America and the Eighth Deadly Sin

In this article, I argue that the cultivation of innocence in the United States, coupled with policies of free market expansionism, the acquisitiveness of capitalism, rising militarism, the hubris of democratic evangelism, free market fundamentalism, and the immense U.S. militaristic and economic power, is an especially fatal sin. In general, I contend that nurturing innocence involves overlooking the inadvertent and advertent destruction and suffering that has resulted from U.S. interventionist policies and actions in the 20th and 21st centuries. Finally, I argue that the cultivation of innocence, which is often supported by Christian theological language, contradicts central Christian beliefs. Dr. LaMothe has published two books, Revitalizing Faith through Pastoral Counseling and Becoming Alive: Psychoanalysis and Vitality as well as numerous articles, Correspondence to Ryan LaMothe, rlamothe@saintmeainrad.edu