Why Is the USA So Religious?

The USA is very religious and very Christian. But why is the USA so religious? This video talks about US Christianity starting in the First Great Awakening until the modern history.
Credits
- Research: Mrs Scope
- Animation: Petra Lilla Marjai
- Audio: Seb. Soto
- Writing and Voice Over: Avery from History Scope
Social Media
- Discord: / discord
- Twitter: / scopehistory
- Instagram: / officialhistoryscope
- Facebook: / averythingchannel
SOURCES:
hcagrads.hypotheses.org/277
news.usc.edu/25835/The-1950s-...
edubirdie.com/examples/the-fo...
nationalhumanitiescenter.org/t...
www.abc.net.au/religion/the-r...
www.pewresearch.org/religion/...
The Religious Crisis of the 1960s
Why were the 1960s so Religiously Explosive?
American Postwar “Big Religion”: Reconceptualizing Twentieth-Century American Religion Using Big Science as a Model
CREDITS:
Lakewood worship.jpg. Cropped to fit on screen. under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

[@weldin]

I think it’s also important to note the influence of immigration over time. It has brought high amounts of very religious populations, such as the Irish Catholics, Italian catholics, and Mexican Catholics.

[@HistoryScope]

But this still leaves the main question unanswered. Because Ireland and Italy became less religious as they became wealthier. The USA did not. So apparently, there is something about being in the USA that made people keep their religion.

[@Donthaveacowbra]

Also compare Canada who also had lots of religious immigrants just like the USA. We have publically funded Catholic schools to the annoyance of many of us, and the French province, which was more Catholic, has become less religious not more. One of the differences is the combination of religion and nationhood with the USA on top of that special status. If you look to the USA prior to the cold war, you very much were not interventionist. On top of that you didn't have the "USA usa USA ra ra ra we Number one" mentality. You were indeed number one lol but it's one of those, if you're number one having to cheer about it lessens it? This is also supported by the particular type of Christianity that is more predominant in the USA, evangelical Christianity. If it was the immigrants as a factor you'd have seen more catholicism growth, but that pays far more credence to a foreign entity (pope) and thus doesn't fit well with the USA pseudo theocratic identity. It's sort of like how USA gun ownership has never been higher. You've always had the second ammendment, but one portion of the population has now intimately tied the nationhood aspect with gun culture. Despite again, never having more guns than now, they constantly claim its under threat when evidence to the opposite is more prevalent.

[@santaeduvigis4748]

​@@Donthaveacowbrathis is such a great analysis, thank you for sharing it

[@nert-13]

​@@HistoryScopeimmigrant populations are more likely to keep motherland traditions as they were, hence the lack of linguistic evolution in Quebec, Iceland, Hebrew diaspora, and other immigrant groups. Culture is similar

[@mikal0457]

@@HistoryScopethe us is definitely becoming less religious and christian. There are many more atheists and Christians who stopped following

[@vampiricagorist6979]

America is where Europe sent all of their religious and political radicals, so it makes sense that we’d have a tradition of strong religiosity and political radicalism.

[@Zaza-eq4ss]

Interesting

[@jamesjeager129]

Very interesting

[@funveeable]

Today a new radicalism is being exported from the US to western countries, known as feminism and woke.

[@nathanwaterser8218]

5:45 Just in case anyone missunderstood It wasn't illegal because it was gay or anything like that, it was illegal because it was a massive gathering during the pandemic

[@edenisburning]

American here. One thing I can add is that the vast majority of Christians I meet have never read the Bible. It always confuses me. How can a person believe something that they know nothing about? It's like calling yourself a chef, but you've never cooked anything.

[@TheCBC1984]

They're not Christian, they're Saturn Worshippers who think they're Christian.

[@TheCBC1984]

There's understanding to be had in the texts.

[@uganda_mn397]

i have

[@uganda_mn397]

@@BelugaTheSmartCat atheism is not true

[@yizhou5903]

It reminds me of the famous joke: Buy a Bible, don't read it, and you'll be a Catholic. Buy a Bible, read only what suits you and you will be an Evangelical. Buy a Bible, read it fully, analyze it, reason it, and you will become an atheist. Recently I learned most Muslims don't read Koran either...What's wrong with these religious people? You claim you believe in something but don't read the holy book(s)?

[@devinmes1868]

I'll start my criticism by saying that you have a solid grasp on certain aspects of the USA. It is spot on that throughout US history, we have needed an "enemy" to unite against, and this is showing up in modern US politics as well, with the Democrats vs Republicans conflict resembling our need for an "enemy" to unite ourselves for a cause. You were also spot on that there is a certain level of marketing involved in Christianity here in the US. Depending on the state that you live in, you may see religious ads, billboards, emotional messages, and other such things here in the US. Frankly, I think that it's a strong example of how our version of capitalism affects our way of life. But I think you also missed the mark on some things, mainly when it comes to just how religious the US is in 2023 and how decentralized Christianity came to be. For one, Christianity in the US has always been decentralized, from the very beginning. There has always been a diversity of Christians, even before the 13 colonies became the US. An important aspect of our history is that many immigrants came to America as an escape from the persecution that they experienced in their own country. The Puritans were just one of many different types of persecuted christians that came to America to escape religious persecution. There were also other sects of Christianity that also had their own alternative communities to the Puritans, such as the Lutherans, the Anabaptists, and the Reformists to name a few. The Puritans are just one particularly infamous example; they never represented Christianity in America as a whole, even when they were at their heights in influence. I would also like to point out that the religiousness of the US can greatly vary. I can understand as outsiders that you probably see the US as this heavily Christian society with Christian messages all over the place, but it really depends on where you are. For example, growing up in the North, I never once saw a religious billboard in my life until I traveled down south to North Carolina and South Carolina, where I saw lots of them on the road. Some political parties also use religious messages much more than others. For example, Republicans use Christianity as a rallying cry, but many Democrats instead use social issues such as racism, sexism, and homophobia as rallying cries instead. As a result, states with higher Republican polutions tend to be more religious than states with higher Democrat polutions, but even this can vary depending on other factors such as ethnicity polutions and state culture. That's all I really wanted to point out. Generally speaking, this video was well researched and well done. Some things missed the mark and some things could have been elaborated on further, but no one is perfect so such imperfections are expected. I look forward to more videos in the future.

[@UGMD]

Where in the north are you from? I’ve seen plenty of religious marketing and billboards around Philly and Chicago and along the highways.

[@devinmes1868]

@@UGMD I'm from one of the blue states in the North, where Democrats are the political majority. Most of the people I know are very left leaning with some exceptions.

[@conors4430]

The puritans didn’t come to America, because they were persecuted, not in any real way, they came to America, because they felt persecuted because they weren’t allowed to discriminate against others. So, essentially, they went to America, so they could set up a religious system where they could discriminate based on their religious beliefs. This is also where the Christian persecution complex comes from. Because they equate not getting everything their way with being persecuted or discriminated against. Which is not what those words actually mean. Some forms of Christianity will claim persecution just because they don’t have absolute dominance. Crimea fucking river

[@DOSFS]

US is really interesting in that regard. You can find the most devoted Christian ever to most progressive athiest and anything in between from spirtualist but not religious to weird off shoe of some small religious in US.

[@thomaschapel4778]

Your criticisms of this video are right on. I found these and so many other errors of fact or more commonly interpretation thst I gave up on my initial plan to do a point by point. What I don't agree with in ur criticism is that the video is well researched. The errors are so many as u point out...n ones that better n broader research would have avoided

[@lyinarbaeldeth2456]

The section on emotional messaging was especially relevant. Many churches in the US today still rely on emotional appeals. Unfortunately, a great many of the loudest ones are focusing in on hate and fear as their emotions of choice. Hate and fear can be good to draw your existing congregation in closer, but it also turns away many potential converts. Reliance on hate and fear in Christian messaging is a large part of why Christianity is starting to decline in America in the 21st century. Increasingly, people don't want fearmongering and hate. They want hope and love. The churches need to change their tune if they want to remain relevant.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

America has cast out the Divine and replaced it with Gluttony, the American Weigh.

[@eusebio_9]

Lying about the truth doesn't make it go away. Better to be told a horrible truth than a soothing lie.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Better they not (change their tune - ie fake it!), so they don’t (remain relevant - they’re already not, for anyone into facts, psychology, neuroscience, history, philosophy, science, etc).

[@ArnoBach]

Stop lying. What you are saying is blatantly false.

[@ArnoBach]

​@kierenmoore3236 your statement is not factual and merely shows your negative and hateful bias.

[@tjitse3916]

Great video, and very nice surprise to see my favorite comedian being yours as well! Definetly sharing this video!

[@jason199506]

this is the best breakdown of the religion industry in the states ive seen so far

[@ffarkasm]

Haha, I'm still laughing that you included Szájer József's little adventure. 😄Good one! (I'm from Hungary.)

[@csengeolvedi3441]

Bojler eladó? :D

[@UGMD]

A few notes: one, Native Americans were absolutely a threat very very early on in the US. Prior to the war of 1812 there was a very solid probability that groups such as Tecumseh’s confederation or the Northwest Confederacy could create a competitive country. After that war though you are absolutely right it was a complete one sided genocide. Also I wrote on the previous video that American schooling hardly touched abortion, but for religion in general most of the stuff in this video was exhaustively covered. The only aspects that weren’t were the child abuses or post 1980 new religions

[@Donthaveacowbra]

It's difficult to say because the arms of those groups were still supplied by colonists. They were never the same type of threat as the colonists were to them is argue since one party just routinely violated every treaty they ever signed 🙄. Treating colonists like there was actual threat is just not indicative of reality and more just public conscience and justification. It's the tried and true method used by expansionist governments. Make your enemy a threat, when in reality they're not, to allow justification. USA loves to claim Iran and all these other nations are threats when in reality you're the biggest on the block and can take the next three largest at the same time. 😂

[@HistoryScope]

The reason I classified the Native Americans as being a non-threat to the British colonies and early USA is that they lacked the industry necessary to wage an all-out war against the Thirteen Colonies/USA. They simply lacked the industry and manpower to lay siege to a city, for example. While they were a definite danger, they were not an existential threat within their lifetimes.

[@gordy4924]

​@@HistoryScopethere was not many well defended European style cities in this time and location that would have required a seige effort to subdue. Natives raiding Christian villages, killing and enslaving the women and children was almost as common as christian raide on native settlements. Many of these native groups were extremely menacing threats to the colonists on the frontier

[@awesomezilla]

@@Donthaveacowbra I think it is incredibly disingenuous to portray the idea that there was a substantial threat to the colonists by the Indians as some sinister propaganda campaign, and in fact takes away the agency and successful defiance many Indian groups had towards the United States during its early years. Though the US absolutely had an obligation to uphold treaties with the Indians to which it absolutely failed to do, the inverse was also plenty common. Though for most of its history past the early colonial settlement era (Times before conflicts like King Philip's War, when it could have been entirely possible American Indian groups could have wiped out colonial settlements [Side note: at that time they probably still could have if it were not for the divisions among Indian groups which caused them to be on opposite sides of such conflicts and did not team up against the colonists]) Indians did not posses the ability to destroy America, the reality during the build up to the War of 1812 was, though no different in the idea of total destruction, was the biggest actual "threat" to American interests past the early settlement era since Tecumseh's whole plan relied on succeeding where previous wars had failed. The idea was to actually unite all the tribes of the midwest into a giant confederacy, allied with the British, capable of halting US expansion into the region. It certainly couldn't have destroyed America, though if combined with a more ambitious and successful British plan that could include retaking its North American colonies in the 1810s it could have exercised control over larger regions. The uniqueness is in the fact that Tecumseh's confederation was built to become an actual "state" closer to the European nation state idea beginning to float around- though obviously not the same, it was still a well funded (by the British), well organized, and in the process of centralizing entity. The issue was that the plan had not come to fruition by the time of the war, with loyalty of individual tribes to Tecumseh's project remaining secondary to personal survival. If it had succeeded the country would not have stood on the same level as the coastal and economic power of the US, but with time and recognition it could have proven a blocker to US Western expansion and a constant thorn in its side for centuries. America in our world has been blessed with a complete impossibility of invasion from either Canada or Mexico, but a united Indian Confederacy would consistently be at odds with the US in a way none of those other entities could.

[@charlesvan13]

"could create a competitive country" No. The indian wars lasted for a century. Some tribes won some battles, but they lost every war. Only a couple tribes had a written language. And none even developed the wheel.

[@tingtingsf]

I think this is my most favorite video you've ever made. 👌🏼

[@Booobay]

another banger bro good job

[@collin333]

As an Australian, it’s always kind of blown my mind how much of a stranglehold religion has on day to day life in America. Such a good breakdown on the myriad of factors that contributed to this culture!

[@randomdude4669]

​@@survivorislandidk man I like being able think 😂, you guys are still following an old book, and poorly might I add

[@jeffforsythe9514]

The American Weigh, Gluttony.

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@survivorisland At least China is real/exists … … …

[@PaltryRook2]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@randomdude4669all modern government institutions follow an “old book”

[@Primetiime32]

This is a great video

[@GloomTrap]

I love your videos man. I found your channel two days ago and have such a wealth of information to explore. Thank you for your gift of knowledge!

[@conors4430]

I once had it put like this. In Europe, you have religious people, but Europe has experienced so many religious and sectarian conflicts over the centuries that the population understands that the extremism needs to be dialled down, because only bad things lie over that hill. The United States is the opposite. Europe also had state enforced Christianity, which is always going to compel the population to rebel in its own large or small ways, even if they believe, in the United States. Religion is basically whether you like Coke or Pepsi or LA ice or RC Cola or Dr Pepper. And if you don’t, just start your own drinks company. And anybody who tells you you’re wrong hates freedom. That’s the logic. Especially since the start of the Cold War and the instigation of the sudden strategy by Republicans in the 60s.

[@Barbossa778]

To be fair if you don’t support someone starting their own drink company, you do hate freedom

[@conors4430]

@@Barbossa778 hahaha fair call

[@lukashradecky5492]

What deep and understanding insight into the philosophy of religion……

[@rahjah6958]

Short answer, the American settlers left europe because it wasn’t as puritan as they liked, Ipso facto American culture was bred from (more then Europe) Puritan ideas

[@n8archy121]

That was my understanding, all the rest sounded like psychology

[@danielbishop1863]

While *some* Europeans came to America for religious reasons, the vast majority came for economic reasons.

[@neezduts_]

@@danielbishop1863yep. Especially the Irish and Germans but mostly just economic reasons for all of them

[@rahjah6958]

So why didn’t the poorest Europeans go to America lol^^

[@ocularpatdown]

So they brought their poison to what is now North America.

[@thatissoquebecishh2134]

What an incredible video of knowledge and curiosity. I'm very glad I discovered your channel and I can tell you are very passionate about it. Keep up the good work!

[@harku123]

The first video of yours that I watched was your series on the aztecs. Your videos are insanely good. My favorite of yours was about why Africa is struggling today which is something I really care about and I like to rewatch it sometimes. I always wondered why the US was really fanatic about Christianity so thanks again. You make it really easy to understand

[@noxanneballadynasowacka6125]

Same here, I chime into this channel every few months and I binge all the videos for like 2 days.

[@harku123]

@@noxanneballadynasowacka6125 yeah haha I get binge sessions too

[@zitools]

Yeah. It was the Aztec video that hooked me in.

[@HistoryScope]

So what I'm getting from this whole thread is to make more long-form videos about the rise and falls of civilizations?

[@harku123]

@@HistoryScope a mixture is good in my opinion, from a viewer's perspective. The long series are good on chill days or days off and the one off episodes are good for everyday consumption, but either way I'll always watch your videos

[@ShamanMcLamie]

Something you touch on tangentially, but not directly is the importance of religious freedom in the US. This allowed for the proliferation of countless Christian sects all competing for new converts. If you weren't satisfied with your current church. You wouldn't be hard pressed to find one you did like. Hell if you were motivated enough you could even start your own church. The diversity of churches and competition between them meant American Christianity was more robust and adaptable. American protestantism is blowing up in Africa right now. In Europe people just went to the churches the government told them to go to. So when people became dissatisfied with their church there wasn't another church waiting in the wings for them to join that appealed to them specifically.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

America has not been Christian for decades, pure gluttony, the American Weigh.

[@shadowplayz2432]

Huh as a Christian American, this is a very informative video.

[@jackylynn]

No... No it doesn't count

[@Dick-Phallus]

@@jackylynngo ball your balls up in a ball!

[@uganda_mn397]

No, it's very misleading, the information don't add up, it actually starts with misinformation. For example the deduction based on his understanding. So this man thought Christians wanted to be like Jesus to get into Heaven and then deduced they would do this. Well no, we Christians believed are sinful and far from His perfect standard ( Glory ) based on the verse in romans 3:23 but God who is rich in mercy bought us away from sin on the cross, essentially taking the beating for those that would believe in Him for taking their sin away. And then being changed willingly by saying no to sin and by God's Grace doing His will and because God died for our sins and we see what sin is, we don't want to sin anymore. so if you repent today and put your faith in Him, you will be His forever

[@Uhmm485]

@@uganda_mn397But your version of Christianity is not the same as the one he’s talking about. He’s specifically talking about England in the 1730’s and 1740’s.

[@uganda_mn397]

@@Uhmm485 well, there is only One God, One Christianity, one Saviour and also, no way ever is this correct and puritans absolutely didn't believe what he's saying. I wouldn't critisize him on talking correctly about medieaval catholics. But most surely, this isn't what puritans believed

[@siddd5745]

As usual a great video, that goes into the granular details without getting too complicated!

[@demagreg]

Please, talk to someone close and ask them for help. Tell them the truth about where you are please people love you they're there! Tell them you need help

[@doneiliragaba1266]

Great Video man Could you do a video on the Struggle of the Romani people in Europe.

[@lastyhopper2792]

If I'm still a christian, after watching the first couple minutes of the video, I'd label this as an atheist hating over Christians. I suggest a couple of wording revisions as I don't want the christians to stop watching it halfway through. For example, in 3:14 It would've been better imo if you speak in a manner that make it seems like it wasn't your words, that it's someone else's. Even better, make it seems like you do not believe this fact or argue that there were some good exceptions among Christians. We need to encourage the right people to watch this, as learning history's always good for our progress as a society. To some christians, anyone that shows even a lil' bit of animosity against their kinds (even only by giving them infos about wrong things in christians) are considered not worth listening to.

[@farqueueman]

Yeah I un-subbed. Can't even remember why I subbed in the first place. Can't remember the last video I saw on this channel. Atheists are cringe. They whine and make a scene worse then religious fundamentalists.

[@devluz]

I don't think this is worth it. Most Americans wouldn't care about the perspective of someone with a clear non American accent. The video would be dismissed after the first few words

[@boaoftheboaians]

Well I’m a christian (not american tho) and I had no problem getting through all the contents of this video 😆 And even if there was one, if it can even be found…. Well it’s insightful to me in the sense that it tells me how the “other side” thinks, since I also have a thing for trying my best to understand other people’s perspectives

[@lastyhopper2792]

nice job, my guy. Understanding each other's perspective is the way to go as a society.@@boaoftheboaians

[@jeffforsythe9514]

Americans are no longer Christians, they are Gluttons, the American Weigh.

[@carfreeneoliberalgeorgisty5102]

I spotted a Genesis "Jesus he Knows me" reference in this video.

[@gokblok]

"convincing message" gets me every time

[@DocuAddict666]

Good vid as always. As atheist european (who was still forced with school into churches, thanks Bavaria), I came to a remarkable conclusion, in my opinion at least; Atheism gives you a clearer view on the world, pragmatism, unobstructed by mythology or ideology, but also denies you that certain feeling of "purpose", someone "watching/guiding" over you, "divine" love or "fate" which can inspire humans tremendously without doubt.

[@alexandernoussis1943]

Great video

[@MapMaker2011]

I was born catholic, raised as a methodist, then one day at church I was like this is stupid there is no god.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Everyone is born an atheist … until somebody starts telling us lies …

[@Blalack77]

I've always been a Christian but I haven't been to church much in years. I've been trying to get back in lately but I just see it like, it's good for you but not _absolutely_ necessary. Sort of off topic but, you've seen those kinds of churchgoers looking at new people or different/"rough" looking people in church kind of funny or even frowning upon them but I've always heard it like, _that's_ exactly who church is for. I've also always thought, with all the different religions and denominations within religions that being "right" with God is probably a little more broad than people seem to think - not like anything goes - but just take Christianity for example; which Christian denomination is right? Surely it's not like, Baptists go to heaven and Methodists go to hell or something.. And taking _that_ into account, surely it's not a "Christians are the only ones going to heaven" type of deal... Personally, I think that's why we have a conscience and God is the _judge_ - why would a judge or a conscience even be necessary without judgement, determination, subjectivity, leeway, etc.? Maybe the Catholics have it right with the different levels of Heaven and Hell as well as Purgatory... I'm Protestant but I've always wondered about that. Either way, a lot of Christians are total posers - go to church on Sundays, act high and mighty, claim to be a super Christian, etc. all while following very few of the ideas and concepts - treating people poorly, thinking they're better than everyone, not helping people, flaunting their material wealth, etc. There's a lot of room for interpretation and debate but I think, in general, whether people are Christian or not, if more people followed, emulated and implemented Jesus' ideas and values, the world would be better. I know there's some pretty violent, barbaric-sounding stuff in the Bible, but the vast majority of that is the Old Testament - like sacrifices, executing people for the smallest infraction, slavery, wiping out entire cities - men, women and children - because of one bad person, etc. and a lot of that hardcore stuff. The New Testament is where Jesus rolled up and challenged those old ideas and made things more about peace, love, harmony, etc. Like how Jesus always surrounded himself with the "undesirables" that the old fashioned leaders frowned upon - where they're trying to stone the (prostitute?) to death and he says, "Let those without sin cast the first stone" - and where he's always helping the lepers when everyone else shunned them - that's some massive tolerance and compassion. Not to mention the concept that Jesus was a total rebel - so it's kind of about the idea of challenging evil, oppressive and/or archaic systems and ideas propped up by society and/or the government. I think what I'm trying to say is, it's mainly the "fake Christian" types that leave a bad taste in people's mouths about Christianity. The true concepts of Christianity are like humbleness, modesty, tolerance, forgiveness, love, compassion, charity, faith, honesty, devotion to your fellow man/neighbors, not being overly materialistic, not rushing to get credit for your good deeds but actually doing them anonymously, etc. Which, all of that is exactly how my parents are and how they raised me - they act the exact same at home and out and about as they do in church. My dad's a truck driver but I've seen him empty his wallet for panhandlers many, many times. They're good at financial management but they're always ready to pretty much give anyone in need anything/everything they have to give even though they don't really have that much. And even though they're pretty old fashioned, fundamentalist, Evangelical, etc., another concept they instilled in me is the idea to let your conscience guide you and that your faith and how you live your life is between you and God. The idea that subjective/interpretive sin could be a thing. Like something could be okay for one person but wrong for another depending on their individual conscience - like if they feel bad about it - and their relationship with God. Like overeating, drinking booze/smoking cigarettes or watching too much TV - things like that are good examples. I just say all of that to say, I think people would frown on Christians much less if we all lived by the teachings of Jesus - basically to be modest and humble, kind and tolerant and to forgive/love/help people - and not to judge/condemn people as that's God's job. Seems like probably the majority of Christians do the opposite of most of that.

[@burnstick1380]

To maybe answer a few questions / comments here: > [going to church] it's good for you but not absolutely necessary Heb 10:25 is interesting here. Going to church is a great help in ones christian live of course one's salvation is not dependand on it. > Surely it's not like, Baptists go to heaven and Methodists go to hell or something. "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Rom 10:13 and "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" Acts 16:31 shows clearly that those who have faith in Jesus are saved. The different denominations are mostly just different in theology and real christians can come from various denominations though there are certain some who are heretical. > "Christians are the only ones going to heaven" type of deal.... It is this way. Though only real christians not those who call themselves christians. Yes we got a conscience but our conscience just shows our sinnfullness for all humans are sinnful "None is righteous, no, not one" Rom 3:10. We get judged because of our sins. Our conscienceness is there to show our sinnfulness. But everyone who believes in jesus and ask for forgiveness can have it in him. (1. John 1:9). > The New Testament is where Jesus rolled up and challenged those old ideas and made things more about peace, love, harmony, etc Except no. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matt 5:17. Jesus never disputed the old testament. What he rebuked was show-faith for incluence and power. About the old testament "barbarism": Not everything is ordered by God, often it is actually just a description of what the people did by themselves. It is not said that it's good or righteous it's just reported. Of course there are other events which come straight from god (conquest of israel), but they often are judgement by god. Also if you look close enough this compasion and tolerance for sinner shines through even in the old testament but what is absolutely clear is that there is no tolerance for sin. There's a good saying "love the sinner, hat the sin".

[@Blalack77]

@@burnstick1380 Very interesting. Just more proof I need to read/study the Bible more.

[@thosmi2491]

I can only agree with you, unfortunately it happens that some preachers say something that is not said at all in the Bible, so it is good if you know something about the Bible.

[@ashtheviking5007]

Jesus was a PR guy, he came in to rebrand the company, to make it more appealing to the masses. Did it work?

[@burnstick1380]

@@ashtheviking5007 have you even read the bible? Where do you get the notion that jesus was a PR guy?

[@jackson4672]

One note, when referring to the US State, Maryland is pronounced meh-ruh-luhnd, not merry-land

[@neezduts_]

Exactly. I’m from there and cringe when people say it like that. I understand, but still

[@jasonsomers8224]

Pronouncing Mary and land as anything other than Mary-land would be as dum as people pronouncing ark and Kansas as anything other than Ar-Kansas.

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@jasonsomers8224 “Welcome! Ar-Kansas is Ur-Kansas now, too … !!”

[@kevinsawyer2854]

You are one of the only people I have ever thought of giving money to. Your videos are so informative. I will help you keep this going. Thanks!

[@MrGiygas1]

Can you do a video on the history of secularization of Europe, or maybe the process of de-nazification of Germany?

[@TheMap1997]

Wow that's good. Hope he sees this

[@veritasvanburen_]

A video on denazification in Germany would be excellent!

[@cardenuovo]

A de-secularization of Europe would be awesome.

[@ayubnjuguna1800]

Just ignoring the fact that Christians read the Bible and acted as it rewuired of them.

[@s.m7894]

Beste Finkersfan, Dank voor dit overzicht, very helpfull.

[@chamikk90]

Good stuff

[@nagetti1865]

Amazing video, as someone who lives outside of US I found it very informative on the complicated reasons, effects and causes.

[@l0v3r13oi]

chapter 2 title was epic

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

You just had to name chapter 2 as "missionary style"...

[@nicholaslogan6840]

I clicked the bell because of this. It's honestly bold to even make/watch a video addressing Christianity neutrally in the culture I grew up in.

[@GorillaBeamz]

Canceled everything to watch this 1 video. As always, it's a video well made 👍

[@aquasnek5487]

You have no life. 😂

[@acemadkick]

😂

[@MrMike855]

The Cold War, and the tradition of American Christianity being bipartisan are what's kept America so Christian. I'm not entirely sure about this, but it seems safe to say that 80 years ago, Western Europe and America were about as religious as each other, but then, with increasing education and the spread of ideas, Western Europe started becoming less Christian. America started linking capitalism, Christianity and patriotism together, leading to a strong association that irreligious people were communist, and preventing the decline of Christianity. In addition, in spite of the modern-day stereotype that religiosity is linked with right-wing politics, there were left-wing, sometimes radical let-wing movements that tied themselves to Christianity. As you said, the leader of the civil rights movement was a preacher, there were literal elements of counter-culture that tied themselves to Christianity, Jimmy Carter served as a Democratic President while being a staunch Baptist. Also, the 4th Great Awakening probably contributed to the gradual decline of American Christianity. By explicitly linking Christianity to social and fiscal conservatism, they broke the traditional bipartisanship of Christianity. Billy Graham, arguably the central figure in this movement, went from supporting integration in the 60s to opposing homosexuality in the 80s. This didn't impact adults who were Christians, or even their kids, but the grandkids saw this as being the dominant form of Christianity and became disillusioned. Combined with the end of the Cold War resuming the natural secularization of America, and the fact that the Christian Left became overshadowed by the Christian Right, that's why irreligion is becoming more popular.

[@danielbishop1863]

"went from supporting integration in the 60s to opposing homosexuality in the 80s" You say this as if the two issues were inherently related.

[@MrMike855]

@@danielbishop1863 Integration was a (comparatively) left-wing issue (just in case you want to bring Southern Democrats into the picture, the majority of them were conservative) and homosexuality was a right-wing issue. I'm just saying that a very prominent pastor seemed to switch political positions.

[@uchennanwogu2142]

Thats not true, most republicans supported integration including Dwight Eisenhower most of the gop was also conservative@@MrMike855

[@MrMike855]

@@uchennanwogu2142 Eisenhower had a discussion with Earl Warren and said "These Southern Whites are not bad people. All they are concerned about is to see their sweet little girls are not required to sit in school alongside some big overgrown Negroes". He didn't have a problem with segregation, and only started opposing it (mildly) when he saw how much it was harming America's international image.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

Americans are no longer Christians, they are Gluttons, the American Weigh.

[@eddeph]

love the video but that background sound was driving me crazy... you don't need that. your voice is great as it is

[@hugoingelhammar6163]

I love the ironical yet informative way you deliver the information! I'm a strong sceptic to religion too, and from a psychology perspective it made sense why people became radicalized. Yet it makes even more sense why its all bullsh*t when you know how the human mind works.

[@N0Xa880iUL]

Excellent video! It was so good that I watched it full in one go. Maybe a lot of the information is already known to a lot of people, but when you put it together like in this video, it becomes knowledge! Keep it up. Your insight into western societies is immense. I request you to make more such insightful videos about India as well.

[@Kevinto.]

Man, i love the directness of your videos. Informative, easy to digest, and direct. Straight to the point for every theme. Keep it up!

[@samueldowney2806]

Great video, well done, thank you.

[@robertjarman3703]

I would also add that the US´s political structure was more fluid decades ago with many congress members, governors, even presidents having more in common with members of the only other political party of significance than with a large chunk of their own party. It was pretty easy to find whatever view you wanted within either political party. Christianity included. The US has become a lot more polarized and given the difficulty in getting nationwide popular majorities anymore, it became a vicious cycle where people would side more and more with their own party and not with any other while the less democratic elements in American politics, like the electoral college, once seen as mere technicalities that were vehicles to deliver what was already the popular will, became fundamentally important. And I would add the internet too, to this cycle in the new age. People are seeing more of what they want to see. They can see things they might once have thought were obscure, like people who were also gay who might be willing to form a relationship with them, where once this would have been dangerous in the extreme for many gays. Mental health as well. You could see the people around the whole world and the ideas and lives they had, find out that they weren´t as bad as they might have thought. All kinds of things. Issues like pornography, which you could access whenever you wanted at no charge, that became something you or anyone really could do. People could broadcast themselves, the original slogan of youtube, on issues that were of interest to them with basically no resources, could get just as popular sometimes as billion dollar programmes, that´s what Veggietales was, an incredibly low budget show that become miraculously popular, literally. People who had new ideas on whatever could engage with them. That is altering the dynamics of Christianity enormously.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

Americans are no longer Christians, they are Gluttons, the American Weigh.

[@namesurname1036]

Excellent work!!! Truly revealing.

[@jlpack62]

Boy is this going to trigger a lot of my fellow Americans. Pass the popcorn.

[@johnnajjar3741]

please you should make a video about the rise and fall of the mongol empire

[@9delta988]

Interesting. I always assumed that in Europa the social institutional role of the church was replaced by the state. The US had no strong gouvermental social institutions so it made sense that the church would be centric. In Africa we see the church starting to claim this role in absence of a (strong) gouvernement.

[@FluttershyIsAGoddess]

Good thing I was awake, I would have missed this!

[@alexposada8589]

Thanks!

[@sovietroll7880]

Im Malaysian and I love your video man but thats not Malaysia’s flag in 19:51. That was Malaya flag before British independence

[@teeganater]

idk why this took so long to hit my feed

[@FxTR22]

26:00 is a pointles argument. More in line of selling emotions then making sense. Abuse has been done also outside the church in other context. It is not something specially atributed to the churche but more a sociologial problem in our society. Ok i need to correct myself. You later adressed this point.

[@2168017]

Awesome man! What a great video...

[@michaelpirker3497]

Very nice video...

[@Osiris-yz8wg]

This is the most intelligent and fair and factual video video on KZbin. I've ever seen it is it isn'teven. What do they call that biased prejudice for prejudice bias? It didn't even that it's so fair and just stating facts. This is like the greatest video i've ever seen I was saying it's brilliant

[@mullac1992]

I've recently read "Public Religions in the Modern World" which comes to the conclusion that America's religiosity originates in the very specific wording of the Second Amendment. Whereas places like France go about the Separation of Church and State by banning all religion from public life, the US actually says that it's *government* which shouldn't interfere with *religion*. As well as this, while other country's like the UK have an official state religion, the US doesn't. You might think this would make the UK more religious, but actually what it does is it embroils the Anglican church in worldly affairs. The US, by neither controlling nor supporting any religion, actually causes religion to be more popular.

[@danielbishop1863]

While there are some Americans who support the Second Amendment with religious fervor, I think you meant the *First* Amendment.

[@jowen001]

I am completely sick of the ever-present Christian influence in politics in this country and the indoctrination of so many people into absolutely crazy beliefs

[@theendisthebeginningistheend]

So am I.

[@joeyjoey7972]

Do you prefer Islamic sharia instead ?

[@jackylynn]

Shut up Leftoid

[@JenniferRusso5]

Me too.

[@jowen001]

@@joeyjoey7972 no dude. I prefer the secular government that was laid out by the US constitution and the separation of religion and government that was so sacrosanct for nearly 2 centuries.

[@RossHbn]

Interesting & informative. Thanks

[@doesthatsparklesnaps]

This was great clarification that it wasn't the founding fathers that weren't the reason this became a Christian nation. If anything they're rolling in their graves.

[@Briosification]

A note: American Christianity didn't always need an enemy, this is only presented with the Soviets. I think that could have been re-written to say: As religion was becoming more political, an existancial threat to Christianity presented itself with rhe Soviet Union. Because before the Soviets Christianity didn't have any non-religious existencial threats.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

Americans are no longer Christians, they are Gluttons, the American Weigh.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

America has cast out the Divine and replaced it with Gluttony, the American Weigh.

[@Uhmm485]

Well, thats not entirely true. In Europe during the Enlightenment Era Christianity was under pressure and they basically lost most of their political power in those and subsequent centuries. Europe changed, secular institutions grew stronger and societal decisions were more and more based on scientific reasoning and modern economic models. It was only out in the American boondocks the un-enlightened version of christianity managed to survive. And perhaps at a few other dark spots on the maps as well.

[@X23Ninja]

Why does this video depict God as a Green eyed White Old Man but Jesus who is The Son of God is correctly depicted as Browned haired and Brown haired?🤔

[@jpmeyer09]

because History.Scope has a learning disablity

[@Oman11112]

Very well done video, growing up in a religious household in the U.S. later deconverting i have never felt so seen in just a single video

[@SickDuckling123]

How are you not making the same view counts as before? What happened? Good stuff btw

[@chat-nochannel]

This video explains the how but not the why. Why didn't the exact same thing not happen in Europe? The Soviets were closer etc. The marketing remarks were awesome.

[@HistoryScope]

Europe never combined Christianity with anti-socialist ideologies, because Europe has a lot more socialist policies. It's a lot harder for Denmark to be anti-socialist when they have a wide range of socialist policies. Additionally, socialism was a lot more popular because Europeans trend to be more communal. So while the USA saw socialism as some great evil, most Europeans saw socialism as a partially useful system from which the useful sides could be incorporated into mainstream economics and politics

[@chat-nochannel]

@@HistoryScope thanks. But when it started (colonies), it seems to me that communal was a big part of it. I've heard one explanation about the very sudden secularization of many Catholic countries and why it didn't happen with the orthodox ones that were not part of the Soviet block (e. g. Greece). It's so strange that somewhere in the 70s it's like the central and Nordic eu had a wake up call and suddenly that all went hard secular. The Catholic church never actually took sides against the Nazi and the priesthood kind of acted like not my problem. But the priesthood in Greece took up arms and was punished as well with the rest. I've heard this in context of why the orthodox sentiment was and is still much stronger and very much in the culture regardless of beliefs. But this doesn't explain Poland exactly. It would be interesting to do a video about why central and Nordics went do aggressively and suddenly secular.

[@uchennanwogu2142]

@@HistoryScope not really, ever since the enlightenment europe has been increasingly becoming more atheist

[@Tyletoful]

Is that a quote from the band Ghost I hear?! Jesus he knows me! And he knows that I'm right! Haha love it, keep up the great content.

[@HistoryScope]

Yes, but they based it in the original version made by Genesis.

[@hickknight]

Oh hey. Herman Finkers. That guys is amazing as a comedian!

[@prinskorvar9331]

good video

[@alexanderpushkin9160]

Brave script. No wonder so many dislikes.

[@Stoneheart_09]

Oh well, the comments section's going bonkers again... Bleugh.

[@change9517]

This makes me think of the days that I had in Korean Church in America.

[@Mountainpeakprophet]

Great overview of the topic but I think we could go much deeper. First, there's urban/ rural divide in which we'd expect rural areas to be much more religious. I suspect cities aren't far out of step from the European norm. Also the links between American liberal democracy and protestantism run VERY deep. France expelled the church in its revolution. In the US pastors were preaching revolution from the pulpit. The idea of evangelism and spiritual revivals/awakenings was tied to political action whether it be abolition or prohibition. The civil rights movement had strong roots in black church organization. Churches are generally exceptionally skilled at grassroots movement building. In America democracy and humans rights are tenets of Christianity. Fighting for democracy is fighting for God, and that was as true in Iraq as it was in the revolution. I'd highly recommend Hugh Heclo's "Christianity and American Democracy."

[@marcuscarpenter4885]

"God bless America - and no-one else!"

[@tristenparsons8989]

Would love to see some more videos on the USA.

[@csengeolvedi3441]

Ohnooo... Hungarian here. Nice to be mentioned in your awesome contant... Even if its becouse of a hypocrite. By the way the whole story of the Fidesz party is crazy interesting.

[@levantine5879]

Better question: How is the USA so religious?

[@davidsenra2495]

Thankfully, it seems secularism is progressing and religion is finally gaving way to the "nones" in the younger generations. Better late than never, I guess.

[@jackylynn]

WTF 50% of Gen z is Right wing

[@davidsenra2495]

@@jackylynn where have you seen this?

[@jackylynn]

@@davidsenra2495 USA TikTok/Red Pill/Andrew Tate.

[@natekite7532]

Interesting video with some perspectives I hadn't heard before. Calling maintream Christianity "mythology" is a pretty bold way to declare your bias, though... I do want to highlight something though - Christianity is dying fast in the US. Young people (esp. educated and liberal young people) see it as inextricably linked with increasingly unpopular right-wing politics and old idealogies. If Christianity is going to survive in the West, it needs a revolution focused on apologetics, consistent theology, and an ethical system which aligns with modern ideals. Based on our current trajectory though, it seems pretty unlikely. That said, Christianity is growing quickly in China of all places, and it will be interesting to watch Africa's relationship with Christianity change as it finally starts to develop. Maybe these countries will revitalize the faith, or maybe Christianity will be discarded as a relic of a bygone age. It's going to be a weird century for Christianity.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

Americans are no longer Christians, they are Gluttons, the American Weigh.

[@kebab3854]

Mythology cannot be proven, so angels, demons, heaven etc... contained in the Bible belong to the Biblical mythology because it can't be proven

[@outisnemo555]

The possibility of non-western countries with their own ancient civilizations and cultural traditions like China, India, etc. to be wholesale converted to a completely foreign religion is next to zero. Even with a communist dictatorship, Chinese culture is still dominated by Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist values and ideas. If the Communist regime falls someday, I think what would most likely happen is a revival of Confucianism instead. As a secular teaching, Confucianism has its own set of scripture (The Four Books and Five Classics, along with their annotations and commentaries), a long and continual scholastic tradition (from Confucius and Mencius through Zhu Xi unto Wang Yangming, the Han School and the Song school), so functionally it might as well be a religion.

[@jeffforsythe9514]

@@outisnemo555 Just take a look at Falun Dafa. Pure science.

[@outisnemo555]

@@jeffforsythe9514 That’s just a bastardization of Buddhism by a guy who didn’t even finish high school.

[@pallasathena1555]

Interestingly on the back of that same bill 23:52 it also says novus ordo seclorum aka a new secular order - merry. Christmas.

[@revinhatol]

REALITY IS OFTEN DISAPPOINTING.

[@dunnowy123]

This video makes so many sweeping generalizations its crazy lol

[@alexandercellante7553]

As an American who's Christian (specifically Catholic) thabsk for making this video! :D 🇺🇲

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

The first part reminds me of Bioshock Infinite.

[@jtgd]

5:40 lol was totally expecting Milo Yiannopoulos

[@saintlybeginnings6296]

This is riddled w/ errors, misrepresentations, a complete misunderstanding of the colonies, a clear lack of any honest historical research of the material he is presenting on! Many of the founders of America were Deists, for 1. Puritans were but a small group of ‘Christian’s’, & not a representation of all 13 colonies as insinuated w/ the map. Based on a comment below- which also shows a bit of ignorance on Native Americans- it appears he did no research on the various Tribes and deeper relationships between the white people and various Tribes, as well as Tribal relationships and fighting, or the Slave Trade that some Native American tribes persisted in doing w/ selling blacks and white to each other as well as into Mexico.

[@jerrymiller9039]

I never got the impression that the Cold War was about religion and I was born and raised during it and served in the army and spent eight years at Catholic grade school during it. The Cold War was about containing communism and the ruthless dictators that come with it W Americans value the right to religion and that includes the right to choose no religion. I don't remember anyone being bothered by a lack of religion in the USSR. Also of course it rebounded as soon as the USSR disbanded

[@davidknapp5224]

I like you, and what you say makes sense to me. 🤗

[@gregwalker500]

The way it was explained to me was Churches are businesses and America does business.

[@TheRealKyloHen]

Imma go watch everything you ever did for the umpteenth time

[@diegoarmando5489]

I wish Québécois, Acadians, Canadians, and Indigenous nations would unite in a patriotic democratic struggle against the Evangelical far-right. Since that's not happening, I'll have to push for an independent Québec lol

[@lingenfeltervee]

Why do you want to destroy a group of people?

[@diegoarmando5489]

@@lingenfeltervee I want our institutions to be modernised such that they aren't able to gain political power without first winning a popular majority.

[@lingenfeltervee]

@@diegoarmando5489 Ok, I dont know how Canada works so whatever.

[@teehee4096]

Canada has plenty of Evangelicals

[@diegoarmando5489]

@@teehee4096 And they seek to use the Conservative Party and anti-democratic aspects of our electoral system to impose minority rule on us like Blaine Higgs and his buddies are doing in New Brunswick. And nobody's modernizing our democratic institutions to stop it from happening :(

[@davidheilbron]

Masterpiece

[@TheEpicUser]

This aged li- Wait this is from 2 Weeks!!!!

[@mruanova]

"feelings don't care about facts" that was good come back

[@Pfsif]

That applies to the woke idiots and millennials too you know.

[@charless3484]

23:44 Fun Fact, the "One Nation, Under God" part of the Pledge was specifically added in 1954 specifically because of American's fear of the Atheistic Communists. It wasn't there originally.

[@elchris8788]

Ohhh i saw that Jesus he knows me reference

[@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765]

excellent as always. however, just as holland and netherlands are not the same thing, and belgium is not part of france, 'great britain' and 'england' and 'uk' and 'britain and ireland' are not the same thing. never has the island of ireland been part of 'great britain' either geographically or politically. you are correct that early christianity in that part of n. america that became the USA originated in britain, but your maps to accompany this are incorrect, as is use of the union flag (which originated in 1801 and thus didn't exist in the period of the 13 colonies or even for decades after the american war of independence) though this, as symbolic of 'britain' in current thinking is v. understandable. but in future, please put in the effort to get the maps right.

[@streamlinedengine]

Been a Roman Catholic all my life due to my family. Never stayed a prolonged amount of time in the USA (or even any "Western" country, for that matter), so religion was never a huge part of my life and the society I live in. But for almost as long as I can understand things (maybe 4~5 years old give or take), I've always struggled with how much bad and how much evil people, organisations and even states, have done in the name of Christianity, and indeed, how much bad and how much evil the church themselves have done. It's never made me question my belief in and of itself, but it certainly makes me feel quite hard to be "proud to be Catholic", so to speak. At this point in my life, the only satisfactory conclusion I've reached is that maybe religion is never about making any person proud, but is more about silently doing good, touching people's heart and changing their lives for the better. At least that's what I believe in now. What I really appreciate about this video is your repeated emphasis upon how endless hyping up of Christianity in the USA was a *marketing strategy* more than anything, a highly useful tool for churches to gain followers, for politicians to gain legitimacy, and for activists to push whatever movement it is they're fighting for. While you did address the grievous misconducts of the Catholic Church, it was more to illustrate the wrongs of the man-made entity of the church than an assault on the religious philosophies themselves. It might be for personal reasons that I appreciated you not attacking the religion itself, but I think what's more important is that your ability to keep yourself on topic of how religion is used in a secular context, truly professional script writing and presentation abilities there.

[@lukedetering4490]

Totally agree about people doing bad things in the name of Christianity. I grew up in a Christian household and continued to follow in my college years. My churches always preached loving thy neighbor and doing good things in the name of God. Unfortunately, I live in Texas, so I've heard some really depressing stories. One in particular, was a good friend in high school, he grew up in a highly religious family. He was gay and when he came out of the closet to his parents, he was shunned. At some point, he felt comfortable enough to tell me he was gay. I didn't care about those types of issues at the time, so the fact I didn't react negatively was a suprise to him. He was welcomed in my little friend group in choir class. Back in those days, he was just a great friend I hung out with. But looking back I've realized it meant so much to him that I didn't care about his love life and was accepting of who he was. Choir really was his sanctuary. Although, it seems his mom has become more accepting of him in recent years. I just hope more Christians can learn its okay for someone to be different. Afterall, one of the most important things in the bible is love thy neighbor as thy self.

[@jackylynn]

Typical Catholoid 😮‍💨

[@jackylynn]

Typical Catholoid 😮‍💨