Why is the US viewed as a Christian nation when its citizens have little sense of charity?

Why is the US viewed as a Christian nation when its citizens have little sense of charity?
By Gerard van Hamel Platerink
Published: May 30 2006 03:00 | Last updated: May 30 2006 03:00. Copyright by The Financial Times

From Mr Gerard van Hamel Platerink.

Sir, It is notable that we continue to view the US as a Christian nation when actions, which speak louder than words, indicate otherwise.

Some 44 per cent of Americans claim to attend church each week (versus fewer than 10 per cent in western Europe) and are thus regularly exposed to Jesus' teachings on giving to the poor, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry.

Data on aid and charitable giving, however, indicates that the US performs poorly on measures such as donations per capita, where it trails nations such as Denmark (where only 3 per cent of its people regularly attend church) by a factor of more than four to one. Indeed, on most income-adjusted measures of charitable giving, the US usually features in the bottom quartile.

Let's view religion and churches in the US for what they really are today - an environment where people who have lost their sense of community come together to belong and feel good for a few precious minutes each week.

These are worthy pursuits, though whether it makes any of us truly Christian and thus eligible for a nod from St Peter is another matter.

Gerard van Hamel Platerink,

Atlanta, GA 30327, US