How Christian is the USA, exactly, and why?

Question

I'm not wanting to attack anyone here, just genuinely curious... I'm English and I've noticed on YA that quite a lot of American atheists seem to say that they hide their atheism from other people, or their families, or that their families would be appalled if they found out and that there is religious proagganda around all the time. Is this really the case in the US? I find it weird, because in the UK, it's v. different-it's sort of the other way round, at least, it's seen as embarrassing to be a christian, and if someon'es kid converts, then everyone commiserates with the parents over it Our Prime Minister gets made fun of in the media too, for his Christianity (not badly, but a bit) SO what do you think are the differences at work here? If the US is a lot more Christian, why, when they have a lot of the same cultural aspects as England in other respects?

To paulyowg- hmph!Yes I know my country's history, thank you very much, dear. I am asking about the state of affairs at the present moment.

Answer 1

Not very.
Why? because faith is indicated by the works.
The US is part of the earth where the national pastime has become shopping. Procuring materialism for oneself is hardly in line with the call to as Christ put it, make the pther person more important than ourselve.

Answer 2

Religion is good for stopping overemotional people from hurting themselves and other people. Most Americans that I have met are more emotional and reactionary than the english people that I've met, who seem to be more logical, proper, and pro-active. So I think for everyone's sake, a religion that preaches "thou shalt not kill" in a country full of gun-toting rednecks who are brainwashed by violent movies and video games is a very good thing!

The USA was founded on religious zealots fleeing from persecution in Europe during many Catholic/Protestant wars. So a lot of mottos, declarations and laws in America are based around religion, from this historical period, and people would have had very protectionist attitudes on their minds after settling down here given those circumstances. History is sometimes hard to escape, as I'm sure Europeans will agree.

Although hiding behind religion is often hypocritical in some cases. The most peaceful and humanitarian places in America have the least religious viewpoints (San Francisco, for example), whereas the most religious tend to have the highest rates of violence.

On the other hand, San Francisco does have the highest rate of AIDs in the nation, so I don't know :).

Isn't Wales a fairly religious country? I hear that they have the lowest divorce rate on earth. Is it true?

Answer 3

Yes, the population of the United States is very much Christian, as a group, though probably less than half actually practice their belief. Officially, there can be no state religion here, according to the first amendment to the US Constitution. (Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man.)

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


Because there is no state religion, people are not compelled to any particular belief. Because they are not compelled to any belief, they do not feel a need to rebel against it, nor do they associate spirituality with political leadership.

As I understand it, though other religions are permitted, the Church of England is the official religion of UK. Is this correct?

Answer 4

I think the US is entirely too Christian.

I don't actually care what religion people believe in but here in the US they want to write their religious beliefs into the laws of the land and have school teachers indoctrinate all children. When that isn't allowed they scream persecution.

The only time I;ve heard of an Atheist hiding that belief is if they wanted to run for public office or something because the vast majority of American Christians seem to think that an Atheist would naturally be some sort of moral less criminal type.

Answer 5

US - Population = 300 Million
82% of the population (246 Million) claim to be Christian.
50-80 Million identify as Evangelical Christians.

Why?

I honestly don't know. But in areas of the country that have a higher population of people with college degrees/advanced degrees, relgiosity/fundamentalism is not as prevalent. Where I live, there are alot of atheists/agnostics/very liberal (non-fundie) Christians. Young Earth Creationists (at least open ones) are few and far between.

Answer 6

Sadly, America identifies itself as being a Christian nation. I believe 97% of Americans claim to have some religious affiliation. Now, the good question is, how many actually are true Christians? Not many. Sadly though, it is almost considered unpatriotic to speak out against Christianity, or any religion besides Islam, for that matter. Those that speak out against Christianity are portrayed in various mainstream media outlets as almost an "enemy of the state."

It's a big problem in America, religion and politics are increasingly intertwined, and despite what most people dismiss as fantasy, the Religious Right is poised to seize control of America, should a period of great instability occur (terrorist attack, disasters,etc). It's very real. People like Pat Robertson want to build a Christian Democracy, as they call it. They have Bush in the office, the Republican Party has been hijacked by them, they are trying to gain a presence in the military chaplain system (to politicize our Army). It's very scary stuff.

An America that is religiously radicalized is the most dangerous thing the world may face in time. We are armed to the teeth and very powerful, I am afraid of what my own country may become, pretty sad.

To try to explain why, it is a mixture of tradition and poverty (of course not strictly limited to such elements). There is a huge gap between poor and rich. 1% of Americans control 90% of our wealth. Our stupid administration(s) (mainly this Bush admin) have exported America's jobs, leaving people out of work. Go to the state of Michigan, where factories have shut down, apocalypse seems very real to them, so they turn to their church out of desperation.

The radicalized side of American Christianity has momentum right now, but they do not have the instability and desperation needed, in order to gain popular support. The pieces are set should an event occur.

I say this to spread this awareness, because it is not only a threat to Americans, it is a threat to the rest of the world.

Answer 7

The USA has about 3X more Christians on a percentage basis than do most European nations. The only ones that come close are Ireland, Italy and Poland. Moreover, we have the most lame-brained of Fundamentalist Protestant religions in great number. This is due to three facts:

1.) we got alot of weirdo sects that got booted out of Europe.
2.) The USA heartland is more isolated than the English heartland.
3.) We do not have national education...the local school boards decide what is to be taught...which in many cases is football and cheerleading and very little else.

Answer 8

If you go back in history, many Americans are descended from evangelist immigrants of British or European origin. Hence, there is an invisible thread of puritanism which runs through American culture, according to some social observers. However, the vast array of fundamentalist groups preaching Prosperity Christianity - as opposed to mainstream Episcopalians or Catholics - in the US, is fairly noteworthy. (Check the link below.) And then again, the fact that the US president and some of his admin members are born-again Christians, hasn't done much for the rep of what is viewed increasingly as a war-hungry, Crusader-oriented culture. As with sexuality, alternative views on the subject of God tend to be kept under wraps in such a witch-hunt-oriented environment.

Answer 9

While we're (my husband and I) not Christian, we're also not Atheist. MY parents and siblings know this and are OK with it. My grandparents do NOT know this, because they would probably fall over and stress themselves out about the state of our (and our 2yr old daughter's) souls. My husband's family does not know either, for the same reasons as my grandparents. We don't HIDE it, but we don't talk about it at ALL, so that we don't come upon uncomfortable questions. We also celebrate Christmas/Yule, Easter, Halloween, Birthdays, other National Holidays, and we usually stay outside for Midsummer - but we're not Pagan/Wiccan either.
We've noticed that when some (note I said SOME) Christians become "so religious" or when people get older and not as accepting of change, it's harder to get them to understand that your life is YOUR choice, not theirs. They feel like they're a failure because you've chosen a path that works for you. Sometimes, I've seen families disown members who are no longer Christian (one I ran into had the kids - my age! in high school - claiming their non-Christian mother was DEAD...when she lived in the same town!).
In some ways, I'd say it's very Christian, because there ARE some nice people out there who try to stay accepting and loving of others.....but in some ways, I'd say they're VERY bigoted Christians, because many just WON'T accept that you've chosen a different path. But as far as it being a "Christian Nation"...no......we have Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion, and though others may not LIKE it, it goes for EVERYONE....including Atheists.

Answer 10

If you look at the link below you will read that Christians in the US are declining. By the year 2042, it's predicted that Christians will no longer be the majority religion. Instead religions like Islam and Wicca and non theistic philosophies like Atheism, Naturalism and Secularism are becoming more mainstream. It's a change for the better. You can see this by the secularism of the schools and public places and the opening and acknowledgement of more religions.

Answer 11

I'm British too but have some experience with American religiosity - its bad. Its like a 3rd world country in terms of dogma, levels of superstition and fundamentalist. Some British people come on here to ask if its true that some Americans don't actually believe in evolution but think God made them - I find it hilarious when that happens, the Brits are always shocked and horrified by the responses.

If you think it can't be that bad or its being exaggerated look up Pat Robertson who said that hurricane katrina happened because of a gay comedian who lived in new orleans or pastor phelps and his friendly website www.godhatesfags.com Yeah, I'm afraid its a real website.