Current Events > TIL that very early Americans weren't actually that religious.

(+) Yeah! (+)

I couldn't believe it. This is the United States we're talking about. This is the country where there are tons of Christians, both Catholics and Protestants. It's also the country where politics and religion are so intertwined, that rightwing politicians frequently win elections by appealing to the various Christians around the country.

And yet, in the late eighteenth century, many were either atheists, or passive Christians. Some were outwardly religious, but didn't really care in reality. I suppose these people were children of the Enlightenment, which would explain why they were so scornful of religion, and so obsessed with science and reason (not that those things are bad to like).

Did you know all this?

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No, but I'd like to learn more about this sort of thing. What exactly are you reading?

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being religious wasnt notable in early america because it was normal

being "too religious" only started to become viewed negatively recently with the rise of atheism
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