(July 28, 2017 at 10:56 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: Being British the Christians around me, though few, seem to be overall a rather harmless bunch, mostly good intentioned who keep themselves to themselves, help the needy and champion causes that actually benefit people generally.
This is the sort of Christian that I don't mind, I think they are wrong but they aren't much trouble.
Now this seems to be the opposite of American Christians who blaze around trying to be the biggest arseholes they can be. (they have to a certain extent spread this over here but only in tiny patches).
What gives?
Why is being a huge dick part of the Christian US agenda?
I hear ya. In Portugal the vast majority is catholic, from those, 95% are moderates (a few bunch are more cray but even those don't go too far). Generally speaking, they keep to themselves. So all other religions except JWs, that go around knocking doors. Seen some mormons but its really a tiny percentage of the populace. We have more hindus.
Suffice to say, in my society I don't feel much effect from religion. We Portuguese are a people of soft traditions.
Just about everyone I know, know I am an atheist.
So I get that. What caused religion to overwhelm a country that started secular like the US?
IMHO, they lack the experience of war that religion brought to europe in ages past. They have to make the same mistakes, if only to prove that religion belongs to the self, not to the community.
