What is at the heart of the massive division among Christians, especially in the USA?
479335
There is a theory that America was built on a rebellious, individualistic spirit.  That might explain why the US is different in that regard.\n\nI think this explains division:\n\nBut there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.  II Peter 2:1-3\n\nThere is a lot of opposition to unity.  Within and without.  There are a lot of ways to look at things, some honest misunderstandings, some deliberate false doctrine.\n\nThe Bible really is a lot of information, and some of it is difficult to understand.  I have grown and changed in my understanding of certain things over the years.  Sometimes we disagree because we are in different places in our maturity and understanding.\n\nI think that the Bible is primarily a discipline I need to apply to myself.  It's not about making other people do right.  Any time you take the attitude of applying law to others that you will not keep yourself, that will cause division and discord.\n\nFrom the very beginning Satan used half-truths in order to lead people from God.  He's still doing that.  If He can get us to believe something that is close to the truth, but not quite it, he can lead us to stray.\n\nIt gets heated because we passionately believe it's important.  It hurts my heart when people slander God.  Because I love Him.  It hurts me for their sake as well, because I know they are in danger.  Not with me, but with God.  That's not my wish, but what I understand the Bible to say.\n\nAnd I guess there are some in the Christian community who are "right fighting."  They care less about righteousness than proving themselves right.  Pride is a sin.  Even in Christians.\n\nThe main reason for division is that we fail to put God first.  If we seek Him, He says He can be found.  If we put Him first, He will unite us for His purpose.
694761
You might do well to remember that the USA was founded on the separation of church and state.\nRemember this famous quote; "Freedom can be measured by the distance between the state and the church."
456772
America is a secular country.  The main religion is the worship of the almighty dollar!\n\nThe United States has no official religion.  In contrast to the United Kingdom, in which the head of state is also head of the established church, the United States has a separation of church and state.  Freedom of religion is a fundamental constitional doctrine.\n\nHowever, Christianity is certainly the majority religion.  The United States has a more actively religious population than many other western democracies, especially the UK.
983305
LOL. Christians are the privileged ones in the United States. \n\nThey'd get a rude awakening if they were treated fairly.
603713
Americans, especially Christians, are quite often very contrary and hypocritical.
946988
I thought everybody already knew that religion, or the fanatical, misguided practice of it, was the source of violence in the Middle East.  And why do we keep electing religious whackos in this country????  Because a majority of the voting population cast ballots based on their religious beliefs.  So, is this country run by the Christian Church?  It sure feels that way to me.  I am a Republican, but am feeling shut out by the Christian fanaticism.
238761
I don't think there are many real Christians in this country. They call themselves Christians, but they want an eye for an eye. That is distinctly un-Christian. Real Christians can only be appalled at Bush's actions and policies, and any real conservative likewise. This is a President who is surrounded by people who want an absolute ruler, answerable to no one.
851309
Oral Roberts said it best...."america is not a Christian nation, there are just a lot of Christians in it"\n\nthanks
550569
I can't really say. There are Christians living everywhere.  But don't be discouraged cause you will be home soon.
504011
I regret I have to disagree. First of all , it doesn't mean just because you are Christian, you can neccessary be good. There is no relation betwen non corruption and Christian. Secondly, all the examples of problems cited occur in any country. The US is not alone in this. Thirdly, practices such as the death penalty and the conducting of wars are not neccessary bad. Just imagine what would have happen if the US didn't enter the Gulf War to drive the Iraqis from Kuwait. The balance of power will not only be changed in the Middle East, but the whole world.\n\nSo, having said this, I can't say the US is a corrupt place. Not completely anyway.
207640
What do you mean "the church?"  Even if we assume you mean christianity, every denomination is doing things differently.  There's nothing they're all doing well or badly in.
956936
Many Christians DO NOT acknowledge that Catholicism is a division of Christianity but in fact it is. There once was a time when Catholics practiced the oneness of God.... later adding the trinity to its doctrine created a separation in the church. Out of that division came Protestant, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist,  Pentecostal, Apostolic, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormon etc...All are Christian nonetheless. \n\nTo say, "I'm Christian" is a unbiased, unprejudiced title; or general and safe to say. \n\nHowever, to say, "I am Catholic" is like saying United Kingdom is NOT a part of Europe because they want to be different from the rest of Europe, and they think they are better than everybody else. They look like the oddball in the group (out-casted). \n\nChristianity has dissected into so many entities over the past  centuries, one would have to be a true religious scholar in order to define all the various types of Christianity.
362899
The Christians are a large group and even though they teach tolerance most have none, They did to religion what the white man did to native americans, at least they are trying. \n\nWell this ought to get things rolling lol! \n\nPagans unite! \n\nI don't need the 10 points I had fun answering this one, gotta love a dry sense of humor.
249128
The US is not a Christian country. George Washington & John Adams (remember them?), in a diplomatic message to Malta, said "The United States is in no way founded upon the Christian religion." \n\nThat being said, the majority of the US government is Christian, as well as the majority of the US populus. Laws that are written based on their religious convictions blur the line between Church and State, and many time, cross it.\n\nMy ancestors (I am a Mayflower descendant) came to this country in 1620 to escape state-imposed religion. The fundi-Christians are trying hard to impose one on us now. This is being allowed to happen because the Congress, Senate, and Executive Branch are controlled by psuedo-Christians, and most of the people who put them there are psuedo-Christians.
1003376
Just another scapegoat to blame society's problems on, and a way to divide people. There is a massive misconception in the US today that this is a "Christian" nation and that certain people/behaviors should be condemned. Funny thing, historically speaking every time a single religion comes to power that nations folds in on itself.
878066
A little over two billion, or about a third of the World's population today. Not sure about the stats for the U.S.\n\nBut from my vantage point, I'd consider only a small fraction of that number to be 'true' Christians... if you get my drift.\n\nPeace be with you.
775635
Well, I'm not American (Canadian) but my husband is. We're working on bringing me down there by Visa.\n\nBut, I completely agree with you. And so does my husband. Interesting thing is, his father's a Methodist Minister. But then, even his father admits that the bible is just a book.\n\nI find it extremely disturbing what seems to be happening in the United States. The Christians seem to be winning and soon peoples rights that they already have are going to start to be taken away. And all in the name of the Christian religion.\n\nLand of the free, my big fat butt. Christianity is doing everything it can to remove that.\n\nIt's very very frightening.\n\nI'm even to the point where, if he and I have kids, I'd rather home school them than have them go to any established school in the US. I can't imagine the abuse they'd suffer from the supposedly "loving" Christians.