I found American Christianity to be very different from English Christianity.
I completely agree! It's funny how people's culture becomes intertwined with their faith/religion sometimes...
One of my friends I met at University who was from America, actually said she preferred Christians over here, and we seemed nicer. How's that for a compliment...not too sure what I was meant to make of that. I think it's harder to generalise about the US though with it being such a large country. I think it was probably just the type of people she mixed with in her home country at the time, and they don't represent everyone over there. She was also of the view that she thinks we're less afraid to admit to having opinions that don't automatically fit in with current mainstream views in our culture than people are where she is from...don't know how true that is, but that to me, is a good thing.
And had a different idea of what Christianity is all about. Doing good in the World in England usually means disease or starvation in Africa. In the US the keen Christians were backing Bush, opposing abortion, and keen on having as many wars as possible, a very different approach.
Haha, this amused me, because even as generalised as it sounds, there is probably some truth in it. Even though this is seen as "American Christianity" - loving the idea of guns in every available place possible, legalising abortion, going to war, etc etc I just wonder sometimes whether it's the conservative types who are just more loud about their opinions and are the ones who go around drawing more attention to themselves...
I would definitely say that it is harder to be a Christian in this country compared to the States. I lived out there in 2008 and without sounding harsh, a lot of the Christians out there have very little idea how easy they have it compared to other countries. That is not to say that we have it tough compared to those who are killed for our faith...not saying that at all. What I am saying is that growing up in an atheistic, non-Christian country such as Wales (or the UK) is hard when you have all kinds of temptations, "alternative" paths (the "broad-way" spoken of by Jesus) that you could follow (sorry if I offended anyone with that last comment but the UK may have once been a Christian nation...but it isn't now. Not even close.)
Eugh, I mean I can't even express how much I disagree and feel disgusted with opinions like these^^!!
I really hope people here don't think all Christians are like this, or that we all think that the answer to making Britain a better place = the Americanisation of Britain! In all honesty, to the OP, I think being a Christian is a challenge and difficult wherever you live. You will always meet opposition, at times even within your own church when trying to be true to what you believe. Because so many Christians just don't agree with each other on so many things. Even in these so called "Christian countries" not all Christians agree with one another. Yes things are not perfect, this country is still extremely accomodating to Christians living here. We are fortunate to live here!
Possibly as a country, there is less agreement amongst certain stances C
onservative/Fundamentalist Christians have, but I can't say I agree with them on everything myself either. I despise labels like these anyway, but find myself almost having to use them sometimes in online discussions because there seems to be a predictable pattern on views some religious people who label themselves in such a way, take on various issues. But if this country doesn't completely agree with certain aspects of religious fundamentalism or conservativeism being written down into its laws I don't think that necessarily makes it anti Christian. The USA in theory are all about seperation of Church and state as part of their constitution. I don't think many want to be known as a "Christian country" anymore than we do, in the religious dogmatic fashion sense of forcing its citizens to subscribe to just one world/religious view by making a single religion's moral codes into civil law. In other words, as a society they recognise there are other lifestyle choices and world views people take. Past teaching on the bible and scripture has not always been correct or the most accurate. Tradition does not automatically = the correct and most accurate viewpoint to take on scripture. America may as a country tend to subscribe more to conservative/fundamentalist ways of understanding the scripture, and that being more intergrated into their culture, I certainly don't think that equates to it being a more righteous nation! As if the correct understanding of the bible and its application is that simple and black and white!
I don't think I'd find it easy living in the US either. I'll be honest, I find some of the mainstream ideas and ways of thinking in certain religious circles in some parts of the US, in particular some southern US states to be just plain weird at times! :/ I'd find it suffocating and oppressive with peer pressure of some people wanting me conforming to their idea of a "Christian." I also think God is above such shallow labels such as "conservative" "fundamental" "liberal" etc, I don't think I could ever say one label is the "right way," or that one country does everything the right way and don't understand anyone who boxes themself off like that. All countries have their flaws, and to suggest America somehow has some kind of spiritual superiority is plain ridiculous! It's bad enough that some arrogant people over there make out they're better than everyone else, I can't believe this attitude has spread to some people over here as well! I don't think living in America as a Christian is any "easier" than here, I think you just come across different problems. There are alternative lifestyles in America, everyone in America has not become a Christian, no matter what their media may like to sell themselves as. There are many and plenty of things wrong with American culture, which also gets passed off as "Christian". I don't really feel like I can discuss openly some of the things I don't like about American culture on here on a forum that has such an obvious bias toward American Fundamentalist Christianity.
But yes, perhaps if some people can really say with all seriousness that they feel oppressed here, and that America is some kind of utopic haven that do everything right and it's where all the perfect omniscient Christians live, perhaps they would be better off just moving there! I am personally extremely embarrised and mortified with such naive and ridiculous statements about America being some kind of superior country!
But I suppose with the US having a tendancy to be more conservative overall, I can see why a poster who labels himself as a fundamentalist will probably think and make comments like that. You do realise that America have actually legalised same sex marriage now in some states (as opposed to civil partnerships) which Britain haven't gotton round to doing yet? I mention this, because it's something some Christians would be opposed to. Still think America are better and superior to us? That's just one example. It's funny how God never mentionned at any point how we are to become and remain fundies for life in order to stay on the right path however, and any new ways of understanding or examining scripture is evil
If that were true, it's scary to think how there'd never be any progress or improvements in a country. How scary pride is, how are we ever going to improve, if any country or person thinks they've got it all right!
N.B I do feel the need to add, that I think there are many very nice people who live in the US, who I've met in real life who I like very much, and I do have friends from there, Christian and non Christian. I do not hate Americans
But the country as a whole, I know I would definetely not want to live there, I would still much rather live here! There are some things about their culture, I really don't like, that has put me off willingly wanting to move there.
