I mean, it seems that in Europe church states imposing a specific brand of religion failed to please the masses, and they turned their backs on it.
Or, another reason --- aside from "reason" and all of that.
2006-12-27 04:50:12 · 8 answers · asked by . 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's capitalism at work. Healthy competition provides for stronger and more entries into a market. Monopolies stagnate and collapse under their own weight. Therefore, if all the atheists truly want the death of religion, they should be campaigning to establish a national church and then just waiting for it all to crumble.
2006-12-27 04:55:51 · answer #1 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Richard Dawkins contemplates that too. Without an official religion, church becomes free market.
Of course, on the other side is France, which also have a strict separation of church and state. And it's largely atheistic.
2006-12-27 05:05:59 · answer #2 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's something completely different.
When I first moved to the UK from the U.S., what really struck me was how more altruistic society here is. Disagree with it or not, the U.S. is centred on individualism and lacks the sense of social responsibility that is deeply engrained in European social structures.
Religious institutions continue to fill that need in the U.S. Here in the UK and Europe, they just don't have to, society has other means to see to it.
The irony is that the radical individualists like Bush and co. use religion to gain the support they need to pillage their country's resources and people. It's the worst of both right now.
2006-12-27 05:10:58 · answer #3 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've often wondered that.
But if that's so, then we'll see its results soon. America has become more or less a church state in the last 40 years or so. And a lot of people (like myself) have had enough of it. There may be some sweeping changes made in that regard pretty soon.
The elections this year showed what Americans truly think of fundamentalist leaders...
2006-12-27 04:53:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
State religion created conflict between different denominations and that ultimately brought about the demise of Christianity in the UK. I think Christianity is more resistant to secular trends in the US because it is a nation of immigrant communities who want to keep their religious traditions alive.
2006-12-27 04:58:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, it also didn't stop people from being killed by the Church (Salem Witch Hunt). Fortunately, nowadays religion are a bit more equal in the U.S. and hopefully they will ALL be equal in the U.S. someday.
Blessed Be )O(
2006-12-27 04:53:54 · answer #6 · answered by Stephen 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, but the freedom of religion is the open door that radical islam is marching through into the U.S.
2006-12-27 04:59:33 · answer #7 · answered by firebyknight 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are probably correct.
2006-12-27 04:52:21 · answer #8 · answered by Preacher 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋