The argument I'm making is that settler-colonialism has deformed American evangelical Protestantism into something that is not really Christian. As a result of the "limitless" bounty of the land, taken violently from the natives and African slaves, we've developed a highly-religious people who no longer worship God but the acquisition and consumption of material things. Its IMO how you get abominations of theology like prosperity gospel. American Protestants no longer have an authentic spirituality. They are driven to demonstrate their personal religiosity, devotion to "God", reflection of "God's blessing" through conspicuous consumption, the hoarding of gaudy commodities and modern pagan idols to fill the real spiritual void in their heart of hearts.
That's what Protestantism is! Prosperity gospel is the Calvinist idea that riches on Earth are proof of Salvation, and people who are poor or get conquered are clearly not saved.
Fair enough, but I'd still argue that American Protestants have evolved as very, very different beasts compared to European Protestants. Even the Germans.
In particular I'd say millennarianism plays a much stronger influence on American Protestantism than European.
Well yeah, Germany has had a different political economy for the past 5 centuries. Compare American evangelicals to Ulster Presbyterians or Afrikaners, and you'll see a lot more similarities.
Edit: Also, keep in mind "God is with Us" (as he was with our fathers) was a popular Prussian and later Nazi slogan. Any Chud in Ulster, Virginia, Queensland, Texas, or Florida from 1650 to 2021 could easily relate to that. But tell me again about how American evangelicals are uniquely "not Christian" compared to other Prots.
The argument I'm making is that settler-colonialism has deformed American evangelical Protestantism into something that is not really Christian. As a result of the "limitless" bounty of the land, taken violently from the natives and African slaves, we've developed a highly-religious people who no longer worship God but the acquisition and consumption of material things. Its IMO how you get abominations of theology like prosperity gospel. American Protestants no longer have an authentic spirituality. They are driven to demonstrate their personal religiosity, devotion to "God", reflection of "God's blessing" through conspicuous consumption, the hoarding of gaudy commodities and modern pagan idols to fill the real spiritual void in their heart of hearts.
That's what Protestantism is! Prosperity gospel is the Calvinist idea that riches on Earth are proof of Salvation, and people who are poor or get conquered are clearly not saved.
Fair enough, but I'd still argue that American Protestants have evolved as very, very different beasts compared to European Protestants. Even the Germans.
In particular I'd say millennarianism plays a much stronger influence on American Protestantism than European.
Well yeah, Germany has had a different political economy for the past 5 centuries. Compare American evangelicals to Ulster Presbyterians or Afrikaners, and you'll see a lot more similarities.
Edit: Also, keep in mind "God is with Us" (as he was with our fathers) was a popular Prussian and later Nazi slogan. Any Chud in Ulster, Virginia, Queensland, Texas, or Florida from 1650 to 2021 could easily relate to that. But tell me again about how American evangelicals are uniquely "not Christian" compared to other Prots.