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In God We Don't Trust  /  Chapter 15: Refusing to Pay Caesar  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 8
Bercot notes the colonists were politically, economically, and religiously privileged—more voting participation, opportunity, and liberty than anyone else—yet still moved toward resistance; what does the chapter imply about the human capacity to feel oppressed while actually advantaged, and how should Christians discern that in themselves?
Another way to ask: The colonists had more freedom and opportunity than most people, yet still felt oppressed. What does this say about how people can feel mistreated even when they have advantages, and how can Christians check for that in themselves?

Direct Answer The transcript implies people can feel oppressed even while enjoying unusual privilege, especially when they focus on perceived burdens rather than received benefits. Christians should discern this by honestly comparing their complaints to the real advantages and protections they enjoy.

Support from Transcript:

  • He asks, “Were Americans oppressed?” and then answers by describing an “enviable situation” by 1750.
  • He lists their advantages: “fuller democratic participation, greater economic opportunities, and more religious liberty than any other people on Earth.”
  • Voting rights were broader because land was cheaper: “a much greater proportion” owned land, so more men could vote than in England.
  • Economic mobility was higher: it was “far easier…to start off with little means and rise quickly to the top.”
  • Immigration patterns prove perceived advantage: people from Britain were “streaming into the American colonies,” not the reverse.
Discussion Follow-ups What benefits do you routinely receive that you rarely count (legal protections, infrastructure, stability)? How might gratitude change the way you interpret hardship or government demands?

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