In a message dated 12/3/01 5:52:30 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Christianity as practiced here is fairly fragmented and unorganized outside a vague sense that "everyone else is like me and believes in God, kinda" Despite what the pollsters come up with, most people aren't terribly religious, there's quite a bit of legal code restricting official government bias in favor of one religion over another (as opposed to say, oh, Israel) &c &c. >>
Where do you live? 'Cuz I have a very different opinion of Christians. I lived in Texas and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that the Baptists, Catholics, Jews and Protestants (other denominations than Baptist) there took their respective religions *quite* seriously. I've known and been very good, close friends with more than my share of religious Baptists and practicing members of other religions. Then, I moved to New York. Guess what? Most of the people I've met here are also pretty religious. (And you can't say that I'm only associating with the religious ones... I work with the media and speak to probably hundreds of people everyday -- and this time of year, with all levels of producers, writers and editors about one level of religious topics.) My fiance lived in Detroit, Philly, Dallas, El Paso, Boston and NY. She's had the same types of experiences, and found that a majority of the people she's met have been regular church or synagogue-goers. Does vagueness and fragmentation happen in Judaism and Christianity in the US? Sure! But I haven't found much of it myself. This is a religious country. But I don't think it's a "Christian" one. << Certainly give me the credit of not being so ignorant to think that the US isn't informed, influenced, and driven by Christianity, Christian ethics & morals, and Christians - trust me, not being Christian, I have to deal with it everyday ->> What I've found in my experience, (also being a non-Christian) is that some American Christians tend to have a "but that's the way things are" arrogance about them. They're not outright offensive, but they're also not accepting. BUT I've found some American Jews that are exactly the same way. They don't speak for the majority in my experience, but they're definitely out there. << I would say that the US is decidedly NON-religious compared to the countries currently making the headlines for their internal and domestic policies.>> Exactly. Jon
