6 ms·

This trend, while generally true, has been examined through multiple sources and variables to find out what makes a country prosperous- the US is an exception t

by mgh2 5y ago

This trend, while generally true, has been examined through multiple sources and variables to find out what makes a country prosperous- the US is an exception though https://m-g-h.medium.com/in-data-we-trust-2978dacc8c22 https://m-g-h.medium.com/in-data-we-trust-2978dacc8c22

tlogan 5y ago
I think there is one more factor. Due to polarized state of our politics religion is used as “rally flag” or a way to show “family values”. On both sides.
- ben_palaskas 5y ago
  Is it though? I am a christian in the US and have only met other christians at religious functions save for two or three occasions, where as everyone else I meet is not christian and probably not religious.
chmod775 5y ago
> the US is an exception though I would say people in the US just really like to profess to being Christian, even though they act the part in no way, shape, or form. Both country and people. It's more of a cultural 'thing' than actual belief or practice. The dichotomy of word and action is striking. Like watching someone claim to be a firefighter, attend training and seminars, then commit arson and not do any, you know, firefighting.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- crazygringo 5y ago
  There's no single definition of Christianity. There are so many denominations and different practices within, it's almost mind-boggling. So you may think people in the US merely profess being Christian according to your personal definition of whatever you think a Christian is or ought to be. But I can guarantee you the US is an extremely religious country and the different denominations are quite sincere in their beliefs. You don't have a monopoly on judging what "actual" Christianity is. In fact, your attitude is an extremely paternalistic, and frankly offensively, literal "holier than thou" position.
  - moistly 5y ago
    Dude, it isn’t like we can’t see what red-letter Jesus said and did, and also see that many — even a majority — of self-identifying “Christians” behave in ways that are in contradiction to His commandments. IOW, about as “Christian” as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is “Democratic”: the self-selected name does not represent the actual reality.
    - crazygringo 5y ago
      "Dude", if you think Christianity is mostly about what Jesus taught or his commandments... then I'm sorry but you don't understand Christianity at all. Christianity is a multifaceted historical phenomenon, a cultural tradition of which Jesus and even the text of the Bible is a small part. Saying Christianity is about what Jesus said and did makes as much sense as saying that the US is about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In both cases, it's not nothing, but neither is it the whole story, or even 10% of the story. You're free to decide what Christianity means to you, but not to prevent others from doing the same for themselves. After all, others doing it for themselves is precisely why "Christianity" is a family of seemingly countless denominations and divisions within. It's not a single monolithic thing, or even close to it.
      - moistly 5y ago
        > Christianity is a multifaceted historical phenomenon, a cultural tradition of which Jesus and even the text of the Bible is a small part. Agreed, Jesus Christ’s teachings play a minuscule part, especially in modern American Christianity.
        crazygringo 5y ago
        Wondering why you're singling out America here. Do you think it's any less than among Catholics in Italy? Or Eastern Orthodox adherents in Russia?
        moistly 5y ago
- SamBam 5y ago
  There is an extremely large very religious population in America. If you live in a blue state, though, you likely have little connection with them. You can't "No True Scotsman" the definition of "religious," though, by claiming that they don't act religious. That quickly becomes a slippery slope of definitions. "Oh, these people don't like immigrants, they're not really religious."
helsinkiandrew 5y ago
But increasingly less: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/07/10/nothing-in-particulars-are-americas-fastest-growing-religious-group https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/07/10/nothing-i...
- mgh2 5y ago
  This is from an outsider’s view. No need to go to church, it helps, but it is not the main attribute of a Christian. In fact, these institutions have become so blatantly centers of salesmanship nowadays, that there is a greater probability of fakes and hypocrites attending today.

by mgh2 5y ago

tlogan 5y ago

I think there is one more factor. Due to polarized state of our politics religion is used as “rally flag” or a way to show “family values”. On both sides.

ben_palaskas 5y ago
Is it though? I am a christian in the US and have only met other christians at religious functions save for two or three occasions, where as everyone else I meet is not christian and probably not religious.

chmod775 5y ago

> the US is an exception though I would say people in the US just really like to profess to being Christian, even though they act the part in no way, shape, or form. Both country and people. It's more of a cultural 'thing' than actual belief or practice. The dichotomy of word and action is striking. Like watching someone claim to be a firefighter, attend training and seminars, then commit arson and not do any, you know, firefighting.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
crazygringo 5y ago
There's no single definition of Christianity. There are so many denominations and different practices within, it's almost mind-boggling. So you may think people in the US merely profess being Christian according to your personal definition of whatever you think a Christian is or ought to be. But I can guarantee you the US is an extremely religious country and the different denominations are quite sincere in their beliefs. You don't have a monopoly on judging what "actual" Christianity is. In fact, your attitude is an extremely paternalistic, and frankly offensively, literal "holier than thou" position.
- moistly 5y ago
  Dude, it isn’t like we can’t see what red-letter Jesus said and did, and also see that many — even a majority — of self-identifying “Christians” behave in ways that are in contradiction to His commandments. IOW, about as “Christian” as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is “Democratic”: the self-selected name does not represent the actual reality.
  - crazygringo 5y ago
    "Dude", if you think Christianity is mostly about what Jesus taught or his commandments... then I'm sorry but you don't understand Christianity at all. Christianity is a multifaceted historical phenomenon, a cultural tradition of which Jesus and even the text of the Bible is a small part. Saying Christianity is about what Jesus said and did makes as much sense as saying that the US is about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In both cases, it's not nothing, but neither is it the whole story, or even 10% of the story. You're free to decide what Christianity means to you, but not to prevent others from doing the same for themselves. After all, others doing it for themselves is precisely why "Christianity" is a family of seemingly countless denominations and divisions within. It's not a single monolithic thing, or even close to it.
    - moistly 5y ago
      > Christianity is a multifaceted historical phenomenon, a cultural tradition of which Jesus and even the text of the Bible is a small part. Agreed, Jesus Christ’s teachings play a minuscule part, especially in modern American Christianity.
      - crazygringo 5y ago
        Wondering why you're singling out America here. Do you think it's any less than among Catholics in Italy? Or Eastern Orthodox adherents in Russia?
        moistly 5y ago
SamBam 5y ago
There is an extremely large very religious population in America. If you live in a blue state, though, you likely have little connection with them. You can't "No True Scotsman" the definition of "religious," though, by claiming that they don't act religious. That quickly becomes a slippery slope of definitions. "Oh, these people don't like immigrants, they're not really religious."

helsinkiandrew 5y ago

But increasingly less: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/07/10/nothing-in-particulars-are-americas-fastest-growing-religious-group https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/07/10/nothing-i...

mgh2 5y ago
This is from an outsider’s view. No need to go to church, it helps, but it is not the main attribute of a Christian. In fact, these institutions have become so blatantly centers of salesmanship nowadays, that there is a greater probability of fakes and hypocrites attending today.