After reading McLoughlin's article "Pietism and the American Character", I realized how there are different kinds of pietism. There is the mystic or personal pietism and the activist form.
The personal pietism is all about having moral values and beliefs that you hold to me true. This moral compass or code directs how you live your life, if you choose to have your actions match your values. I really admire this form of pietism because it makes you always conscious of your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. It makes you check yourself to make sure you're doing the right thing. People with this personal drive for living well often try to improve themselves and find ways to be better, kinder, more patient, etc.
The other form can be more aggressive in an activist context. This is when you take your beliefs to the street, the newspaper, or to your neighbor. In the extreme, this could mean forcing your beliefs on other people. While real change has come about in the country (Civil Rights movement, Women's Rights Movement, Gay Rights Movement, Environmental Movement, etc) through this kind of activism, we don't get anywhere if we refuse to listen to the other side(s) of the issue.
I've seen this outward display of beliefs recently in politics. While one may have a strong faith in Jesus Christ and believe in God's love, I don't see how it is necessary to use that as a tool to winning elections or getting support. If your actions truly reflect your values, people should know what you stand for and believe without you having to tell them.
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