Culturally, sociologically and emotionally, the vast majority of the U.S. identifies itself with Christianity and in that sense America can be called a “Christian Nation”. However, the clear-cut division between religion and politics ensures the rights of those who are not Christian and therefore provides protection to them.
In reality, however, the situation is more complicated.
Who is defining Christianity and what does it mean to be Christian? There is a vigorous debate in terms of the divisions within Christianity and different interpretations of faith itself. Most critics of calling America a ”Christian Nation” would emphasize the need to show the love and compassion that Jesus Christ embodies and not just talk about it.
The ultimate test of a Christian nation is to be an accepting and compassionate one and to be able to define itself in clear moral terms. The world could certainly do with more compassion and understanding which would take in its embrace Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs—and Atheists.
We can learn from the world’s most populous democracy—India. It too, has a population which largely identifies itself with one world faith—Hinduism. However, India too is a self-consciously “secular” nation. It is a far from perfect democracy, but it works. Once again, the situation is more complicated. Caste, region and language divide even Hindu society. Nonetheless, the reality is that the determined effort of India to create a genuinely accepting and tolerant society does bear fruit: Its current President is a Muslim and the Prime Minister a Sikh—both from minority religions. India has also had a female Prime Minister.
Perhaps there are lessons in all of this from the world’s most populous democracy to the worlds oldest democracy—the United States.
Please e-mail On Faith if you'd like to receive an email notification when On Faith sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
