So what if America is the most religious nation?

[rug]

if you compare creed and deed, the claim is hollow



By Bernard Starr
Sunday, Jan 8, 2012 9:00 AM 17:45:29 EST

Polls consistently tell us that America is the most religious nation in the industrialized world. More that 90 percent of our population say they believe in God, and that they pray regularly. The figure may even be higher when adding the majority of Americans who claim to be atheists but pray, one-third of them often, according to a Baylor University survey.

A Rice University study of 275 scientists at 21 “elite” research universities in the United States found that while 61 percent declared themselves atheists or agnostics, 17 percent have attended church services. Whether genuine devotees, just hedging their bets or doing it for the children (as some say), there’s little doubt that America is a religious nation.

But does professing religious beliefs translate into acting in accord with religious principles? Isn’t behavior the true test? In his New Testament epistle, James expressed the Christian view that “faith without works is dead.” Similarly, Judaism calls for “mitzvahs” — good deeds. And Islam requires acts of charity. Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson offered this challenging formula for sincerity: “Go put your creed into your deed.”

How do creed and deed match up? The 2011 report card for religious America.

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/08/so_what_if_america_is_the_most_religious_nation/singleton/

Just this morning I had to poke my daughter to wake her up during Mass.

[Angry Dragon]

1. How many of them can name their god??

[rug]

2. That's the easy part.

[Angry Dragon]

3. I do not believe so

You have a name??

[rug]

5. Sure. Jesus, Christ, Adonai, the Paraclete. Take your pick.

Any you dislike more than others?

[Angry Dragon]

7. I am unfamiliar with Adonai and the Paraclete

Am I to understand you have at least two gods in your religion??

[rug]

8. It's the Trinity.

If you don't know what that is, Google knows all.

[Angry Dragon]

9. I do know what the trinity is

however I feel that this causes a lot of confusion for the Christian religion

Is it three gods or one god with three faces??
And some Christians (including some Catholics) do not believe Jesus was a god

[rug]

11. You're talking about modalism which was debated nineteen centuries ago.

Most of the issues around Christology were determined, for better or worse, by the fifth century. Modern variants, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, rely essentially on those same arguments. The divinity of Jesus is a basic tenet of Catholicism and is recited thousands of times a day around the world at Mass.

[Goblinmonger]

4. "Isn't behavior the true test?"

That's pretty open for debate. Seems like one of the fighting points between Catholics and Protestant religions.

[rug]

6. I don't think he's talking about faith versus works.

At best, he's describing indifference. At worst, hypocrisy.

[Goblinmonger]

10. I think he is.

"In his New Testament epistle, James expressed the Christian view that “faith without works is dead.” Similarly, Judaism calls for “mitzvahs” — good deeds. And Islam requires acts of charity."

Works. Deeds. Acts. That seems like more than indifference and hypocrisy.

[Starboard Tack]

12. America is the most in lots of ways, but I wouldn't be bragging too much.

It certainly is the country with the most people incarcerated, the most people armed, the most people living in poverty, the most obese, the most consumers, the most waste, the most cars, the most without health care and the most oblivious to the rest of the world.
I seriously doubt it is the most religious, even in the industrialized world. Especially in terms of religious sincerity. Maybe in religious ignorance, distortion and hypocrisy.
But it's still a great country, in spite of all that.

[Eliminator]

13. Overturning Roe V. Wade, Banning contracaption, no gay marriage...

Just a few of the many, many things that are consequences or can be consequences of a religious nation.