the United States & Religion 5/10/2016 0 Comments   by E.L. Christianson Jr. A Pew survey released last year found that almost 75 percent of Americans across denominations say religion is at least “somewhat” important to them, with 53 percent calling it “very” important. That’s higher than in every European country polled. Truthfully, religion is important for a majority of Americans.   But, the real question is, 'what is the religion of Americans?'   With a church building standing on a huge number of street corners, and churches occupying lots of former commercial spaces in shopping malls, and various on-line churches, one could conclude that Americans really are worshipping their concept of god in the many forms that god comes to humans such as the Christian form or the Buddhist form or the Islamic form and on and on. But, a closer look reveals that Americans really only pay lip service to their religious beliefs.  Their worship of god, no matter who that god is or what form that worship takes, requires love and compassion for their fellow human-being.  The racism and poverty that is rampant in America belies love and compassion in a big way. Americans’ support for a social safety net speaks of the real belief with just 43% of American agreeing that the government should help more needy people.  True love and compassion would be reflected in concern for the homeless, ​unemployment benefits, a national system of free health care and education for everyone, job training, child care, a generous pension system, and maternity support. ​The only god that is worshipped in America is money.  Virtually all thoughts, decisions and activities in America concern money and how to get more of it.  With the lack of real religion which would foster love and compassion, there is resulting lack of general support at the community level which means that 'you are on your own' and therefore totally dependent on the god of money for your survival. ​In America, the goal in life is to achieve an unobtainable dream (the American Dream) which is realized by a very few.  We are fixated on this obsession with making lots of money and it is killing every form of happiness. ​The national mantra is to lower taxes so that we can 'have more'... 'keep more of our money'... 'reduce government'.  We ignore the social benefit of higher taxes which translate into supporting the people of this country.  Higher taxes also transform people's attitude toward 'making money'.  Interest of making money, once you reach a certain tax bracket, goes down because most additional income goes towards taxes... which help support the country. Money is useful.  But when it becomes the god we worship it is a problem.   We have taught ourselves that becoming wealthy is the primary goals in life.  Those with wealth have directed  the system to  to funnel wealth to the top leaving the bottom with nothing.  Since the last financial crisis, all of the income gains have gone to the top one percent.  We all recognize that this system is immoral and yet rather than practice that religion we profess, we all bow to the money god... the only god that truly exists in this country, and that's the truth !!! <<Previous Forward>>