Top 10 Things Americans Worship (And Shouldn’t)

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4) The Group

Tribalism is a sociological phenomenon with roots entrenched deep in society’s long historied soil. Humans are widely varied, and actively seek out those of like visage and proclivity for the perceived “safety” of homogeneity (sameness). Superficially this isn’t a serious problem (in many ways, this is how we are designed), but it can (and has) become one. When groups begin internalizing the superiority of themselves over others, and then act on it by seeking to subjugate or destroy those other “inferior” groups, tribalism transforms into something akin to racism — a virulent, aggressive phenomenon; fertile for hatred, violence, and destruction. It is a particularly nasty form of collectivism. Esteemed statesman and medical doctor Ron Paul explains:


Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans only as members of groups and never as individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike; as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called ‘diversity’ actually perpetuate racism. Their intense focus on race is inherently racist, because it views individuals only as members of racial groups.


In America, the group rhetoric is getting out of control. Look at this headline (from just last year) published by popular left-wing website Salon.com.

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Rhetoric like this is not only dishonest, but unfair (and highly inflammatory). Human beings are individuals. Individuals are not responsible for things that other individuals have done. The one who hallows the status of the group however, feels free to attribute blame for any member they put in that group to any other member they feel belongs there — effectively allowing them to blame anyone they want, for anything that has happened in the past, to benefit whoever they want. These types of people are lobbying for (and most probably would use) the power of the government to pick winners and losers at their discretion — much like the great tyrants of the 20th century did (in Russia, China, Cambodia, Japan, etc).

There is only one group in Christ — his people (all of them).


There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Paul the Apostle (Gal. 3:28)


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About Patrick Stephens 163 Articles
Patrick is the founder and lead editor of the publication. Currently a pastor of many years by trade, Patrick served in the US Army and did his graduate work at both Miami University in Oxford, OH (Social Sciences) and the University of Dayton (Theology) — earning an advanced degree. He enjoys bringing a larger historical and philosophical perspective to his projects. Also, he likes comic books.