--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Part of the scandal of American…" description: "\"“Part of the scandal of American Christianity is that statistically the U.S. is the most Christian country in the world, and yet as a country we have t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/marcus-borg-23822_christianity_part-of-the-scandal-of-american-christia_2120955.jpg" --- # Part of the scandal of American Christianity is that… ![“Part of the scandal of American Christianity is that statistically the U.S. is the most Christian country in the world, and yet as a country we have the greatest income inequality in the world. And as a country we are uncritically committed, not simply to being the most powerful nation in the…” quote by Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/marcus-borg-23822_christianity_part-of-the-scandal-of-american-christia_2120955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/marcus-borg-23822_christianity_part-of-the-scandal-of-american-christia_2120955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/marcus-borg-23822_christianity_part-of-the-scandal-of-american-christia_2120955.jpg) > ““Part of the scandal of American Christianity is that statistically the U.S. is the most Christian country in the world, and yet as a country we have the greatest income inequality in the world. And as a country we are uncritically committed, not simply to being the most powerful nation in the world militarily, but to being as militarily powerful as the rest of the world combined. We Christians live in a tradition that is passionate about issues of economic justice and peace and yet at least half of American Christians, probably even more, think it’s really important that we be as powerful as the rest of the world put together.”” [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American Christianity paradoxically combines a strong military stance with a tradition of economic justice, creating tension between power and peace. **In simple terms:** Christianity mixes power with justice. Key Takeaway Balance faith with social responsibility. Themes faith justice power politics Mood critical thoughtful Type theoretical inspirational When to use this quote - political debates - church activism - policy advocacy - public sermons Key Concepts Christian ethics military influence income inequality Questions to Reflect On - Should churches prioritize peace over power? - How can believers address inequality responsibly? A Different Perspective Critics argue that militarism undermines moral authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Economic justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-justice/) [Income inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income-inequality/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“American Christians may be fearful of the dramatic changes that have already occurred in the world and in American Christianity. Could that fear be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/american-christians-may-be-fearful-of-the-dramatic-changes-that-have/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“American Christians have often allowed the world to determine their view of power and privilege, rather than Scripture. This has created an Anglo Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-t-olson/american-christians-have-often-allowed-the-world-to-determine-their/) [David T. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-t-olson/) > [“This is a Christian country, my dear brother, and the wages of sin are supposed to be death, not eight bob of the taxpayers’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-james-2/this-is-a-christian-country-my-dear-brother-and-the-wages-of-sin-are/) [P.D. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-james-2/) > [“Ip we don't act right hir and now, at pigilan ang pagkalat ng virus na ito... magiging zombie Christian country tayo!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geonard-yleana/ip-we-don-t-act-right-hir-and-now-at-pigilan-ang-pagkalat-ng-virus-na/) Geonard Yleana > [There's still plenty of people who have this deep conviction that America is a Christian country and ought to say so in its Constitution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-l-eck/there-s-still-plenty-of-people-who-have-this-deep-conviction-that/) [Diana L. Eck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-l-eck/) > [“The brutal fact is that in this Christian country not one person in a hundred has the faintest notion what the Church teaches about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-brutal-fact-is-that-in-this-christian-country-not-one-person-in-a/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I do understand that America is a predominantly Christian country. A lot of morals and values are based in Christianity as opposed to Buddhism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-do-understand-that-america-is-a-predominantly-christian-country-a/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [This is a Christian country. Why, so is hell. Inasmuch as Strait is the way and narrow is the gate, and few - few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/this-is-a-christian-country-why-so-is-hell-inasmuch-as-strait-is-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [there is less alms-giving in America than in any other Christian country on the face of the globe. It is not in the temper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/there-is-less-alms-giving-in-america-than-in-any-other-christian/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [It's silly to throw things out or label things. You know, is U2 a Christian band, or was Johnny Cash a Christian country singer?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/it-s-silly-to-throw-things-out-or-label-things-you-know-is-u2-a/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [ “Take an instance: the removal of the motto \[In God We Trust\] fetched out a clamor from the pulpit; little groups and small conventions… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/take-an-instance-the-removal-of-the-motto-in-god-we-trust-fetched-out/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [My work in Africa was paid for mostly by American Christians, and I am so thankful for their giving hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/my-work-in-africa-was-paid-for-mostly-by-american-christians-and-i-am/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [“Here is a statistic that does matter: Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves.” That is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/here-is-a-statistic-that-does-matter-three-quarters-of-americans/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [“The church's primary purpose is not to make America more Christian, but to make American Christians less American and Rwandan Christians less Rwandan. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-katongole/the-church-s-primary-purpose-is-not-to-make-america-more-christian/) [Emmanuel Katongole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-katongole/) > [Can you imagine the impact on our own culture if American Christians began using their riches as if they belonged to God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/can-you-imagine-the-impact-on-our-own-culture-if-american-christians/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) ## More by Marcus Borg > [The Bible is true, and some of it actually happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/the-bible-is-true-and-some-of-it-actually-happened/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [Some people find the experience and practice of compassion as a spiritual discipline to be a more direct route to the transformation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/some-people-find-the-experience-and-practice-of-compassion-as-a/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [Religion is much more than language, but to be Christian does mean speaking Christian for most people. The language many of us use has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/religion-is-much-more-than-language-but-to-be-christian-does-mean/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [Jesus disclosed that God is compassionate. Jesus spoke of God that way: "Be compassionate, as God is compassionate." Compassion is the primary quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/jesus-disclosed-that-god-is-compassionate-jesus-spoke-of-god-that-way/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [The titles of Jesus (son of God, messiah, light of the world, etc.) are not found in the earliest layer of tradition and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/the-titles-of-jesus-son-of-god-messiah-light-of-the-world-etc-are-not/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [God loves us already and has from our very beginning. The Christian life is not about believing or doing what we need to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/god-loves-us-already-and-has-from-our-very-beginning-the-christian/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [Imagine that Christianity is about loving God,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/imagine-that-christianity-is-about-loving-god/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [Reality is permeated, indeed flooded, with divine creativity, nourishment, and care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/reality-is-permeated-indeed-flooded-with-divine-creativity/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [People who think of God as a warrior may become warriors themselves, whether in a Christian crusade, a Muslim jihad, or an apocalyptically oriented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/people-who-think-of-god-as-a-warrior-may-become-warriors-themselves/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [God’s dream for us is not simply peace of mind, but peace on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/god-s-dream-for-us-is-not-simply-peace-of-mind-but-peace-on-earth/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [It is important to show people ways that we can reclaim Christianity from some of the misunderstandings of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/it-is-important-to-show-people-ways-that-we-can-reclaim-christianity/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > ['Believing' cannot tip the scales in making a historical judgement about whether something really happened. I can choose to believe that George Washington threw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/believing-cannot-tip-the-scales-in-making-a-historical-judgement/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [Reading is not just about learning to recognize and pronounce words, but also about how to hear and understand them... It is wise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/reading-is-not-just-about-learning-to-recognize-and-pronounce-words/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [People remember stories much better than they remember a straight list of teachings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/people-remember-stories-much-better-than-they-remember-a-straight/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [I affirm, along with many others, that the major enduring religions of the world are all valid and legitimate. I see them as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/i-affirm-along-with-many-others-that-the-major-enduring-religions-of/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) [Explore all 25 Marcus Borg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Part of the scandal of American Christianity is that statistically the U.S. is the most Christian country in the world, and yet as a country we have the greatest income inequality in the world. And as a country we are uncritically committed, not simply to being the most powerful nation in the world militarily, but to being as militarily powerful as the rest of the world combined. 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