Swedes, Indians and religion in America
Here is a remarkably sensible view of America's religious culture from the Wall Street Journal.
"America," I once heard Fr. Richard Neuhaus explain, "is not the most religious society in the world. That would be India. The least religious society in the world is that of Sweden.
"America is, in essence, a nation of Indians whose cultural elites are Swedish- and the Indians are getting restless."
I would not personally agree with the implication of the WSJ article that the state of American spirituality is a healthy one. But there can be no doubt that the American soul is in a great deal better shape than, say, Europe's.
Too many Swedes over there, and not enough Indians.
"America," I once heard Fr. Richard Neuhaus explain, "is not the most religious society in the world. That would be India. The least religious society in the world is that of Sweden.
"America is, in essence, a nation of Indians whose cultural elites are Swedish- and the Indians are getting restless."
I would not personally agree with the implication of the WSJ article that the state of American spirituality is a healthy one. But there can be no doubt that the American soul is in a great deal better shape than, say, Europe's.
Too many Swedes over there, and not enough Indians.
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