Do Evangelicals Put the Good of their Religion Ahead of the Good of their Country? (virtual, America)

[Sunstone]

I was listening to Bill Moyers interview Dan Dennett recently, and Dennett said that many evangelicals put the good of their religion ahead of the good of their country. Do you agree or disagree with his take? Why?

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

I was listening to Bill Moyers interview Dan Dennett recently, and Dennett said that many evangelicals put the good of their religion ahead of the good of their country. Do you agree or disagree with his take? Why?

Oi . . . I hadn't heard or read Dennett say anything like that before. I personally disagree. "My country" and "my religion" are closely related to one another, with the purpose of both to create concrete identity that can be used to manipulate people through the use of symbolism and mythology (nationalism just does it better these days than religion). So I think he's setting up a false dichotomy.

[angellous_evangellous]

I agree....

[sojourner]

Harold Bloom, in his book, The American Religion," says that "President George Bush, whatever other eminence awaits him, is already bound to be memorable as the American leader most deeply attached to linked emblems of our national religion: the flag and the fetus, our Cross and our Divine Child.

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by sojourner

Harold Bloom, in his book, The American Religion," says that "President George Bush, whatever other eminence awaits him, is already bound to be memorable as the American leader most deeply attached to linked emblems of our national religion: the flag and the fetus, our Cross and our Divine Child.

Nice. There is a blurring of the two. Intense nationalism has a lot in common with religious fervor and usually shares the same symbols.

[sojourner]

Believe it or not, I like Bloom's book -- in spite of the fact that I'm DOC -- a decidedly American denomination. Simon and Schuster, 1992. You should read it, if you're at all interested in this sort of thing...The subtitle of the book is: "The Emergence of the Post-Christian Nation."

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

I was listening to Bill Moyers interview Dan Dennett recently, and Dennett said that many evangelicals put the good of their religion ahead of the good of their country. Do you agree or disagree with his take? Why?

I don't think there's any doubt that, as a group, they do. I don't think they do it intentionally; I think in their way of thinking whatever conforms to god's will is good for the country. However, the results are disastrous, not least because they'll endorse virtually any excess or barbarity provided you stand with them on their key social issues.

Originally Posted by sojourner

Believe it or not, I like Bloom's book -- in spite of the fact that I'm DOC -- a decidedly American denomination.

Well, that explains a lot. I never knew what denomination you belonged to, but I've run into a number of remarkably reasonable DOC ministers.

[Don Penguinoini]

Well sort of, i reckon most evangilists just try to get the number count up.

[Somkid]

I agree and from where I'm sitting it looks like they are more bent on converting poor uneducated superstitious people around the world then they are with their own countries, I think it because it is easier and raises their numbers quickly. I have also found that in these poor countries evangelicals seem to buy their converts.

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by penguino

Well sort of, i reckon most evangilists just try to get the number count up.

If they convert 100, they get a set of steak knives...