Religiosity in the U.S.

[Dhlazare at aol.com]

Yes, but the religious invocations like these were universal in the European
world in the 1620s.  The question is why is this model so uniquely powerful in
the US nearly four centuries later?  Britain has not one but two established
churches, the C of E and the C of Scotland.  Yet if a Brit PM ever referred to
the UK as a "city on a hill," the laughter would be general.  When someone
like Reagan uses the phrase, even liberals fold the hands and nodd reverently.
Indeed, the libs nod even more vigorous to show their faith is even greater
than the conservatives'.

Dan Lazare

In a message dated 98-06-13 20:47:56 EDT, you write:

<< 

 but John Winthrop's sermon on the Arbella obviously precedes the 

 constitution and establishes the basis for the tradition of 

 pronouncements about religious values and perspectives common to US

 politics: America as a "city on a hill" would be an example for the 

 rest of the world to follow. >>