Religious Conditions in Modern Western History
For example Calvinism prevailed from Switzerland to England after the religious reformation.
It is also interesting that Calvin was born in 1509, 17 years after the discovery of America by Columbus.
Contrary to general or prevailing understanding, Protestantism requested a stronger tie between individuals and God. Catholicism was rather tolerant to lukewarm faith of people so long as they admitted and accepted the absolute authority of the Vatican.
But, Protestantism introduced a strong distinction between Heaven and this world. The Vatican assumed that everything was under rule of God under the sun, and thus a Pope should govern nations and peoples like a Roman emperor. Anyway peoples in Protestant countries came to concentrate on worldly matters, especially politics and economy, while leaving spiritual matters to the Bible or familiar churches.
It is said that this is the very key to success of the UK in developing democracy and promoting science and expanding business in the global scale.
However, American people took some unique course in their living based on Christianity. They started to work hard to earn money endlessly. As if they had been ordered by God to make more money to prove their faith, they never hated money, business, and innovation.
That is why the great power was established in North America but not in South America with all the Catholic countries, though it had untapped natural resources as much as North American had at the beginning of its modern history.
And North America also has provided favorable society for Judaists whose religion does never forbid them pursuing any worldly wealth even beyond the material glory of King Solomon.
In this way the US has become the richest country in the world.
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Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.