America and Relgion

Although this article from the Christian Science Monitor is from 2004 it is a good examination
of the strong ties between religion and politics in America.

"This country is the most religious developed democracy in the world," says pollster Celinda Lake. "On the one hand, Americans want separation of church and state, but on the other they feel comfortable with 'In God we trust' and 'One nation under God.' It's a core value."

This is probably our most striking divide between America and Europe. Europe lost there religion a long time ago and has no tolerance for religious displays in their government. Not so in America where religion holds a lot of power.

On another note, I see a general trend in America away from religion and I wonder what implications this will have on the future of our country. For example, my parents go to church but I don't. This is typical, I feel, of America where the older generations are the religious ones and the younger generations have become turned off by the pragmatic teachings of organized religion. If this trend continues and the younger generation does not go back to religion then organized religion will loose a lot of its power in America and we will become much similar to Europe.