4 ms·

Ivan is an atheist, you see. This way we all know we aren’t soviet. I’m reasonably convinced that explains a fair bit of the “we are very publicly religions”pa

Ivan is an atheist, you see. This way we all know we aren’t soviet. I’m reasonably convinced that explains a fair bit of the “we are very publicly religions”part of the 1950s.

TeMPOraL 8y ago
I agree, I feel that's the reason. Since the ideology of the Soviet Union was explicitly anti-religion, the US doubled down on being pro-religion.
toomanybeersies 8y ago
You're exactly right. Religion was used as a foil against Communism in the Cold War. It was the Good Christian USA vs the Evil Atheist USSR. "In God We Trust" was adopted as the official motto of the USA in 1956. "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. Regarding putting "In God We Trust" on currency, Representative Charles E Bennett said "In these days when imperialistic and materialistic communism seeks to attack and destroy freedom, we should continually look for ways to strengthen the foundations of our freedom" [1]. [1] http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/The-legislation-placing-%E2%80%9CIn-God-We-Trust%E2%80%9D-on-national-currency/ http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/The...
- sandworm101 8y ago
  "In god we trust" was a swipe against the UK monarchy. The US government rejects rule "By the Grace of God". In most western monarchies God anoints kings and queens. But God has no role in picking the president. The root of power in the US is "the people". Those people trust that God could step in if needed, but they don't expect God to play the active role he does in monarchy. Given that historical context, it is funny to see the phrase now used to support religion.
prawn 8y ago
I've always wondered how the political right in the West ended up with such seemingly odd bedfellows as capitalism and religion. e.g., the Jesus of stories seems like a potentially Socialist sort? A friend of mine thought that it was likely that the pairing was a reaction to the communism and atheism of the USSR.
- Spooky23 8y ago
  Intel agencies also heavily recruited missionaries and Mormons due to “clean” backgrounds and language skills. That’s a big influence on the culture.
- dempseye 8y ago
  This is a common strand within protestantism, imported from northern Europe into the United States. It is quite at odds with the catholic view of things and with what Jesus is reported to have said in the bible.
  - lainga 8y ago
    The Calvinist work ethic is less Jesus and more Old Testament: you were born into sin, you live under the Curse of God, and you'd better work as hard as you can every day and shun vice or you'll go to hell.
    - hprotagonist 8y ago
      worse. “... even though your fate is preordained!”
    - wahern 8y ago
      That's no different than orthodox Christian theology. Like with a handful of other unique religions, orthodox Christianity fundamentally put great value into and encouraged work in the temporal world. In Roman Catholic theology science--knowing the physical world through exploration and labor--is at least in principle an avenue of holy revelation similar to that of the bible and the Church. I think the difference is in the shedding of the ancient modes of worship. Follow Protestant theologies to their logical end and the only way to manifest piety is through industrious labor. It's not just that work is prayer; that concept was already present in orthodox Christianity. Work becomes the religion, rather than being one aspect of a more complex system of worship.
      - hprotagonist 8y ago

Ivan is an atheist, you see. This way we all know we aren’t soviet. I’m reasonably convinced that explains a fair bit of the “we are very publicly religions”part of the 1950s.

TeMPOraL 8y ago

I agree, I feel that's the reason. Since the ideology of the Soviet Union was explicitly anti-religion, the US doubled down on being pro-religion.

toomanybeersies 8y ago

You're exactly right. Religion was used as a foil against Communism in the Cold War. It was the Good Christian USA vs the Evil Atheist USSR. "In God We Trust" was adopted as the official motto of the USA in 1956. "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. Regarding putting "In God We Trust" on currency, Representative Charles E Bennett said "In these days when imperialistic and materialistic communism seeks to attack and destroy freedom, we should continually look for ways to strengthen the foundations of our freedom" [1]. [1] http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/The-legislation-placing-%E2%80%9CIn-God-We-Trust%E2%80%9D-on-national-currency/ http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/The...

sandworm101 8y ago
"In god we trust" was a swipe against the UK monarchy. The US government rejects rule "By the Grace of God". In most western monarchies God anoints kings and queens. But God has no role in picking the president. The root of power in the US is "the people". Those people trust that God could step in if needed, but they don't expect God to play the active role he does in monarchy. Given that historical context, it is funny to see the phrase now used to support religion.

prawn 8y ago

I've always wondered how the political right in the West ended up with such seemingly odd bedfellows as capitalism and religion. e.g., the Jesus of stories seems like a potentially Socialist sort? A friend of mine thought that it was likely that the pairing was a reaction to the communism and atheism of the USSR.

Spooky23 8y ago
Intel agencies also heavily recruited missionaries and Mormons due to “clean” backgrounds and language skills. That’s a big influence on the culture.
dempseye 8y ago
This is a common strand within protestantism, imported from northern Europe into the United States. It is quite at odds with the catholic view of things and with what Jesus is reported to have said in the bible.
- lainga 8y ago
  The Calvinist work ethic is less Jesus and more Old Testament: you were born into sin, you live under the Curse of God, and you'd better work as hard as you can every day and shun vice or you'll go to hell.
  - hprotagonist 8y ago
    worse. “... even though your fate is preordained!”
  - wahern 8y ago
    That's no different than orthodox Christian theology. Like with a handful of other unique religions, orthodox Christianity fundamentally put great value into and encouraged work in the temporal world. In Roman Catholic theology science--knowing the physical world through exploration and labor--is at least in principle an avenue of holy revelation similar to that of the bible and the Church. I think the difference is in the shedding of the ancient modes of worship. Follow Protestant theologies to their logical end and the only way to manifest piety is through industrious labor. It's not just that work is prayer; that concept was already present in orthodox Christianity. Work becomes the religion, rather than being one aspect of a more complex system of worship.
    - hprotagonist 8y ago