America doesn't seem very Christian (churches, atheism, Baptist, bible)
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Frequently I hear that America is full of religious people, and the average American is still God-fearing, yet as a foreigner it seems American culture is very secular...I know pop culture is very Hollywood/NY centric, both of which are among the least religious parts of the nation, but how religious is America really compared to other Western nations?
I think it all depends on where you go. If you go to New York or Los Angeles - it's not very religious. If you go to the deep south or the bible belt - it is pretty religious. The United States is very large and very spread out. You'll find that different areas are vastly different from each other in many, many ways.
Frequently I hear that America is full of religious people, and the average American is still God-fearing, yet as a foreigner it seems American culture is very secular...I know pop culture is very Hollywood/NY centric, both of which are among the least religious parts of the nation, but how religious is America really compared to other Western nations?
Pissssssssss hay Trimac, here's a little something for you to read and then you'll understand the way this country is..... U.S. CONSTITUTION,
Frequently I hear that America is full of religious people, and the average American is still God-fearing, yet as a foreigner it seems American culture is very secular...I know pop culture is very Hollywood/NY centric, both of which are among the least religious parts of the nation, but how religious is America really compared to other Western nations?
Many Americans are very easily offended when anything they hold dear is criticized, portrayed in an unflattering light, or even just compared to something else that isn't completely horrible. And few things will set them off in this way more than religion. Therefore to avoid controversy, a lot of pop culture glosses over religious life except in the briefest, blandest possible terms. Obviously there are exceptions, but those are mostly meant to cater to a specific demographic. But if they want a TV character (just an example) to appeal to the broadest audience possible, they'll make him or her "spiritual but not religious", or maybe just the vaguest sort of generic mainline Christian.
I think America is Christian enough and the most Christian in the West, but the problem is really pinpointing exactly what Christian is. It is means different things to different folks.
Frequently I hear that America is full of religious people, and the average American is still God-fearing, yet as a foreigner it seems American culture is very secular...I know pop culture is very Hollywood/NY centric, both of which are among the least religious parts of the nation, but how religious is America really compared to other Western nations?
There is a social stigma involved with being "Christian" due to the extreme right wing stereotype perpetuated by groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church, a church that pickets military funerals with "God Hates ****" signs. Extremist churches like Westboro hold a very staunchly anti-gay and anti-science, and condemn anybody who questions their beliefs. While these types of extremist churches make up only a small percentage of Christians, they have in a sense become the image of Christianity due to media attention and their political activism. Because of this, most of the younger generation has become staunchly anti-Christian, and they are the ones that control the pop culture. If only "ministers" like Fred Phelps realized they are converting more young people to atheism than Richard Dawkins could ever dream of.
There is a social stigma involved with being "Christian" due to the extreme right wing stereotype perpetuated by groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church, a church that pickets military funerals with "God Hates ****" signs. Extremist churches like Westboro hold a very staunchly anti-gay and anti-science, and condemn anybody who questions their beliefs. While these types of extremist churches make up only a small percentage of Christians, they have in a sense become the image of Christianity due to media attention and their political activism. Because of this, most of the younger generation has become staunchly anti-Christian, and they are the ones that control the pop culture. If only "ministers" like Fred Phelps realized they are converting more young people to atheism than Richard Dawkins could ever dream of.
Well even in a lot of places where people are thought to be really religious most people are pretty secular in reality.Where I live in west virginia it seems every eighth building is a church....and every third building is a bar...you do the math.
Half the cars in the bar parking lot on saturday night can be seen the next day in the church parking lot....the rest slept in.Walmart is just as packed on sunday as saturday,sabbath or not.People flock across the border from 'much less religious maryland',where gambling and strip bars are discouraged and tobacco is highly taxed....to 'God-fearing west virginia' where strip bars and slot machines abound,and cigarettes are taxed at a fraction of what they are in maryland.
If you bother to ask most here will identify as baptist and agree that the bible is the literal word of God.....while sitting in a bar,finishing their 6th beer,taking a drag from the last cigarette in the pack they bought this morning,and talking to their girlfriend about what to name their soon to be born third child.Once they're sure 'things will work out between them' they may even get married...
I may be exaggerating a little...but its a very little.There are some people whose 'walk' matches their 'talk' but most people in the country do live pretty secular lives.
Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matt 7:14
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