Is the dominant religion of the United States really positive thinking instead of Christianity?

I dont know. I think they might go hand in hand.

Don't know about that and in fact I would say there is markedly less positive thinking today  than when I was young.  Which is one reason we have so many people using drugs, tending to depression inactivity, laziness, and suicide. Interestingly positive thinking came out of Christianity.  You may have heard of Norman Vincent Peale who was a minister and radio and TV personality and wrote The Power Of Positive Thinking many years ago.  It was Biblically-based but sort of a liberal secularization of Christianity.  I do think the lack of religious, specifically Christian, belief is one of the things responsible for the ills of society. People no longer have faith and so do not have hope for themselves either.  And the faith they or their ancestors once put in God they instead put on themselves or other individuals or secular movements or the government.  Because they just don't feel hopeful enough to even act but they want others to do it for them.  Too bad.  The basic hope that Christianity teaches is faith in God and that God loves us and through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can hope for our salvation and eternal fellowship with God.  Which is pretty powerful stuff. Assurance of that makes us more positive in our daily doings whatever the downers we encounter. 

Nope.

First ... "positive thinking" is not a religion.

Second ... There are very few people in America (or any other country) that think "positive thoughts" on a regular basis.  The vast majority of people are realists - neither optimists (positive) nor pessimists (negative).

If the dominant religion in the US is positive thinking, then why are things there so bad?    Depression, suicides, addictions, alcoholism, and such are skyrocketing in the US.  Are they the result of positive thinking? 

I have never seen anyone hate someone for positive thinking.  I’ve seen them hated for their actions and/or speech, but not because of their thinking.  I understand why people “hate” Christianity.   Look at how many bad things have been done supposedly in its name.  Some people also perceive it as a religion of hypocrites.  But how can one “hate” positive thinking?  Surely they can’t read someone else’s mind?  And if positive thinking truly produces positive results, then that’s a good thing.  People can’t hate things that are good... can they?

True Christianity is not just positive thinking and a few scriptures – no matter what many may preach.  True Christianity is understanding that all the positive thoughts in the world aren’t enough to make you right with God.  Only Jesus can do that.  And He’s already done it for you.  THAT’S the most positive thought in the entire universe.

If it isn’t, then it should be.

Can we assess how much more positive the world could be if we freed our species from the compulsion to form worldviews based on primitive fictions and imaginary characters.
Ergo:

The Christian resolution to find the world ugly and bad has made the world ugly and bad.   —  Friederich Nietzche This post was edited by Don Barzini at July 12, 2018 2:32 PM MDT

This is a really good question, one that makes us think... and it's deep and not superficial.. but... I don't have an answer :P  I take a great interest in all things American, but on this one, I don't know - I've not personally heard much said about positive thinking in relation to America. I do know that a LOT of Americans are very strongly Christian though. 

In the 19th century Americans started moving west and three institutions went with them. There was vaudeville, traveling entertainment. There was lyceum, traveling education and culture. And there was the itinerant preacher, offering a new style of preaching called "hell fire and brim stone". It was very entertaining, only loosely based on scripture, and pastors didn't even try to compete. Instead they switched to preaching public morality and philosophy.

Eventually an entire generation grew up not knowing the first thing about the religion they claimed to believe. That is why most Christian churches don't teach doctrines, and most members don't know what they are supposed to believe.

I can't speak for the whole country but being overly positive and denying that bad things happen, as you said of your mother, is unrealistic to the point of not facing reality.   Being optimistic is important in preventing people from abandoning their dreams and ceasing to strive but some take it to the ridiculous point of saying that you can think things into existence.  The Roman stoic philosopher, Seneca, said, "You make your own luck."  That sounds like the delusional boast of someone who had everything handed to them or were otherwise extremely lucky.  Donald Trump once made that statement.  Next time I meet someone who says that I am going to take them to Las Vegas and offer them 20% of my winnings if they will make their own luck while deciding what numbers I should bet on at the roulette table.  It's hogwash.

Philippians 4:8  "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

 Proverbs 17:22  "A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones."


Those are but two of many Bible verses that speak of thinking positive thoughts but positive thinking isn't a religion like some would like you to believe. Unfortunately and sadly, there are some folks that make millions off of weak and greedy people by making it a religion, A religion that bypasses God altogether and replaces it with a god of money and meism. :)

I promise you that it is definitely NOT your version of Christianity.   Let's make that perfectly clear right now.

Because ?

Religion is a private matter and while all people need to unite in loving the God of their choice, it is still a God of THEIR PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING with religion merely a guideline.

That's all. A GUIDE.    And only a CHRISTIAN would think of the term "positive"  as anti- JESUS and a dirty word.    Being positive is being hopeful and trusting that good will come.  That's all.  Being negative is distrusting and hating your brother because he is DIFFERENT and NOT A CHRISTIAN.

Just like they were afraid of the term NEW AGE and made a big deal of misunderstanding that word, now we have to say we are CHRISTIAN?  I am NO Christian and I am VERY POSITIVE of that.

Jesus would puke if He saw what is being done in his name by CHRISTIANS.

They are the biggest embarrassment this country has vomited out so far.

Loving Jesus has zero to do with being a puppet in some CHURCH that needs lots of money in the name of JESUS.  Jesus would NEVER call a Muslim an enemy.  NEVER.  Only a judgmental Christian or a TERRORIST MUSLIM would behave like that.  And that has nothing to do with JESUS CHRIST.

This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at July 16, 2018 9:44 PM MDT

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

That is the definition of Christianity and it has no connection to "religion". The book of Romans explains repeatedly that what you do counts for nothing, except a better life here and now. In other verses it is pretty clear that God has a dim view of "religion".

As for dominant religion, a change of religion is one symptom of a collapsing culture. The dominant religion now is ANYTHING as long as it's not Romans 10:9 & 10.

Most have become very disillusioned with religion, especially Christendom. Christendom has set a deplorable example of what true Christianity is. (John 13:35)