'And I don't care which one'
An AP poll reaffirms the important place religion holds in the lives of nearly all Americans
But what religion? The answer, I'm afraid, is "the religion of the lowest common denominator."
"God" is important to Americans. But what god? The answer, I'm afraid, is a generic deity, a kind of "god in general-" usually created by worshipper in his or her own image.
Americans are said to be more willing than citizens of other countries to "mix religion and politics." But the characteristically American confusion over that expression is reflected in the poll. If one's religion doesn't impact every dimension of a person's life, that would tend to define that person as a hypocrite. On the other hand, theonomy and other confusions of the Two Kingdoms are rampant in American political life.
We remain a very confused people religiously- and not nearly either as Christian or as pious as we are apt, collectively, to consider ourselves.
When I was very small, President Eisenhower commented that America and its institutions make no sense unless they're based on a deeply-held religious faith, "and I don't care which one." Sadly, that generic faith remains the established religion of the United States today, First Amendment or no.
But what religion? The answer, I'm afraid, is "the religion of the lowest common denominator."
"God" is important to Americans. But what god? The answer, I'm afraid, is a generic deity, a kind of "god in general-" usually created by worshipper in his or her own image.
Americans are said to be more willing than citizens of other countries to "mix religion and politics." But the characteristically American confusion over that expression is reflected in the poll. If one's religion doesn't impact every dimension of a person's life, that would tend to define that person as a hypocrite. On the other hand, theonomy and other confusions of the Two Kingdoms are rampant in American political life.
We remain a very confused people religiously- and not nearly either as Christian or as pious as we are apt, collectively, to consider ourselves.
When I was very small, President Eisenhower commented that America and its institutions make no sense unless they're based on a deeply-held religious faith, "and I don't care which one." Sadly, that generic faith remains the established religion of the United States today, First Amendment or no.
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