I've often said that America is a country of liars when it comes to religion. One hour in church and 167 hours being nothing at all religious each week. Figure the percentages.

[DRSB]

Deersbee, I've often said that America is a country of liars when it comes to religion. One hour in church and 167 hours being nothing at all religious each week. Figure the percentages.

But why do the hold on to this one hour? What's in it for them? Identity?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Deersbee, I've often said that America is a country of liars when it comes to religion. One hour in church and 167 hours being nothing at all religious each week. Figure the percentages.

But why do the hold on to this one hour? What's in it for them? Identity?

It's a social event, and its a hold over from the days when we were more religious. Church attendance is down everywhere from what I hear. There's a brand new "mega church" for sale near here. It was occupied for less than a year.

Americans say they're are religious, but they certainly don't act that way for the most part. The new immigrants are the most likely to be religious in an active manner. After they've been here a while they see that churches don't rule the roost like they did in the old country. Still a work in progress, but every year you see less of religion.

[charlou]

Still a work in progress, but every year you see less of religion.

This is what I like .. and I think it applies in many countries.

Deersbee, I know what you're saying .. people wanting to be seen to be good, morally upstanding citizens, maintaining a wholesome churchgoer facade for the sake of appearances. I do get that impression of Americans generally (sorry zilla, I know I'm generalising, but I do) .. and it's reflected in who Americans elect.

To go back to zilla's 'work in progress' comment ... the election of Obama may well be a sign of this progress.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Still a work in progress, but every year you see less of religion.

This is what I like .. and I think it applies in many countries.

Deersbee, I know what you're saying .. people wanting to be seen to be good, morally upstanding citizens, maintaining a wholesome churchgoer facade for the sake of appearances. I do get that impression of Americans generally (sorry zilla, I know I'm generalising, but I do) .. and it's reflected in who Americans elect.

To go back to zilla's 'work in progress' comment ... the election of Obama may well be a sign of this progress.

People here are trying to figure out what they are, religious or not, that make them rather strident at times. However, I feel from sixty years of observation at least, that we're heading toward a point where there won't be any significant religious influence in this country. The electronic age is helping in an odd fashion. People can't easily believe in the Great Sky Fairy when science is making such a strong showing. It can still go either way, of course, but barring a miracle ( ), God is doomed here.

[charlou]

It can still go either way, of course,

There's the rub.

but barring a miracle ( ), God is doomed here.

I'd like to see that.

[DRSB]

Not sure scientific progress guarantees this desirable development. Were this the case, America would have been there long ago. Where are the greatest minds in almost all sciencies seated? In MIT and similar places, that's where. Nevertheless, USA is still one of the countries where religion plays a most prominent role.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Not sure scientific progress guarantees this desirable development. Were this the case, America would have been there long ago. Where are the greatest minds in almost all sciencies seated? In MIT and similar places, that's where.

It's the science on the street that matters here, not the esoteric research in the labs. It's harder to believe in fairies when you have all these electronic gadgets in the house. In the back of the mind you know there's no magic anymore.

Nevertheless, USA is still one of the countries where religion plays a most prominent role.

And it's getting harder and harder for them to do so. Right now the average church goer is a woman over 45, from the last report I read. And that is aging more than a year every year. Without the immigrants being added in it's even higher.

[DRSB]

Good news then, thanks for your input, Zilla!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Good news then, thanks for your input, Zilla!

No problem. I just wound down a major battle over at JREF. "IF America is a christian nation . . . why are people still starving here."

[DRSB]

Interesting, can you post some excerpts here?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Interesting, can you post some excerpts here?

I can summarize. My position was that if the US was a actually a christian nation we'd have fewer people starving. The majority of the responses were either "well, what have YOU done about it" or "The poor will always be with us." When I pointed out that I had never met anyone whom I would actually characterize as "christian" (walking the walk, not just talking the talk) they really started foaming at the mouth. Strangely, it was the purported atheists who found this most offensive. The christian supporters didn't even challenge it, they knew it was true. Most of the challenges to my idea seemed to come from the accommodationists over there, folks who find it offensive that I find religion offensive.