How come the US has had for the most part a more puritanical culture than (most of) Europe?

[Tooting Carmen]

With the possible exceptions of certain states like California and Nevada, on a whole range of issues - homosexuality, miscegenation, pornography, prostitution - the US certainly used to be and, to an extent, still is more strict and censorious in both its laws and social attitudes than most European countries are. Why is this?

[Red Pill]

I doubt it. The US is a country of extremes. Puritans in the Bible Belt and "ultra-progressives" in the metropolis. And wasn't California rather conservative before the 60s? I think that Catholic countries in Europe, except France, were quite puritanical until the 60s.

[Tooting Carmen]

I doubt it. The US is a country of extremes. Puritans in the Bible Belt and "ultra-progressives" in the metropolis. And wasn't California rather conservative before the 60s? I think that Catholic countries in Europe, except France, were quite puritanical until the 60s.

The difference being that the likes of Franco and Salazar artificially imposed it by force, whereas much of the US has been puritanical by popular consent.

[Not a Cop]

The difference being that the likes of Franco and Salazar artificially imposed it by force, whereas much of the US has been puritanical by popular consent.

Well, because it was founded by puritans?

[Tooting Carmen]

Well, because it was founded by puritans?

The Pilgrims were only one set of immigrants out of many though.

[Not a Cop]

The Pilgrims were only one set of immigrants out of many though.

Doesn't really matter, intial impact is very important, add to that the fact that USA even now is much less urbanised society, and degeneracy spreads much faster in cities.

[Tooting Carmen]

Doesn't really matter, intial impact is very important, add to that the fact that USA even now is much less urbanised society, and degeneracy spreads much faster in cities.

As for Russia, to what extent would you say that the austere and socially conservative culture in Communist times was heartfelt and genuine, and to what extent was it artificially imposed by force?

[Not a Cop]

As for Russia, to what extent would you say that the austere and socially conservative culture in Communist times was heartfelt and genuine, and to what extent was it artificially imposed by force?

Well you should understand that there were different eras during the soviet rule, and thus the relationship you're asking about was different, let me try to summarise it:

1. Intial extreme leftist turn 20es-mid 30.

Overwhelming spread of "freedoms" destruction of churches, shootings of clergery, appearence of theory of "glass of water" which in essense says that in modern society sex should be not harder to get than a glass of water which implied a total sexual freedom, decriminalisation of homosexuality, appeareance of polyamorous societies, decriminalisation of abortion etc.

You can google-translate : https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%94...2%D0%B2%D0%BE)

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2...BE%D0%B4%D1%8B

During this period the general masses were of course much more conservative than the "general line of the party", as 70-80% of population people were rural peasant with orthodox upbringing.


2. 30-70es. The period of throwback.

During this period party decided to turn down the volume on societal freedoms and turn back to more traditional values, not fully of course. Abortions were banned in 35-53 me thinks, more traditional approach to family was implemented, homosexuality was criminalised, however not really implemented (i can't really remember such cases as Turing, meaning that you could've been a homo, but if you had contributed to the degree of what Turing did it would've been overlooked).

Generally during this period the conservative\liberal axis in approach to societal norms were were similar of rulling class and of common people, not much complaints were made in this period.

3. 70-fall of SU. The period of desynchronization.

During this period the youth especially and public in general became more and more liberal in general sense, the sexual revolution came to USSR and consumerist society began to emerge. Not really getting that, or maybe due to sticking to the old ideals the eldery soviet rulling elite didn't adapt the general line to that change and thus the discontent among the public began to appear, it's exactly this periond you talk that "austere and socially conservative culture in Communist times" "was artificially imposed by force".

[sean]

How come the US has had for the most part a more puritanical culture than (most of) Europe? With the possible exceptions of certain states like California and Nevada, on a whole range of issues - homosexuality, miscegenation, pornography, prostitution - the US certainly used to be and, to an extent, still is more strict and censorious in both its laws and social attitudes than most European countries are. Why is this?

Puritanism has a strong impact on American culture. American culture is a fusion of Puritan New England and Anglican Jamestown. Individualism runs strong in American culture because it came through the Protestant Reformation.

USA is the only Protestant nation in the world founded by dissenters rather than the official churches. Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, these groups had nothing to do with colonies like Pennsylvania (founded by Quakers), Georgia (founded by AnaBaptists, later Baptists), most of New England (founded by Puritans).

The religious culture of the United States is completely different from countries like Canada or South Africa because the established churches in those areas tended to be things like "United Church of Canada" (a union of Anglicans and Methodists) or the "Dutch Reformed Church" (Calvinists).

Keep in mind that the Puritans subjected the British isles to a religious dictatorship for a decade under Oliver Cromwell, and the Anabaptists took over a city and declared it the New Kingdom of Jerusalem over in Germany (Münster rebellion).

The religious underpinnings of the United States derive from radicals who tried to overthrow the established churches in Europe, not peaceful loyal religious colonial subjects of the Kings.

Also Maryland was founded by Catholics and we all know about the Gunpowder Plot and how the Catholics tried to overthrow the English government.

Puritanism has a strong self-sufficiency streak in terms of your religious health which carried over to the general attitude of Americans.

Thus Christianity in America is strikingly different from Christianity in Europe and Latin America. Christianity, or rather Puritanism, made America great. American Puritanism is one of the reasons why America is still a global power.

[mena]

the us didnt get communism like europe did and the us has only been around for not even 300 years itll get to communism soon. puritanisms rebellion against moral authority of the catholic church is coming back to haunt them because america is now full of rebels against moral authority