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RELIGION AND AMERICAN POLITICS Nigel Barber/2012 Religion is important for American politics because religion is important for Americans. Yet, there are factors in American political life that amplify the role of religion in a way that is not seen in other developed countries. For a developed country, the U.S. is extraordinarily high on religion. Thus 65 percent of Americans say that religion is important in their daily lives compared to just 17 percent of Swedes, 19 percent of Danes, and 24 percent of Japanese. Why America is more religious than Europe There are several likely reasons why Americans say that they are so much more religious than Europeans. One may be that they exaggerate their own religiosity in the same way that they claim about twice the attendance rates relative to people actually showing up in church. There is also a large immigrant population, many of whom hail from countries that are poor and comparatively religious. Immigrant groups that happen to be linguistically isolated may remain quite religious even if the broader society becomes increasingly secular. Life is more difficult in the U.S. than in Europe by several measures even though Europe is currently in an economic decline. Problems here range from health problems and lower life expectancy, to higher crime rates, and relative lack of involvement in the community. All of these problems are bound up with inequality - with a chasm between the living conditions of rich and poor. This gap has widened in recent decades and reveals holes in social safety nets relative to Europe. So Americans feel far less secure economically, and in relation to their health and well-being than the overall wealth of the country in terms of GDP per capita would predict. This existential insecurity provides a fertile ground for religion. Historians are fond of attributing American religiosity to historical factors such as the Puritan founders. Yet history counts for little in these matters given that virtually every country has a devout past — specifically the currently secular countries of Europe. Why religion is emphasized in American politics Religion influences American politics to a degree not seen in other developed countries. Despite the constitutional firewall between church and state, national politicians hardly ever give a major speech without invoking religion. The president is forever asking God to bless America, sending his prayers to victims of disasters, hosting religious leaders, and extolling religious values. Such advocacy of religion is unheard of in Europe but that may be because the majority is no longer religious and because voting members of the native population (as distinct from immigrants) are not very devout. In America, religion is much more a part of public life whatever the constitution says. There are various reasons for this. One is that evangelical Christians under the banner of the Moral Majority made a determined push to influence political leaders since the 1970s and to inject religion into political debates. This broad agenda animates contemporary right-wing media including talk radio personalities such as Rush Limbaugh and TV channels such as Fox News. The religious propensities of immigrants mean that they are receptive to the conservative religious message and can be induced to vote across class lines. In doing so they support an agenda that favors the wealthy and makes them even poorer. Given this threat from the religious right, Democrats feel pressure to emphasize their own religious credentials, or risk losing a chunk of the poorer immigrant population who make up their natural constituency. So religion is embroiled in American political life and that magnifies the apparent significance of religion in people’s everyday lives. According to wits, U.S. conservatives went to war in Afghanistan to separate religion from politics abroad while striving to unite religion and politics at home. American politicians talk a lot about religion. Yet, they have no more in common with theocrats like the Taliban than ordinary Americans have with the religious fervor of ordinary Afghanis. Many poor people in America undermine their economic interests by voting for Republican politicians who are interested in further concentrating wealth in the hands of the affluent. They do so, in part, because the Republicans appeal to their religious propensity. That religious propensity is strengthened by increasing insecurity in the lives of the poor because difficult living conditions are associated with increased religiosity. So the worse their living conditions become, the more likely they are to follow a self-defeating voting pattern. That seems like another great reason for really separating church and state. |
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Maybe this article goes a little ways into acknowledging that Religion holds a very important place in US Politics. There seems to be a very deep-seated denial that religion has an important role, even though the evidence shows otherwise.......On this site, even those who claim that Religion plays virtually no role in their lives, subscribe to the notion that Religion is sacrosanct and it is wrong to discuss it....This social tabu seems to be very strong and prevalent, but invisible to many Americans. My interest in the subject seems to trigger many here.....Perhaps that's why I keep trying to explore it in this venue.
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2/13/2020 4:28 pm |
I have many friends who are big in church. Last Sunday while the wife was in church I called up this preacher in Waco on u-tube explaining why people should or could speak in tongues. LOL I thought------What would happen if she walked in from church & I was enthralled with the Holy Ghost speaking the unknown tongue right there in the living room? LOL Pray On!
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I have many friends who are big in church. Last Sunday while the wife was in church I called up this preacher in Waco on u-tube explaining why people should or could speak in tongues. LOL I thought------What would happen if she walked in from church & I was enthralled with the Holy Ghost speaking the unknown tongue right there in the living room? LOL Pray On!
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2/13/2020 7:17 pm |
He was not specific on when they become possessed. Evidently it can happen anytime preferably when in a group so it serves to increase the inspiration onto others nearby and they in turn begin babbling this unintelligible stuff that they themselves do not understand. Only God knows how to interpret. I was wondering how God knows what they are saying when they themselves do not have a clue. Perhaps someone more advanced than I can explain this more clearly.
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2/13/2020 7:27 pm |
I thought about faking the unknown tongue---and babble something when the wife came home from church but seeing as how she is so religious---I might accidently babble something that she understood and I would get slapped up side the head. LOL I guess if she slapped the hell out of me it would be a good thing. LOL Like thanks! I needed that!
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All US banknotes show on the back the imprint "In God We Trust". God is involved in everything that makes this country great. I don't judge it good or bad but interpret it as a guide line in this society. In Germany, a secular country, when a person swears an oath he/she ends with the words "So Help Me God!" Happiness is when what you think, what you say, what you do are in harmony - M. Gandhi
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All US banknotes show on the back the imprint "In God We Trust". God is involved in everything that makes this country great. I don't judge it good or bad but interpret it as a guide line in this society. In Germany, a secular country, when a person swears an oath he/she ends with the words "So Help Me God!"
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Eggzackly......
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Don't ask me, ask the government authorities. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, what you do are in harmony - M. Gandhi
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When you say "God is involved in everything that makes this country great", are you including all the mythological beings that Americans call "God" or only your own? I don't have a God of my own,,,,, This "matter" we can discuss for years and may come to a conclusion we both can agree upon. We can view the philosophical perceptions of Schopenhauer, Kant, Hegel..... Happiness is when what you think, what you say, what you do are in harmony - M. Gandhi
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2/14/2020 3:08 pm |
If I were confused as many seem to be----about which is the right GOD----I would look up into the heavens and say-----GOD we are confused down here! What the HELL would you have us believe. Quit playing games------just identify yourself as the right God and stop all the anguish of wondering if we are going to hell if we guess one of the imposters is you. What is with the freaking games? This is my life! NOT DAMN CHARADE PARTY. Stop wondering go for the summation. If it is a snake kill it & move on. Pray On!
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I cannot speak for all Americans and their imagery of God. The mentioning of God in the German oath has its origin in the catholic and protestant faith. My guess. LOL I don't have a God of my own,,,,, This "matter" we can discuss for years and may come to a conclusion we both can agree upon. We can view the philosophical perceptions of Schopenhauer, Kant, Hegel..... You say " God is involved in everything that makes this country great"...That's an odd statement to make if you have no God of your own.... This article is about Religion in US politics, not about religious philosophy.
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2/15/2020 11:01 am |
Not necessarily---4th paragraph from top the guy switches to-----Why America is more religious than Europe.------------Who better to speak to ANY of it than someone who actually lives in BOTH PLACES? I liked what she had to say. If it was strictly within US politics the author should not have brought Europe into it & you should not cut her off for following the authors lead but what the hell do I know anyway? LOL
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Not necessarily---4th paragraph from top the guy switches to-----Why America is more religious than Europe.------------Who better to speak to ANY of it than someone who actually lives in BOTH PLACES? I liked what she had to say. If it was strictly within US politics the author should not have brought Europe into it & you should not cut her off for following the authors lead but what the hell do I know anyway? LOL
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Maybe you can explain to me how these two sentences make sense from the same person...."God is involved in everything that makes this country great" and "I don't have a God of my own." ......Myseek has made these contradictions before.... Happiness is when what you think, what you say, what you do are in harmony - M. Gandhi
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2/15/2020 9:23 pm |
Sparkle God is involved in what makes this country great ---------She is Native German--------spoken from outsiders viewpoint ABOUT the U.S. LOL (looking at the U.S.as if it is on display in ones hand) NOT the country surrounding me--------the country on display The country being pointed at. Heck throw a rock at it . LOL Obviously when she says she does not have a God of her own she is speaking personally about herself. Wherever she is. Europe or the U.S. Your author brought up her native land & she obviously took that as an opening to compare as he did. Or perhaps I missed something there. LOL Party On!
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2/15/2020 9:54 pm |
Sparkle I grew up listening to my German granny speak. The meaning sounded familiar. LOL
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