I am confused by American christians

[Brian37]

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 wouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security, times change, and it was not but a couple centuries ago that Europe was dominated by far more literalists than today. And the Catholics and Protestants still are holding a grudge under an uneasy truce even today. Right now sure, they are dormant, but that does not mean in the future, under the right conditions things could change.

But the same goes with any religion worldwide. If one does a general history of every continent in the history of religion, you will never find a 100% peaceful history. 

Right now UKs Christians do not feel threatened sure, but just like Muslims, push any group enough they will react. 

You have to look at this from an evolutionary standpoint. Our species evolved to form groups and if that group does not feel threatened they are less likely to act out. 

Our far right has been feed fear by the GOP for decades and that is why they act out and try to infect politics.

[downbeatplumb]

lets look at the fox examples of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly as an example. They portray themselves as Christian and are relentless in their obnoxiousness and then you have the likes of Pat Roberts and his ilk.

They exist they have influence and they are awful.

How Drich sees Westboro is how I view the majority of vocal US Christians, they are only slightly more extreme but only a touch.

.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

No worries- as I understand it, most Americans are confused by American Christians as well.

Boru

[Rev. Rye]

I suspect it might have something to do with Americans generally being the offspring of generations of the rejects from every other country on Earth.

I say this as an American myself.

[Gearbreak]

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?

We always put the loudest assholes of a group on camera. The quiet ones stay home and do normal american things like go to work or spend time with their families. Like any other normal person in any other free country. Some otherwise good people agree with these assholes because they don't really take the time to think about other views or do their own research on the subject. People are people.

[downbeatplumb]

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?

We always put the loudest assholes of a group on camera. The quiet ones stay home and do normal american things like go to work or spend time with their families. Like any other normal person in any other free country.

Why would you put the loud ones on! you need to keep them as far from the limelight as possible, put them on fox!

[Gearbreak]

Double post

[Minimalist]

We always put the loudest assholes of a group on camera.

Actually, we seem to elect them.

[LastPoet]

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.

[Jackalope]

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).

I think personally what you're seeing is the loudest ones. There are plenty of Christians who aren't like that in my experience.

As far as those that are, you can probably blame the fundamentalist movement.