This is a class project for HUM422 Christianity and America. The presentation details an analogy for the relationship between Christianity and America.

1. 14 WAYS THAT THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CHRISTIANITY AND AMERICA
IS LIKE A FAMILY CIRCUSBy Kim Galloway

2. INTRODUCTION
• Being in a family is an adventure that is filled with complicated emotions and strong
ties that bind us together, just like the sometimes-loving, sometimes -contentious
relationship between Christianity and America

3. 1
• Families provide a safe home that is a nurturing place to grow.
• Children find security and protection within the home.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• In America, Christianity was given a safe place to develop new ideas far removed
from the interference of meddling relatives Monarchy and State-Church.
• The freedom to be Christian is secured and protected.

4. 2
• Parents teach responsibility.
• As children grow and learn they are given more freedom and responsibility.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• America has given freedom to religion, and has asked that it be exercised with
responsibility.
• Even though Christianity is free to share the Gospel, it is not free to spread hate,
bigotry, or pass judgement on others.
• Christianity is still growing and learning to share the truth in love.

5. 3
• Families pass on morals and values
• Even though each family has their own code of conduct, core values are passed
down through family interaction.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• In the past America had implemented a code of conduct based on values that very
closely reflected Christian morals.
• These laws could only be aimed at the outward appearance and superficial conduct
of the individual and the society.

6. 4
• Families have rules, but make compromises, too.
• When children are small, rules are for teaching and protecting. As children grow
there can be more compromise as they show maturity in decision making.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• Even though Christians have some rules that are not negotiable, traditions such as
clothing styles and the roles of men and women have adapted to mature along with
the culture of America.
• America has used some Christian values and the Christian model of the family to
make laws and guide society.

7. 5
• Families go through growing pains as children gain independence.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• There has been plenty of teenage rebellion. Like a teenager trying to find their
own voice, America has struck out on it’s own to try new and exciting things.
• New experiences have been met with varying consequences, but hopefully wisdom
is gained through both failures and successes.

8. 6
• Raising a family takes commitment
• Parents can not run away at the first difficult situation.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• The relationship between Christianity and America has sometimes been a
contentious one.
• America has been committed to allowing Christians to practice their religion,
although some misguided individuals have not used this freedom wisely.
• Christianity has been committed to making American society better through charity
work and community service, and trying to raise responsible citizens.

9. 7
• As family members grow up, the family may also grows in size.
• Young adults bring outsiders into the family and it becomes more diverse.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• The nation that considered itself Christian has opened it’s home to many cultures
and religions.
• Even though there have been times of distrust and strife, there has been added
diversity in the family and broadening of horizons.

10. 8
• Relationships in a family can be contentious.
• Even though members disagree, the underlying ties are still binding.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• America has attempted to remove all mention of religion from public life; teaching
only the theory of evolution in public schools, for example, even though the theory
of intelligent design has equal merit in education.
• Christianity has attempted to impose it’s beliefs on society; the displaying of the Ten
Commandments in public spaces, for example, even though they are a religious
display.

11. 9
• Family relationships can be overprotective and controlling.
• When a child is overprotected and controlled they may become even more defiant.
• Patience on the parent’s part, and a change in the child’s heart is required.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• When Christianity has tried to control moral behavior through legislation it has not
been successful.
• True change in moral behavior comes from each individual changing their heart and
mind, and eventually, their behavior.

12. 10
• Family relationships can be full of favoritism.
• Even though parents try to be fair and love their children equally, favoritism can still
be shown.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• Christianity has always enjoyed the status of the favorite child.
• Christianity’s favored position has been recently challenged.
• It is okay to be the most popular child, but the other siblings would rather not see
reminders of it in public spaces and in public policy.

13. 11
• Families relationships can be love-hate relationships.
• As much as members love each other, there are things that drive them crazy!
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• Christianity loves the freedom that America affords religion, yet hates that America
is a diverse nation, full of many religions.
• America loves that Christian values help individuals to be good citizens, yet hates
that Christianity expects individuals to live up to those values.

14. 12
• Families are places in which individuals can learn about themselves.
• Both parents and children learn about their personal strengths and weaknesses, and
grow as they strive to be the best versions of themselves.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• Both Christianity and America believe that they always choose the moral high
ground, yet both have fallen short of their ideals.
• As Christians and Americans, individuals can choose to learn to be their best
representations of both God and Country.

15. • Family relationships are always evolving.
• As family members go through different stages of life, relationship dynamics change.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• Christianity and America have always lived in a mutually beneficial relationship, but that
relationship has gone through many changes.
• America has enjoyed the benefits of the intertwining of Christianity and patriotism, although
Christianity has been dismayed by some of the dishonorable things that have been done in
the name of America recently.
• Christianity has always enjoyed the religious freedom offered in America, but is now
struggling with the limits being placed upon it by law, limits that have always been imposed
upon other religions by society, if not by law.
13

16. 14
• Families are places where individuals grow and learn in order to reach their full
potential.
• Parents observe their children’s strengths and encourage them to pursue
opportunities to be their best.
• In the relationship between Christianity and America:
• American education is open to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, to help
them to achieve their dreams.
• America could improve at offering truly equal opportunities to everyone.

17. 15
Although the relationship between Christianity and America has been at times
amiable, and at times antagonistic, both have admired the best traits of the other.
Like members in a family they have been angry and said things that they later
regretted; they have even taken each other to court over their disagreements.
Even though Christianity and America disagree on many things, they have forgiven
each others’ shortcomings, knowing that even though their methods may differ, they
are motivated by a desire to improve the lives of the members of the family.

18. WORKS CITED
“Analogy.” Literary Devices. n.d. Web. November 8, 2015
http://www.literarydevices.com/analogy/
Higbee, Tristan. “How to Create Killer Analogies by Relating Anything to Anything Else.”
BloggingBookshelf. n.d. Web. November 7, 2015
“30 Writing Topics: Analogy.” About Education. About.com, 2015. Web. November 8,
2015. http://grammar.about.com/od/topicsuggestions/a/Thirty-Writing-Topics-Analogy.htm