RE: A UK poll says 60% of brits say religion does more harm than good.
November 26, 2014 at 12:54 pm
(November 26, 2014 at 11:50 am)Nope Wrote: What makes British smarter than Americas when it comes to religion?
Religion is everywhere in the south eastern US. It is just a part of life. Even at my husband's work, the manager led everyone in a prayer before our Christmas party. It was not questioned or even considered that some of us might not be religious.
Why is it different in Britain? Polls in the US indicate that atheists are some of the most distrusted people in the country.
It's especially strange when you consider our history. We established a separation of church and state in our constitution and, for a time, America was a bastion of rationality in a world where theocracy, even during the Enlightenment, was still the norm.
One theory that I favor is the separation of church and state actually worked in religion's favor.
In Britain, religion had no need to appeal to the masses for support. They got fat and lazy, supported by the state. Consequently, boring traditions have been maintained and there isn't the urgency to indoctrinate like there is if the very life of the church depended upon it.
In America, only the churches with the strongest popular appeal could survive. Ironically, evolution sprang into action to manufacture an especially aggressive strain of the Christian mind-virus. Say what you will of the Fundies, they know how to market their product and sell it with passion. For example, are you trying to sell Creationism to children? Be sure to include dinosaurs! Kids love dinosaurs!
In America, boring traditions have been replaced with pageantry and music that would do Hollywood proud. And when the flock begins to have doubts, no problem! We have hired slick orators as apologists. Granted, their logic is faulty and their data is dubious at best but their presentation is compelling for those who don't know any better.
Gone are the dreary Puritans. You'll be hard pressed to find any churches around that run things the way they did. Get rid of Easter and Christmas? Are you nuts? People love those holidays. Get rid of music? No way. You want lots of razzle dazzle in your presentations to the flock. And be sure to visit the gift shop to see more slick marketing in action.
This is a clip from the movie "Leap of Faith", starring Steve Martin.
Now compare this to the dreary mumbling religious ceremony depicted in a British sitcom, "Waiting for God".
Sure, these are comedies but I feel they are representations and parodies of the real thing that underscore my point.
Truly, the British were ingenious. Keep religion fat and complacent. Sure, you pay a little more in taxes, but that's just to maintain the gilded cage that keeps the beast tranquilized and retrained. A small price to pay, indeed.
