Christian nations.

This rather interesting post that we happened across led to questions in our minds. Whereas we don't know the specific results of such a poll would be for the U.S.A., we could certainly, and gloomily (as is our wont) guess. The UK has for a great deal of its history had church and state rather closely intertwined -- they don't call it the C. of E. for nothing -- whereas the United States was founded in a flourish of Enlightenment-era humanism, all bubbling with piss, vinegar, and Reason. According to tradition and principle this nation should have a corner on the rationalist market, and the British should still be burning witches and Catholics and leeching ill humors out of epileptics.

Where did all this American fundamentalism come from? Were we weakened at some crucial juncture, and then sprung upon by Christ? Or rather, Billy Graham?

All of which forms a rather neat lead-up to this, which we came across and found too bizarre not to present --

Part one.


Part two.


It's a strange pair of Americas on view. Which is the real us?