It's now time for a new post of "Better in America", after museums and manners and service, it's now time for: in God we trust.
Most Dutch are easely annoyed by the presumption Americans have that God is on their side. But i like it! In The Netherlands it's not commen to talk about your religion. In most families it's not even discussed, let alone at school, work or anywhere else. And so the Dutch turn on the tv to watch American shows and CNN. And they see al those Americans talking about God, like they actually know Him. Or President Bush who was quoted saying: "the greatest gift that people can give to a president or people in positions of responsibility — anybody else, for that matter — is prayer.". That would be considerd "To American" in Holland.
But it's normal in the US where almost 60% is Protestant, 30% Roman-Catholic, 2% Jewish and 4% has some other religion. That means only 4% considers themself not religious. Compare that with more than 40% of the Dutch saying they don't belong to any ideology (according to this Dutch CBS report). No wonder Dutch don't understand it when they hear "God bless America" or "In God we trust". They're like "who's this God dude?"
Why is it better for a country and its people to have trust in God? Religion gives you purpose and direction. It helps you with wrong an right. There's also a clear connection between religion and economic prosperity. Like Max Weber said; capitalism strongly profited from the protestant urge to develop your own potential and to be dedicated to labor. Christianity also promts loving one's neighbour. American dedication to charity has its roots in being your brother's keeper. Not all good deeds should be left to the government.
It used to be different in The Netherlands. When we still had our own money (pre-euro), it read "God zij met ons", simular to "In God we trust" on the USD. When our Kingdom was found in 1813 the constitution was largely based on Christianaty. So The Netherlands is historicly based on Christian beliefs, but we lost it somewhere. Probably by smoking to much grass. Believe in God can make your life better. A nation's believe in God makes it a better place to live in.
You see? Everything is better in America. God bless :)
I am suprised that you have not considered the separation of the powers when you talk about religion in the US. I know that our Royal house is Protestant, but generally leaves their religious preference out of speeches etc. President Bush however, ends almost every (if not every) one of his public appearences by saying God Bless America. What happened to that part of American democracy?
Anouk has a point there. I think the powers should be separated. Democracy should come first. Religion should come next, by choice.
I just like the fact religion is not pressed upon us here. We choose ourselves. I was not brought with a religion and I choose to be a christian. I'm happy though we don't go to church :) Church to me is like an institution that's not supposed to be here. I believe whatever religion you have, or don't have, comes from the heart. No need to "prove" that in church. Maybe that makes me not a real christian, I don't care. Maybe in the US, it's more like it was here many years ago, "you're a bad person if you're not a christian".
I like the freedom we have, although I wish God was less of an outcast here :) Come to think of it, we have many muslim people here, is Allah more popular than God here? Maybe an idea for a next post :)
Indeed a good point made by Anouk. Separating church and state is a good thing.
You're not completely right on the Dutch Royal House :) The last "Troonrede" (excuse my Dutch) ended with with a remark by the Queen in her roll as Head of State, about praying for the Dutch parliament and ministers.
"U mag zich daarbij gesteund weten door het besef dat velen u wijsheid toewensen en met mij om kracht en Gods zegen voor u bidden."
Nice site. Hallo from a half-Dutch American in the God-saturated US (Ypsilanti, MI). My response to your post: as one of the growing group of atheists in this country, I find the omnipresent religiosity here as oppressive and outdated. One can have good ethics and morality without subscribing to a religion, in my opinion. I live near the country's largest population of Islamic people (Detroit, MI). And there's a Hindu and several Buddhist temples in my town...although Xianity is still the dominant religion, it's not the only one by far.