If you had asked me to write about religion just a few short years ago as a devout Christian highschooler, I would’ve been able to churn out some amazing – even thoughtful – approaches to biblical scripture.
I know for certain that a few years ago I was convinced America was truly a Christian nation – one nation under God.
But eventually I had a falling out with religion – not Christianity, but organized Christianity.
I could write an entire book criticizing the methods and flaws of organized religion, and I wouldn’t be alone in my thoughts.
But that’s not what this column is about.
Yes, over time my views have changed, but perhaps none moreso than my view of America as one nation under God.
Which God are we talking about when we claim we’re under a God?
It certainly can’t be the Christians’ God; Americans are far from living life the way Jesus taught.
Could it be Allah? Not likely.
Ganesh? Don’t kid yourself.
No. If anything, we are one nation under Satan.
In fact, the entire idea of the American dream looks like it could have been pulled right out of The Satanic Bible.
The idea that one individual has the power within himself to take his carnal desires and self-servingly use them for his own material gain is very much a Satanist approach to life rather than what Jesus taught.
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus’ teachings stressed the importance of His followers to not become infatuated with this earthly world, but to give up everything in His name so that they might help their fellow man and reap their rewards in Heaven.
On the contrary, Americans are not so selfless – we are extraordinarily individualistic and worldly, myself included.
Despite our individual attempts to work cohesively, we often fall back to our mentality which much more appropriately fits the Church of Satan’s “every man for himself” ideology than any Bible verse.
Does this mean we worship Satan? Of course not. Most Satanists don’t worship Satan.
They worship themselves. They worship the world. They take pride in hedonistic values.
Does this sound much different than where the average American’s values lie?
Now, I’m not making a case that our values are skewed here.
Instead, my point is America would not be the nation it is today were it not for its drive to succeed as a global powerhouse, but when it comes to being a Christian nation, we may talk the talk but we hardly walk the walk.