The nation state has taken the place of God. Responsibilities for education, healing and public welfare which had formerly rested with the Church devolved more and more upon the nation state. . National governments are widely assumed to be responsible for and capable of providing those things which former generations thought only God could provide - freedom from fear, hunger, disease and want - in a word: "happiness". Lesslie Newbigin
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The concept of the nation state as God has been a common theme throughout history. It is not uncommon to hear political leaders and people at large saying that the country they live in is their God and that they should be able to do anything they wish to its people because it is only them and their country that truly matters. It provides a sense of security and comfort that we can do wrong to no one and still be safe. We know, however, that the nation state cannot provide those things which God does best. In fact, as George Bernard Shaw said, "The Church has done better things for man than the State has ever done."

Source: The Other Side Of 1984

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  1. The nation state has taken the place of God. Responsibilities for education, healing and public welfare which had formerly rested with the Church devolved more and more upon the nation state. . National governments are widely assumed to be responsible for and capable of providing...
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