I hate to have to use this particular terminology, for one, because it sounds unpatriotic and two, it sounds blasphemous, but here goes. American culture is nearly omnipresent and it is leading us to hell.
Now, an explanation. Every since WWII, American culture has been leading the world in nearly all fields. Science, religion, medicine, entertainment, etc, etc. The worldview behind American culture is that of individualism. Be your own man, decide for yourself, be your own leader, submit to no one. This pretty much sums up the rugged individualism that Americans seem to pride themselves in. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking is everything contrary to the Christian faith.
The prevalence of this mentality is unbelievably wide. With the exception of obscure corners, American culture is everywhere. American thinking has become so deeply ingrained, that we no longer recognize or question it. On almost a daily basis, I catch myself doing or saying or thinking something American, contrary to the historical Christian faith I hold so close. Not to mention the constant bombardment of American thought from all corners.
What do we do about it? We must learn to question everything we see, say or do. We must first learn what constitutes Christian thinking. And that can only happen by immersing ourselves in the lives of the saints and Scripture as interpreted by the Church.
This will not happen by immersing ourselves in American culture. The end of that road is incoherent blindness and deafness. American culture leads to distracted ignorance.
To put a different spin on a Proverb, "Better to live in the corner of the attic with a crust of bread and a comprehensive faith, than to live in a mansion with cable TV," Proverbs 25:24.
Now, an explanation. Every since WWII, American culture has been leading the world in nearly all fields. Science, religion, medicine, entertainment, etc, etc. The worldview behind American culture is that of individualism. Be your own man, decide for yourself, be your own leader, submit to no one. This pretty much sums up the rugged individualism that Americans seem to pride themselves in. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking is everything contrary to the Christian faith.
The prevalence of this mentality is unbelievably wide. With the exception of obscure corners, American culture is everywhere. American thinking has become so deeply ingrained, that we no longer recognize or question it. On almost a daily basis, I catch myself doing or saying or thinking something American, contrary to the historical Christian faith I hold so close. Not to mention the constant bombardment of American thought from all corners.
What do we do about it? We must learn to question everything we see, say or do. We must first learn what constitutes Christian thinking. And that can only happen by immersing ourselves in the lives of the saints and Scripture as interpreted by the Church.
This will not happen by immersing ourselves in American culture. The end of that road is incoherent blindness and deafness. American culture leads to distracted ignorance.
To put a different spin on a Proverb, "Better to live in the corner of the attic with a crust of bread and a comprehensive faith, than to live in a mansion with cable TV," Proverbs 25:24.
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