General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why are food stamps such a bad thing? [View all]csziggy
(34,135 posts)One history of the US I read discussed how the Protestant variants included sects that believed in Calvinism precepts. One of those was ""Unconditional election" asserts that God has chosen from eternity those whom he will bring to himself not based on foreseen virtue, merit, or faith in those people; rather, his choice is unconditionally grounded in his mercy alone. God has chosen from eternity to extend mercy to those he has chosen and to withhold mercy from those not chosen." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism#Five_points_of_Calvinism) Some of the groups that settled this country believed as a part of that predeterminism was that their god showed his favor to his pre-selected favorites by giving them material success.
People who their god had not selected to receive his "holy favor" were not "blessed" with successful lives. By this set of beliefs, if you were not part of the lucky gene pool destined for material and eternal bounty, you were inherently sinful and unloved by their god.
This attitude explains a LOT about the attitudes of some of these Christians who do not want to help those who need assistance.