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The protestant work ethic just another urban legend
The protestant work ethic just another urban legend
American dream as a religious pursuit
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Throughout the history of North America there have been a plethora of battles waged between those with conflicting theologies in terms of religion. Looking to the protestant faith, one can see how protestant beliefs and or presents have been challenged not only by faiths of obvious secular contrast, such as Catholicism, but also by minutely dissimilar denominations that have fracture off of preexisting sects. In comparing Josiah Strong’s “Our Country” to Harry Emerson Fosdick’s “Shall the Fundamentalists Win” a contrast in who is opposing Protestants authority can be seen, along with why these sects were challenging theological ideas of the time. Moreover, the response of Protestants over time can be contrasted in how they deal with threats
At this point in time employers are in no way providing alcohol for their employees, but instead are supplying them with Bibles. Politicians are petitioning to stop mail and locks on Sundays, showing the strong influence religion has on politics at this point. Religion is also a driving force in personal and work relationships. Women converted their husbands into joining the church, because the converted bore the weight of the non-converted on their shoulders, to the point where some died. Shopkeepers also tried to convert their workers, they changed their standards of hiring, and promised better wages to those who went to church and were temperate.
The United States of America was founded by people who were mainly trying to escape from some religious laws, to gain religious freedom or religion equality. Most of America 's first immigrants were Christians, therefore is no surprise the country is built on and with Christian morals. During 1980 a large population of immigrants came into U.S, this group of immigrants came from 5 different continents, with different religious backgrounds. However, the largest religious group among this large population of immigrants were Christians. About one-third of this immigrant who are not Christians find it difficult and unsafe to stay in a country where Christians seem to have an upper hand, very few of this people have stepped out from their comfort
The story of American Religion is one of migration, be it from immigrants from other countries or from the movement of Americans from city to city and from state to state. This is especially true of American Southerners who, during the Great Depression, moved out of their homeland and to the more industrial areas of the country like Detroit or Los Angeles. When these Southerners migrated to Los Angeles and Southern California, they brought with them their evangelical religious beliefs. In “From Bible Belt to Sun Belt,” author Darren Dochuk describes how that brand of southern evangelicalism initially shaped Southern California, and then US politics as a whole, through cultural clashes with the existing New Deal Democrats of the area, by
In Jonathan Klemens’ essay “The Protestant Work Ethic Just Another Urban Legend,” Klemens goes in depth about the American work ethic. According to Klemens, the American work ethic is essential to Americans because it provides a strong economy, along with a strong society that keeps America going. The American work ethic is one that is represented through individuals who “provide both a service to society and personal satisfaction” (Klemens 122). Not only does Klemens argue that hard work and service are detrimental to society, but a strong commitment enhances one’s life’s devotion to work, along with one’s passion or “calling.” Furthermore, the work ethic is “firmly entrenched as a powerful and valued American social trait,” showing that hard work and dedication are core values ingrained within the lives of Americans.
In “The Protestant Work Ethic: Just Another ‘Urban Legend?’” Jonathan Klemens states what the work ethic is and how it applies in American society. Klemens explains that the work ethic has helped the nation as a whole. Klemens explains that people work hard to achieve “the company or organization’s missions” (122). Not only that, Klemens also explains that people would work hard to gain the particular professions they desire instead of just working with no goals.
Stephanson uses Josiah Strong, who is instrumental to the thought of American religious imperialism. Stephanson states, Strong’s ideas were central to the want to conquer particular social ills. In order to do so, Strong utilizes “three important strands of late-nineteenth-century U.S. Protestantism: ‘liberal’ theology; mission at home and abroad; and the social gospel ”. Liberal theology was a reinvention of natural theology in order to fuse God and history into a progressive evolution of the fittest individuals. Missionary activity was key to American church life, these organizations reached their peak toward the end of the century because of the following: the necessity to maintain a firm position while being against the changes of corruption, filth and aliens at home.
Perhaps, the most frightening aspect of this book is the ever-darkening depravity of American culture. Honestly, if a reader traces the opponents of fundamentalism through the work, they find a disturbing trend that explains why America is facing the problems she’s facing today. Slowly but surely, those who hold to fundamentalism are becoming fewer in number. Now, most well-educated people would not know what fundamentalism is or (more importantly) what it stands for. Small wonder America is going to Hell in a handbasket (pardon my
“Faith and the Presidency: From George Washington to George W. Bush” was written by Gary Scott Smith, the book goes in depth about how presidencies brought religion to America and its government. This book was written to be read by students and scholars looking to further their knowledge about the presidents’ religious views and how they used their views in office. Gary Scott Smith is currently the chair and professor of history at Grove City College, were he graduated from in 1972 with a bachelor’s in art in Psychology. He also has his master’s in art in American History from John Hopkins which he received in 1979. In 1981 he received his Ph. D in American History from John Hopkins as well (Faculty, par.1).
Confronted with the shock of science, people had a modern faith in science. New technologies promoted the art to create modernism. After the industrial revolution, new immigrants with a different culture and religious beliefs came into U.S. Catholics and other small beliefs had to adapt to the modern way and accept modern needs of immigrants. Protestant feared to lose the dominant position, also adopt modern way. Famous Billy Sunday was the case who participating in modern activities like politics and games to advertises Protestant.
Like most things that are society based, religion has evolved alongside our own culture. America is a melting pot of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures making it a perfect place for religion to adapt and flourish. For this analysis, I am drawing from “Civil Religion in America” by Robert N. Bellah (1967) on his ideas of American civil religion. In the text Bellah (1967) argues that civil religion is an important dimension that needs to be recognized in sociology. While Bellah focuses specifically on the United States of America, he still gives a valuable perspective on civil religion and how it plays a part in religion as a whole.
“Religion itself dominates less a revealed doctrine than a commonly held opinion. I do, therefore, realize that, among Americans, political laws are such that the majority exercises sovereign power over society” (Page 501, Chapter 2, Democracy in America, Tocqueville). In this quote Tocqueville explains how Americans try to find answers to their everyday lives and challenges they encounter in religion. They need something to rely on when everything in their lives turns out wrong, and religion is usually their
Over the past few years, anyone can tell you that religious importance in our country has become less, and less vital. Recent events like the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, and the attacks on Paris, France, have made the freedom of religion harder and harder to come by. Having the free practice of religion has proved difficult. Christianity has suffered from these issues as the general acceptance of the religion has declined substantially in the few decades. A recent poll there was a sense of discrimination for the Islamic religion, as they have been responsible for the attacks, 8/10 Americans believe Christianity should be practiced freely, while only a mere 6/10 Americans think the Muslims should practice freely (Source #3).
The American work ethic is something people have talked highly about for more than half a century. I myself has always took pride of doing it myself. I felt great gratification of doing an exceptional job at my work place. While on the other hand, I have watched many of my former colleagues begin to circle down the drain or ultimately lose their jobs, due to bad habits and poor work ethic. Watching this process of elimination has only encourage my push for having an astounding work ethic.
Since abortion was made legal by Wade Vs. Roe in 1973, 57 million unborn children have been massacred. Take that in for a second. Somewhere around the amount Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler killed combined. 57 million children who never got to become the people that they were meant to be.
