It is most unusual to find religious fanatism in a developed country and only America is the exception to the rule.
Why?
2007-10-25 14:06:21 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, lots of reasons...
Religion has been mass-marketed here like McDonald's, for one.
The conservative christian right has been very effective at selling this Patriotism=Religion thing lately.
Since the end of WWII and America's emergence as the dominant world power, some Americans' arrogance has lead many to believe that we are more blessed than other countries... even though it was just our luck to be geographically isolated.
Also, it's part of the idealized early history of our country... Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock and all that jazz.
Some (erroneously) believe that the founding fathers intended this to be a christian nation... it is not.
This is my "short list."
The number of Vocal free thinkers is growing, thankfully... We're tired of the religious right making us all look bad!
And my personal thanks to Richard Dawkins!!!
2007-10-25 14:09:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
God will strike you dead for that question, Hee hee hee! My answer is I don't know. Guess its just a leftover thing from the Puritans. But if you want to get an American's knickers in a twist, just question or criticize our religious beliefs. Works the same for politics and sex in the US as well. Apparently these are some among areas in which we are still very under developed. As someone else replied, we are still a young country. This time in America may be equivalent to the Middle Ages in Europe. I just hope we can reach an Age of Enlightenment some day.
2007-10-25 21:16:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans have roots that take them back to a quest for religious freedom and independence.
Much of the rest of the civilized world has come under the materialistic apathy foretold in the Bible as the "apostasy" of the last days.
There is much superficiality in the religion of many Americans, but some still retain at least a semblance of true spirituality, because you see my friend, the Kingdom of God is not a matter of mere words, but of power.
2007-10-25 21:16:47 · answer #3 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is because this country was formed as an effort to flee religious persecution. The laws (originally) were written to protect the freedom of religious expression.
It is only in recent history that these laws have been under attack and efforts to circumvent their intent has taken a foothold.
2007-10-25 21:13:25 · answer #4 · answered by Molly 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It will appear that way to worldly people...but those who in the world but not of it seem strange and fanatical to others....
Billy Graham once said " If the world does not label you as fanatical you are not in the place God wants you.
2007-10-25 21:22:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because America is younger than other developed countries. Europe had a 1,000-year head-start. You could say that America is currently going through the Middle ages.
2007-10-25 21:10:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
We aren't, but the religious fanatic minority are more outspoken than the atheist and secular majority.
2007-10-25 21:14:43 · answer #7 · answered by Kyle B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we were founded by a bunch of religious dissenters, many of them fairly extreme in their beliefs.
2007-10-25 21:50:39 · answer #8 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not this American. I'm a non-believer who feels that the whole world can do without religion.
Religion has and will always to do harm onto society.
2007-10-25 21:13:10 · answer #9 · answered by Imagine No Religion 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
All depends on what you mean by fanatic. Dancing with rattlesnakes is going overboard...way overboard, but if you mean that we are not ashamed of Christ and refuse to go have a sinners good time than no we are not fanatics,we are just being true to God.
2007-10-25 21:12:27 · answer #10 · answered by happlymarriedinlove2 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋