December 13, 2006

Christian nation, indeed

I believe I posted this last year, but found it again by accident today. Some excerpts (emphasis mine):
Only 40 percent of Americans can name more than four of the Ten Commandments, and a scant half can cite any of the four authors of the Gospels. Twelve percent believe Joan of Arc was Noah's wife. This failure to recall the specifics of our Christian heritage may be further evidence of our nation's educational decline, but it probably doesn't matter all that much in spiritual or political terms. Here is a statistic that does matter: Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves.” That is, three out of four Americans believe that this uber-American idea, a notion at the core of our current individualist politics and culture, which was in fact uttered by Ben Franklin, actually appears in Holy Scripture. The thing is, not only is Franklin's wisdom not biblical; it's counter-biblical. Few ideas could be further from the gospel message, with its radical summons to love of neighbor.

--snip--

And therein is the paradox. America is simultaneously the most professedly Christian of the developed nations and the least Christian in its behavior. That paradox—more important, perhaps, than the much touted ability of French women to stay thin on a diet of chocolate and cheese—illuminates the hollow at the core of our boastful, careening culture.

--snip--

In 2004, as a share of our economy, we ranked second to last, after Italy, among developed countries in government foreign aid. Per capita we each provide fifteen cents a day in official development assistance to poor countries. And it's not because we were giving to private charities for relief work instead. Such funding increases our average daily donation by just six pennies, to twenty-one cents. It's also not because Americans were too busy taking care of their own; nearly 18 percent of American children lived in poverty (compared with, say, 8 percent in Sweden).

--snip--

This Christian nation also tends to make personal, as opposed to political, choices that the Bible would seem to frown upon. Despite the Sixth Commandment, we are, of course, the most violent rich nation on earth, with a murder rate four or five times that of our European peers. We have prison populations greater by a factor of six or seven than other rich nations (which at least should give us plenty of opportunity for visiting the prisoners). Having been told to turn the other cheek, we're the only Western democracy left that executes its citizens, mostly in those states where Christianity is theoretically strongest. Despite Jesus' strong declarations against divorce, our marriages break up at a rate—just over half—that compares poorly with the European Union's average of about four in ten. That average may be held down by the fact that Europeans marry less frequently, and by countries, like Italy, where divorce is difficult; still, compare our success with, say, that of the godless Dutch, whose divorce rate is just over 37 percent. Teenage pregnancy? We're at the top of the charts. Personal self-discipline—like, say, keeping your weight under control? Buying on credit? Running government deficits? Do you need to ask?

8 comments:

volfan007 said...

oh, we quit being a christian nation a long time ago. and, in the 1960's...we took an even bigger step away from being a christian nation.

we are a heathen nation right now.

volfan007

Streak said...

Again, Volfan, your ignorance is only matched by your stubbornness. Your grasp of American history, as you speak it, is so woefully uninformed that you might have learned from the back of cereal boxes. It does not make me think highly of UT Martin.

volfan007 said...

streak,

i have been called worse.

volfan007

Streak said...

But the fact remains, that you don't really know much about history. That, in itself, is certainly not a problem. But you seem to be content in that state, and unwilling to learn from others.

Saying that we were a Christian nation is a big leap. What does that mean? How does that relate to the fact that our Constitution--the very law of the land--does not mention God and explicitly bans religious litmus tests? How does it relate to our actual history--slavery, treatment of Native Americans, child labor, etc.

volfan007 said...

streak,

i am a student of history. i love to study and learn about history. history was one of my favorite subjects in school.

i know that i dont know as much as you do....you're a history prof., but i do know a little about it.

volfan007

Streak said...

volfan, I am glad to hear that. I really don't mean to be hostile--sometimes your responses and seemingly unwillingness to listen to an alternative explanation frustrates me.

Also, I must concede, the whole "Christian nation" idea--from a historical perspective--has always annoyed me.

Anonymous said...

great post!

In my view, American Christianity is not necesarrily biblical christianity. We are put to shame by the persecuted church over seas who keep their faith to point of death. In many countries, becoming a christian means loss of family, job, property and life.
We are not a Christian nation. Even if more of us knew the ten commandments, what would that prove? The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. How many Americans have the spirit of God dwelling in their hearts by faith, as evidenced by their faith and obedience to God and His Word? How many of us follow Jesus? Friendship with the world is enmity with God as James says. True Christianity with Jesus at the center, will never be popular with our culture or world. Some people may acknowledge God, or spirituality, but will they acknowledge Jesus as Lord?

Streak said...

jp,

Thanks for dropping by. Christianity has always meant a lot of things here, though I am not exactly sure what you mean by "biblical Christianity." For one thing, I don't think that means just one thing. From a cultural historical perspective, a wide range of groups and individuals have claimed "biblical" Christianity, and I am really approaching it from that perspective.

That said, however, it strikes me that nations aren't Christian--people are.