NationStates Jolt Archive

I remember that this forum used to have a lot of religious discussion on it, so I have returned. I was watching "Borat" here in Britain, last night, where he was interviewing a Christian Republican and, later on, his gay counterpart interviewed a Christian minister. The Republican said that Jews are all off to Hell and the minister said that anything done in the company of gays is sinful.

I was wondering: do a lot of Americans really believe all that stuff? Seeing as it is literally a thing of comedy in Britain and we used to be just as Christian as anybody. Also, those televangelist like Pat Robertson - are they just speaking for the minority or are they respected? Some of them seem to have a very, very distorted view of the Bible. Some seem closer to the Jewish idea than to ascetic Christianity.

http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/philo/drange_1_2.htm
This website lists several arguments against the existence of God and it does give them fair criticism, yet they still seem quite powerful. How is God outside of space and time and yet intervene in them? How is he outside of space and time and yet have personal qualities? Do intellectuals in America not consider these things? I can't understand why such a country that has such great universities and such wealth of information would be so Christian. I'm basically asking, "Is America really like that or are these unreasonable Christians just a small minority?"

It depends on where you live. In the south, these types of people are a vast majority. However, in most of the country, people are far more reasonable than the Pat Robertson. The answer really is yes and no. They are widely accepted in the "Bible belt" states, but hardly at all in the rest of the country. As I'm sure you've realized, a vast country like this has a variety of different cultures and attitudes, and you really can't pin one view as representitive of all Americans.

I remember that this forum used to have a lot of religious discussion on it, so I have returned. I was watching "Borat" here in Britain, last night, where he was interviewing a Christian Republican and, later on, his gay counterpart interviewed a Christian minister. The Republican said that Jews are all off to Hell and the minister said that anything done in the company of gays is sinful.

I was wondering: do a lot of Americans really believe all that stuff? Seeing as it is literally a thing of comedy in Britain and we used to be just as Christian as anybody. Also, those televangelist like Pat Robertson - are they just speaking for the minority or are they respected? Some of them seem to have a very, very distorted view of the Bible. Some seem closer to the Jewish idea than to ascetic Christianity.

http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/philo/drange_1_2.htm
This website lists several arguments against the existence of God and it does give them fair criticism, yet they still seem quite powerful. How is God outside of space and time and yet intervene in them? How is he outside of space and time and yet have personal qualities? Do intellectuals in America not consider these things? I can't understand why such a country that has such great universities and such wealth of information would be so Christian. I'm basically asking, "Is America really like that or are these unreasonable Christians just a small minority?"
Yep, a lot of Americans do beleive that stuff. Moreso the gay stuff. Although there is some anti-semitism. The level of religiosity varies from region to region. New Jersey, where I live, is more religiously diverse. Mississippi and other states in the southeast tend to be more fundamentalist. I've never been west of Kansas city Missouri myself, so I can't speak for the western US.

I'm gay, last night all my friend's went to a party - the girl's parents wouldn't let me come as they thought I would spiritually taint their home. at least some people do beleive that.

I remember that this forum used to have a lot of religious discussion on it, so I have returned. I was watching "Borat" here in Britain, last night, where he was interviewing a Christian Republican and, later on, his gay counterpart interviewed a Christian minister. The Republican said that Jews are all off to Hell and the minister said that anything done in the company of gays is sinful.

I was wondering: do a lot of Americans really believe all that stuff? Seeing as it is literally a thing of comedy in Britain and we used to be just as Christian as anybody. Also, those televangelist like Pat Robertson - are they just speaking for the minority or are they respected? Some of them seem to have a very, very distorted view of the Bible. Some seem closer to the Jewish idea than to ascetic Christianity.

http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/philo/drange_1_2.htm
This website lists several arguments against the existence of God and it does give them fair criticism, yet they still seem quite powerful. How is God outside of space and time and yet intervene in them? How is he outside of space and time and yet have personal qualities? Do intellectuals in America not consider these things? I can't understand why such a country that has such great universities and such wealth of information would be so Christian. I'm basically asking, "Is America really like that or are these unreasonable Christians just a small minority?"


they're just pandering to steriotypes

most Christians in American a godhearted accepting people

they only show you the crazy ones because they draw in ratings. would you really watch and interview with a non-crazy priest?

Do intellectuals in America not consider these things? I can't understand why such a country that has such great universities and such wealth of information would be so Christian. I'm basically asking, "Is America really like that or are these unreasonable Christians just a small minority?"

The problem is when Robertson and the Religious Right bring politics into play. They're the only ones you see on "the telly." You don't really get to see intellectual Christians because they're typically busy preaching or serving, not wielding political power.

So no, Robertson isn't very influential, at least not in the upper Mid-west. He's sort of a joke here. Ask someone in Alabama or Mississippi, or some other states that don't support their public education systems.

Giving the fanatics what they want to hear.