With America being by far the most christian nation on earth?

Question

Does anyone else find it odd that they have some of the higest rates of teen pregnancy, murder and general incarceration?

As well if you look at a graph the red states which tend to be more conservative christian states have even higher crime rates?

Shouldn't the most christian nation on earth be a model of civility for the rest of the world to follow?

The us while no where near the highest population has by far the largest prison population on earth. how do you explain this.

Fire ball I always look forward to your garbage answers. Never any thought or meaning to it.

Mim The behavior of a few? the percentage of incarcerated in the US is higherthan anywhere in the world.

Answer 1

Don't forget drug use, gun violence, rape and domestic violence.

Quite the coincidence, hmmm?

Religion corrupts.


All I see above me is people dancing around the question.

Answer 2

No, I do not find it odd. The problem is Christianity emphasizes the concept of sin and punishment, rather than real responsibility for ones actions. So once a person enters the real world and starts to see the low incidence of (a) being charged with the crime, (b) being found guilty, and (c) doing prison time, they start to treat like a "can't catch me" game.

Teen pregnancy is mostly about people having too much freedom when they are too young to know how to handle it. They are left alone, in couples, at a remarkably early age. Parents say "you gotta learn to trust your kids" but the kids know that they are going to get into one another's pants if they have the opportunity. I remember my teenage years mostly in terms of trying to find a place to be alone with my boyfriend. And I got pregnant and married before I was 16. Again, they may think it's a sin, but they know they can be forgiven for it.

As to general incarceration, have you seen the figures on what percentage of prisoners are there ONLY for drug charges, or for violations of parole or probation involving drugs? Subtract those by the reasonable expedience of legalizing all drugs, with or without the prescription of an MD as appropriate, and that statistic will disappear, along with the huge bureaucratic structure that administers those laws.

Answer 3

Very simple answer to this:
We are FREE to do what we want. Some are very upright and moral people. Others are idiots with no moral values what so ever.
America lives in a glass house. We are visible for everyone to see. If some celebrity farts in public, it is around the world in seconds, much of the time with video of the event actually happening, and people holding their noses.
Our statistics are visible because we don't HIDE them. Many other countries don't publish their reports, because the masses don't need to know.
Yes, America is the most Christian nation on Earth, and the Christians don't 'force' their faith on the rest of the population because we are free to think what we want.
The constitution and bill of rights was written by Godly and God-fearing men who respected the concept of God and morality even though some were atheists.
We have great freedom and with that comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, some take advantage of that freedom and commit horrible crimes.
I thank God every day that America does not go the way of some nations by punishing the whole population for the crimes of a few.
America IS a model of civility for the rest of the world to follow.
We do not force our people to be drones all cut from the same cloth.
Don't mess with us, we will ask God for forgiveness AFTER we carpet-bomb your country:)

Answer 4

Is this question directed at christians or Americans or those that are both or both groups separately?

For those of us non-christians and non-believers we never had high expectations of a "christian" nation in the first place. You may be, however, oversimplifying the issue. There are many, many other factors involved.

This only shows that religion has little influence on the "general" morality of a society as big as ours.

----edit----

to Footprints in the Sand:

Power corrupts, religion happens to be one of the greatest sources of power, but you have over-simplified the issue, as did the asker (possibly). However, if you were just making a statement of fact and not asserting that religion is exclusively the reason for all the aforementioned corruption then you are correct, but as you know things aren't black and white.

Answer 5

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I think you can try and answer this question by applying macro-psychology to micro-psychology theory and think of America as a person with feelings and emotions. Other advanced countries also have high rates of teen pregnancy, suicide and crime which cannot be explained away. Living in an advanced country can be very stressful for some individuals when it seems that all that matters in life is accumulating material possessions, a gorgeous partner, and enough cash to going skiing every winter.
As for the religious element I think religion is not as influential as some people consider it. People are capable of making their own decisions and determining which direction their life goes in but yes those individuals' decision making processes are affected by a rich tapestry of medium including religion, media, finance and security.
America has declared itself at war and as such it may need to look to god to convince itself that it is doing the right thing. This filters down to individual level and the evidence is here on Q&A every single day with some of the things people pour out.
I should add that guns are one clear difference. They are freely available in America and this creates complacency amongst those who own them. More guns equal more empowerment but it is not genuine empowerment as it is supported by a material possession. Non genuine empowerment results in more stress and so the cycle goes on.
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Answer 6

USA...a Christian nation?..Yes, founded upon Godly principles.
One of those principles is "Freedom" Freedom to believe and practice any faith, freedom to work at any job, own any home, freedom to have a family and raise them according to ones own beliefs, Freedom to elect Govt. officials and freedom to speak out against Govt. While most people choose to use their freedom wisely, others are free to use it foolishly if they so desire. The USA gives more financial aid to impoverished peoples and nations, then all other countries combined. The USA sends it's armed forces all over the world to protect the freedom of smaller nations. USA is the model for all nations, we have much wealth and we share it with our friends and our enemies. No country in the world has given as much Humanitarian aid as the USA. We are blessed by God and the whole world knows this and cannot deny it. Many countries have been around for thousands of years and still suffer poverty, starvation and disease. USA has only been around 231 years and we are the wealthiest nation EVER. You know it, I know it and the world knows it. Everyone wants to escape their homeland and come live in USA, the land of Freedom. Other countries are too busy killing each other over religion so they cannot have a growing robust economy like USA. God gave some of these nations all the oil supplies in the world, yet, these nations know nothing but poverty and oppression. God set it up this way to show the world that wealth and success only comes through Him, through His blessings. Israel is the same way, once a barren land, now it is flourishing like no other nation in the middle east, God also blesses Israel, and those who oppose her are in constant poverty. Wake Up...It is better to be on Gods side, then to be on the side of wickedness. It is obvious to see that Gods promise in Gen 12:3 still stands true today--"I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him who curses you".... Freedom and Democracy are not perfect institutions, however, they are the best known to mankind. God Bless America and Israel !!!!!! Forever!!

Answer 7

The biggest problem is really trying to decide if America is a "Christian Nation" or not.

The Radical Right seems to flip-flop on this. When they are trying to create policies that favor Christianity, they will claim that America is a "Christian Nation". Right after the 9/11 tragedy, Pat Robertson claimed that 9/11 was our punishment for not being Christian enough and that we got what we deserved.

So it seems that America is a "Christian Nation" when some Radical right operative wants to create more special priveleges for Christians, but when they want to rant and rave about "social decline" suddenly we're a Pagan Nation.

The stat's that have most people identifying themselves as "Christian" are taken at face value, when it suits their purposes to call us a "Christian Nation". When it doesn't suit their purpose, then they fall back on "just saying you are Christian" doesn't really mean you are a Christian.

Answer 8

I'll address your first question only.

America has strong Christian traditions because:
- of ideas such as the separation of Church and State.
- welcomed persecuted Christian (and other religious) minorities.
- many immigrants had a Christian heritage.

In my opinion, the pragmatic attitude of the framers of the Constitution ensured an environment that encouraged a much stronger (and evangelical) Christian faith.

Answer 9

FOR BECAUSE THESE THINGS COMES THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE CHILDREN ODF DISOBEDIENCE

I don't know what faith you are or if you are even of faith, but you have made a very good point. We see this in the Old testament with Israel. They would be blessed by God and proper as a nation and during their prosperity they would forget God and turn their backs on him. God would have to bring his wrath upon them to get them back in line.

The U.S. was a powerful Christian nation, check history back around 1900 and also in the 1950's there were major revivals across the nation and people turned to God. God blessed America. We prospered. We were "one nation under God".

It's not the atheist fault this nation is the shape it is in today but rather the Christians. As we prosper we forget God, because we rely on our money and the pleasure it brings. The love of money is the root of all evil. In this America has let her morals down and the teaching of morals. This spreads not only to the rich but to the poor also.

But it's places such as Hollywood that has lower the standard of morals in this nation. What we watch on TV we become acustomed to. I once heard a story of a boy who said growing up they never were allowed to drink, cuss, rob, cheat, have wild relationships or the such. Their Father brought a new friend over, and would let him do all these things in front of them and show them the pleasures of doing these things. They called his name TV.

Why is this possible? Money. Ratings, people are tempted with sin even those who don't sin will watch someone who does. They get use to this and let their guard down.

Hollywood is only part of the problem. If churches would have taken a bigger stand against sin and got out more to help people and had been more Christ like we would have not been this way today. Christians were not being Christians. They had a form of Godliness but have denied the power thereof.

Yes we should have been a model to the world. But they let Satan in. True Christians are a light to the world. Where are they at? They are very few and far between.

This is one of the reasons I see so many atheist on here say they are atheist. They were looking and searching for something and religion let them down. Many don't know that it was not God who let them down so they blame him. I wish these could seperate between the two. I am non-denominational for this reason, they going astray from the Word of God.

When God begins to pour out his wrath it will not always be with the sinful places. The Bible says "JUDGEMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD".

Ephesians 5:1-7
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.





1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Answer 10

Prison rates is because we incarcerate drug offenders other countries get them help. I don't think we are the most christian nation on earth. Look into South American countries. Brazil is like 90% Roman Catholic. Ireland Protestant and Catholic.

Answer 11

I think a lot of laws are stupid and a lot of people are locked up for minor offenses.

I think though while we largely are Christian, the media shoves violence and sex down our throats. It is all pervasive, and people spend more time with media outlets than they do God. I think this is just a natural part of taking God out of society.

Do you honestly believe Ohio has a higher murder rate than New York or Illinois?