Because the average American white protestant has it in their head that America and white people are a chosen super race that have full authority by God to use the planet as they see fit. They believe this because they will inevitably fail to connect Christian ideas of mercy, charity, and forgiveness to their own lives because their lives are built around a comfortable bubble. The only outlet for their spiritual needs is to believe God has blessed them to do as they please. From their perspective, they feel no guilt over their status, because American middle class society is by design set up for its members to never even see poverty or misery. They live in gated suburbs and drive everywhere. From their perspective, putting in minimal amount of work automatically secures a comfortable middle class existence, so they believe anyone can do it, so poverty must necessarily be self-inflicted or a punishment from the Lord.
Already I hope you can see why these people have any notion of spiritual empathy erased from their souls. They haven’t lived in conditions that build normal spirituality. They’ve only ever lived comfortable privilege on the backs of invisible impoverished people. It wouldn’t matter how much they read the Bible directly. They’ll freely dismiss the passages they don’t feel apply and will instead focus on what relates to them.
For instance, ask a protestant what Matthew 19:24 means. It clearly says, by Christ himself, that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. Christ offers a solution for rich people to give up all they own to have treasure in heaven. American white protestants interpret this passage as meaning only “greedy” rich people go to hell, but nice rich people go to heaven. Whatever that means.
Also I’d like to apologize if anyone here mocks your faith. They’re being unfair, granted a lot of people have had bad experiences with Christianity in the USA. I’m not religious myself, but sympathize with the need. I’m probably a few bad days away from adopting some kind of neo-shamanism because of so many dead people and pets in my life. I loved my last cat more than any living thing on Earth, and that triggers something in me. I want his spirit to still be around.
Thanks for taking the time, that made sense to me. They see their state as an achievement built by the good and faithful through which god distributes “his” blessings. The luxuries they enjoy because of their nation serve as proof that god not just approves of it, but wants it furthered. This monument to them marks how god is bestowing his blessings and how they can be part of gods plan.
Oh don’t worry I know where those comments come from. The reputation Christianity got is the reason I don’t like when I have to acknowledge my religion to people I don’t know well, (“what did you do last Sunday?” type of questions) because it might make them wary of me, and I can’t blame them really. I sometimes have to do this performative dance to show I’m one of the “good ones that doesn’t hate gay people honest!” Because 99% of the time Christians are at least above average in homophobia, which will put others on their guard when I say that I am christian.
Because the average American white protestant has it in their head that America and white people are a chosen super race that have full authority by God to use the planet as they see fit. They believe this because they will inevitably fail to connect Christian ideas of mercy, charity, and forgiveness to their own lives because their lives are built around a comfortable bubble. The only outlet for their spiritual needs is to believe God has blessed them to do as they please. From their perspective, they feel no guilt over their status, because American middle class society is by design set up for its members to never even see poverty or misery. They live in gated suburbs and drive everywhere. From their perspective, putting in minimal amount of work automatically secures a comfortable middle class existence, so they believe anyone can do it, so poverty must necessarily be self-inflicted or a punishment from the Lord.
Already I hope you can see why these people have any notion of spiritual empathy erased from their souls. They haven’t lived in conditions that build normal spirituality. They’ve only ever lived comfortable privilege on the backs of invisible impoverished people. It wouldn’t matter how much they read the Bible directly. They’ll freely dismiss the passages they don’t feel apply and will instead focus on what relates to them.
For instance, ask a protestant what Matthew 19:24 means. It clearly says, by Christ himself, that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. Christ offers a solution for rich people to give up all they own to have treasure in heaven. American white protestants interpret this passage as meaning only “greedy” rich people go to hell, but nice rich people go to heaven. Whatever that means.
Also I’d like to apologize if anyone here mocks your faith. They’re being unfair, granted a lot of people have had bad experiences with Christianity in the USA. I’m not religious myself, but sympathize with the need. I’m probably a few bad days away from adopting some kind of neo-shamanism because of so many dead people and pets in my life. I loved my last cat more than any living thing on Earth, and that triggers something in me. I want his spirit to still be around.
Thanks for taking the time, that made sense to me. They see their state as an achievement built by the good and faithful through which god distributes “his” blessings. The luxuries they enjoy because of their nation serve as proof that god not just approves of it, but wants it furthered. This monument to them marks how god is bestowing his blessings and how they can be part of gods plan.
Pretty normal for empires actually.
Oh don’t worry I know where those comments come from. The reputation Christianity got is the reason I don’t like when I have to acknowledge my religion to people I don’t know well, (“what did you do last Sunday?” type of questions) because it might make them wary of me, and I can’t blame them really. I sometimes have to do this performative dance to show I’m one of the “good ones that doesn’t hate gay people honest!” Because 99% of the time Christians are at least above average in homophobia, which will put others on their guard when I say that I am christian.