anyone from the UK ( Americans please answer also )?

Question

I find it very difficult to understand this fundamentalism on R&S and even difficult to answer sometimes
I have never came across such black and white beliefs as I have done here
is it just me or is it very different in America
has anyone lived in both places ?
what differences have you seen ?
do you find it difficult to relate to this divide ?
p.s no disrespect intened towards Americans , i just see such a different way of life

Answer 1

Fascinating question. I think it may have something to do with attitudes to reverence generally, as well as the relative ages and sizes of the countries. First, credentials - I'm a Brit married to an American, been over a few times to stay with families, rather than as a tourist.

Reverence is not terribly poopular or even acceptable in mainstream Britain - we have a tendency to get embarrassed at the idea that we're showing a genuine emotion, as though Jeremy Beadle's about to pop out from behind a curtain and make us feel stupid for "believing" in something. This, I think, works on every level - we don't necessarily revere the royals or our politicians, and the Church of England has been described as a social club with prayers. My wife, who's not political, says that even if people in the States don't like a particular president, they still "respect the office". As far as I know, we don't do that over here. Similarly in the field of religion - the UK wasn't formed out of any particular need for religious freedom, whereas the common perception of the USA is that of the "land of the free" - free to worship as the original pilgrims wanted, that is. Religion is a visible part of everyday life and language in the States - from In God We Trust on the money to God Bless America and so on. Again, the youth of the nation and its origins might well be said to be a breeding-ground for faith, and fundamentalist believers are keen to hawk back to these references to the Founding Fathers and their faith to establish the idea that a) the USA is a fundamentally Christian nation and b) to be non-Christina is somehow anti-American. This, I'd say, from my dealings with ordinary Americans, does an injustice to their tolerant and broad-minded natures.

Then of course, America is vast and very diverse. To some extent, Christianity was the faith on which modern America was based, but the vast distances between places meant attitudes were slow to evolve and change, which means you still have places today that are not very different in their beliefs to those that were first established there hundreds of years ago. Whereas in Britain, the whole place is relatively tiny, so ideas are free to evolve fairly rapidly.

I'd say that Americans generally have more of an ability to believe in things wholeheartedly and take things seriously than Brits (who are often looking for an ironic side to things to use as a get-out-of-belief-free card), and this leads to situations which CAN - rather than DO - lead to an entrenching of views, be it on the Presidency or flag-burning or the views of God, that is difficult for natives of the small, smirking UK to fully understand.

Answer 2

I think you'll find the answer lies in education


I've said this many times before, religion should NOT have been taken out of the curriculum in the U.S.A, however, by religion, I mean, all religions should be taught...it will reduce ignorance and enable the student to come to an informed opinion/decision, as opposed to an uninformed blindly led decision, and perhaps not even a decision at all (if they were raised in any particular faith)


just to add, I don't mean teaching religious education as a way of forcing it upon you, merely to understand it, and to compare the different relgions around the world etc...

this is the major difference and why you probably wont get as much fundamentalism in the UK as opposed to the USA

In the USA somewhere in the region of 65% of the population are church goers, in comparison, only 5% of the population in the UK are

another contrast, relgious education is not taught in public schools in the USA, but in the UK, it is part of the curriculum

so again, education is the key, not weekly sermons by some evangelist like Ted Haggard

I agree with you though, this place shocked me when I first found it....although I have to admit, I've visited plenty of other predominantly American sites, and it's pretty much the same, just not as vocal as this site

Answer 3

I have also noticed a lot of extreme Christians and incredibly dedicated Atheists here-both from the USA mostly-who seem to enjoy arguing.

That's all fine but they both tend to be very rude when people from other religions such as myself(I follow Celtic Paganism) answer questions about religion that AREN'T specifically about Christianity.

I've been called a devil worshipper etc by ignorant American extremists and it is annoying.However I have also noticed some moderate and polite Americans so all hope is not lost.

Overall answerer's from other countries tend to be more respectful of other peoples views and faiths.

Answer 4

Pangel, I'm US born and raised, and I can say with all honesty that the only times I have encountered what you speak of is right here in r+s. Things may be different in the Bible belt, but here in the northeast everyone pretty much has a live and let live attitude. My neighbors are all very devout but that's never caused me any type of problems, and in times of need the church has always been the first to show up at my door with a care package. Acceptance seems to be the norm around here.

I think that some of the people in r+s are posers, just trying to keep trouble brewing. And then I think there really are some that see things in only their way and damn everyone else to hell. Those ones scare me a bit, it seems that their way of thinking is a little off. They tend to be the ones trying to ban abortions and gay marriage, and to impose their rules on others. That type of attitude does nothing to win people over to their religion, or to see their side of an argument. But they are so set in their ways that even pointing this out doesn't get through to them.

Having never been to the UK, I have nothing to compare it to.

Answer 5

Hi there Pangel, I think everyone should be entitled to their own personal belief systems providing they do not affect others. I resent anyone who attempts to enforce their belief systems on me. People should just live and let live in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, I do not think that this will ever be possible. Religion has caused more wars than anything else. Alot of people can be so extreme in their interpretation of their bible. In my opinion, the bible is an interesting history book, however, it is open to much mis-interpretation. As Marx said: 'Religion is opium to the masses.' The operative question is, why can't people learn to get along with each other and respect their differences?

Answer 6

It is not like this in all parts of America. YA is, of course, freely accessible by all areas of the US, so there is a more representative group of people posting. However, much of the Central and southern United States is fundamental. And, it is very different from Britain. Something like 30% of Britons believe there is a God, while upwards of 85% of Americans believe in a distinct God. Britain is a more, on the whole, tolerant and religiously relaxed country when compared with the United States. I live on the East coast of the US, and the views here are not nearly as polarized as they are throughout the whole country.

Answer 7

I live in America and honestly, I don't understand it either. I've never been to Europe but I've heard that it's the exact opposite over there.

The thing I've always noticed is that everyone in this country acts like it's some sort of race, or competition. Religion and spirituality always struck me as things that a person should discover on their own -- do an internal search and determine things for themselves, but not be so overly concerned about where everyone else is on their own path. Everyone in this country is so focused on what everyone ELSE is doing. I know the movie Jesus Camp is one of the more extreme examples, but it demonstrates what I'm saying. The pastor in that movie is constantly talking about the Muslims. "The MUSLIMS are gaining converts quicker than we are." "We're losing the battle to the MUSLIMS." "ISLAM is growing; we need to step it up, people." I mean, whatever happened to just figuring things out for yourself and not being so paranoid and upset that not every single person in the world agrees? It's just missing the point of religion, in my opinion.

Answer 8

Hi Pangel,

I was first English before I immigrated to America some 30 years ago. What you find is not very different from what I have found. I find most American fundamentalist christians to be very intolerant and xenophobic to other beliefs, culture and the world outside their comfort zone.

Americans, IMO, is still a very young country, with little sense of world history and diversity. Unfortunately, I find that some elements of the christian religion actually support this worldview. It is difficult to bridge the divide. Perhaps by living here in America, one may come to understand the culture and worldview to explain why they think in overly simplistic terms.

Answer 9

Things are different in the US. Remember that centuries ago many people with "non-mainstream " religions departed the UK to set up their own religious groups in the New World. That is where it started.

It is difficult to believe the degree of fundamentalism seen in the US.

Answer 10

I have lived both places.
And find that America is far better then any country. It has this special spirit that never dies. There is a separate aura. People are not as judgmental as the Britishers.
Britain is a nice sophisticated place..a place of a perfect blend of class and classic ppl, art, architecture, music etc.
Dont feel bad anything for here... we all r here to have fun. We like to find fun in everything but ourseleves. Dont mind dear.