'American first' or 'Christian first'

[boracay]

Pew Poll from today itself revealed that 42% of American Christians -- 42% -- consider themselves "Christians first," not "Americans first." A very substantial portion of Christians, then, place allegiance to their religion above that of allegiance to the United States. link (http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/05/22/polls/index.html)

So, do you think that's good, bad or it doesn't matter?

[Siegmund]

I am somewhere between "good" and "it doesn't matter."

I believe blind allegiance to anything is stupid. In particular, allegiance to a country for no reason other than the fact you happen to be born there is stupid. If your allegiance to your religion is for no other reason than because it's where your parents took you on Sunday as a kid, then it's a tie. If you consciously chose your religious beliefs after due consideration, and coincidentally happened to be born in the US, it's good.

(This means there's a very small minority of people - people who immigrated and became US citizens, but who still blindly follow the religion of their youth - for whom this is bad. And there will be some number of people who have given serious thought to what the best form of government is, free of preconceived notions that the only one they have lived under is right.) But "good" is the category that is liable to have 40-some percent of the US population in it.

[Archon_Wing]

It doesn't matter. People have priorities, and they are more actively practicing the religion and beliefs more than they are pledging alliegance to their country. It doesn't mean they don't care about their country.

For example, some people may prioritize their health over their job, but they definitely do care very much about their job.

[btmagnetw]

very surprised its not higher.

[boracay]

[ QUOTE ]
very surprised its not higher.

[/ QUOTE ]

is it the same with american muslims?

[kerowo]

It is a meaningless poll. If there was a viable, visible threat to either that one would win the poll.