Baylor study finds religion thriving in the U.S.
WACO — Contrary to the impression given on the campaign trail, Americans do not believe God favors one political party over another, according to a national survey released today by the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion….Overall, only 4 percent believe that God favors a political party. Among the roughly 100 million identified as evangelical Protestants by the survey, 8.1 percent hold that belief. However, nearly a fifth (18.6 percent) of respondents believe God favors the United States in world affairs. Among evangelicals, 26 percent think God is on the side of the United States.
OK, so this is a “good news/bad news” scenario. Thankfully, it appears that most Americans aren’t arrogant enough to think that God votes Republican. Unfortunately, they ARE arrogant enough to think that God is an American. Gee, what a shock.
Overall, I think spirituality is a good thing. Honest spirituality takes us out of ourselves and our own narrow little world. It forces us to think about more than our own selfish, mundane concerns and introduces us to considerations of the world around us. What’s my role? What’s my purpose? Why am I here? Why do bad things happen? Why do I ask so many questions? Why can the Vikings never win a Super Bowl?
But, I digress….
Religion and spirituality are part of what gives this country it’s character. Unfortunately, it’s also what gives this country it’s well-deserved reputation as the refuge of inolerant, xenophobic, hyper-reilgious, Amerika uber Alles zealots. Given that most Americans have never been outside the borders of this country, I suppose it’s easy to understand where this self-righteous enthnocentrism comes from. It’s tiresome and quite disturbing, though. As someone who has been fortunate enough to live overseas on a couple of occasions, I can tell you that the view from outside looking in isn’t often pretty. We may think we live in a Shining City On The Hill, but too often we’re seen as a collection of insensitive buffoons who think we rule the world.
Frankly, I’m with Gandhi on this one. I’m not concerned about Christianity, it’s Christians who scare the Hell out of me (no pun intended). The philosophy and doctrine of Christianity has a lot to offer. The people who interpret Christianity in ways that support their own narrow prejudices and then use those interpretations to judge and marginalize those who think differently are little more than despots looking for their own empire, where everyone thinks, believes, and acts as they do. That would explain Utah and Idaho, eh?
I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but God isn’t an American, and he doesn’t vote Rpublican (or Democratic). Somehow, I think He has more important things on HIs mind….
