Is God an American?

Last updated on: July 4, 2013 at 10:57 am by Chris Henrichsen

Is God an American? 2013-07-04T10:57:29-07:00 Chris Henrichsen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Of course, not.

While I cringe at the heavy doses of American exceptionalism (often in the most cheesy forms) within American religious culture, maybe there is something valuable in viewing American and Christianity as being intertwined.

However, it is often not intertwined in a positive sense, like a manifest destiny, but a destructive one. Of course, “Manifest Destiny” itself was corrupt and destructive. This mixture of American and Christian identities is something that was can trace back to the Mayflower. It is also a mixture which have evolved over the centuries,

I think that David Bowie (with some help from Trent Reznor) give s an interesting, and very disturbing, interpretation of violence in American Society in his song “I’m Afraid of Americans.” Near the end, Bowie sings “God is an American.”

If God is an American…should we be a afraid of God? I do not think that we should fear God. “God-fearing” is a concept I have never connected with. However, the American God that we sometimes create is something that we should fear.

Here is Bowie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEypM_BRe5Y

Luckily, the American God is not God. God is not an ideological construct.

Your thoughts? Oh, Happy Independence Day!

"Like" Approaching Justice on Facebook

American Political Thought

Previous Post

July 3, 2013

Deport The Statue of Liberty!

Next Post

July 4, 2013 Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Adventures in Parenting Adventures in Sunday School American History American Political Thought American Politics American Religion Blog Admin Books Campaign Chronicles Culture Current Events Faith & Social Justice News Roundup General Conference Green Party Guest Post Guns HuffPost Live Hymns of Social Justice Independence Rock Group Las Vegas Marginalia Mormon Studies Mormonism Music Personal and Family Philosophy Political Philosophy Pop culture Queer Pioneer Week Quote of the Day Rawls Rawls and Religion Religion Social Justice Social Justice Book Club Sports Theology U.S Constitution Uncategorized Unions Video Wyoming

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams in Egypt?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses Joseph Daniel Aaron