To most of my European friends, an inexplicable aspect of American culture is the quixotic persistence and social influence of religious fundamentalism. They cannot understand how Americans could seriously consider for the second highest office in the land a candidate who has worshipped all her adult life at churches where congregants believe the literal truth of every word in the Bible and practise “speaking in tongues”. Thanks to YouTube, we even know that Sarah Palin has been blessed to protect her against witchcraft.
According to opinion polls, about one third of Americans subscribe to a literal interpretation of the Bible – from the chatty serpent in the Garden of Eden to the bloody prophecies in Revelation. They constitute a large and disciplined minority – a primarily Protestant army of Christian soldiers, with a pre-Enlightenment mindset and disdain for secular values.
The latest issue of Modern Reformation has a great perspective on Christianity and politics. Alas, it has yet to go on-line but if you can get a hard copy and read it I highly commend it.
I think the “chatty serpent” actually captures more of the truth about evil than an interpretation of merely subjective temptation.
Religion is a fundamental force in American politics and culture, but not because of “fundamentalism.”
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“Chatty serpent” is both felicitous [cf. #2] and droll.
…while the really “smart people” put their “faith” in secular beliefs such as “my home mortgage is my best investment” and “I’ll be able to retire on my 401K”…but I’m just one of the ignorant, unwashed hillbillies that continues to cling to mythology.