Paper
American Civil Religion and Politics
My major area of study is Political Science, and even if you haven’t majored in political studies you know that there are few things left untouched by politics. Religion, of course, is no exception. Issues concerning religion are some of the most hotly contested topics in politics today. Consider as an example, the seemingly never-ending conflict in the Middle East over rights to Israel. It can be argued that this conflict has as much to do with politics as it does with religious beliefs. However, I think the way in which politics most closely relates to the study of world religions is in its creation of so- called “civil religion.”
American civil religion is a religion borne entirely from politics. It got its start at a point in American history when phenomena called the Great Awakening swept across the nation. The Great Awakening began as a spiritual revival in the American colonies. As a result of the Great Awakening individual churches were divided among revivalists and skeptics. This caused the idea of civil religion to come into existence. Americans who used to be unified by churches were now looking to government and politics for unification.
An actual definition for civil religion is the worship of a form of government and the political principles associated with it. Civil religion has much in common with the traditional world religions such as a set of highly held beliefs and ideals. In the United States this includes the worship of democracy and republican government rooted in principles such as liberty, equality, equal rights, union, limited government, and due process of law. The latest stream of faith includes multicultural diversity and communitarianism (the “It takes a village to raise a child” mentality).
American civil religion has a set of sacred texts all it’s own as well. These would include: the Declaration of Independence, the constitution, The Federalist Papers, the Bill of Rights, Washington’s Farewell address, Jefferson’s first inaugural speech, the Gettysburg address, FDR’s first inaugural speech, the pledge of allegiance, JFK’s inaugural speech, and Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.
The demigods of American civil religion are the founding fathers. Men such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin would all fit into this category.
American civil religion also comes with it’s own set of “high priests”, if you will. These originally tended to be the Presidents- with some even becoming “saints” with days of national veneration. This group would include men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln. Eventually Justices of the Supreme Court came to be included in this group as expositors of the “sacred texts.”
The martyrs of American civil religion are those who have died in the service of democracy. Nathan Hale, an American spy at the time of the American Revolution, and members of the armed forces who have died in battle would be considered martyrs of American civil religion.
Finally, American civil religion has it’s own set of sacred places. Examples of this would be the Washington Monument, the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Mount Rushmore.
It has been suggested that American civil religion is so popular, even fervent, because of the strong Judeo-Christian background of the country and the personal religious beliefs of its citizens. It has also been attributed to the American sense of exceptionalism, which is the belief that the United States is “chosen” by God. This might be an explanation as to why Americans are so eager to intervene in international affairs.
So, while American civil religion is not an organized religion, I do believe that it is something that is thriving in American society. It serves as a means of unification of people across classes and cultures, and I’m sure will be in existence as long as the United States continues to be.
34f
Другие работы по теме:
Civil Liberties Essay Research Paper Civil LibertiesThe
Civil Liberties Essay, Research Paper Civil Liberties The term civil liberties refers to the “freedoms that individuals enjoy and that governments cannot invade”. These rights include a persons freedom of speech and religion.
America Essay Research Paper To some it
America Essay, Research Paper To some it is an inconceivable notion of perfection.To many, though it was a dream come true. Freedom, equality, and liberty. The right to do and say exactly what you want and to do what you want, to practice and religion and believe in any government.The American way of life is based on the fact that all men are created equal and all men should be given the same rights and privileges.The American people are extremely fortunate and sometimes overlook the gift of religion and government freedom which they posses.everyone has an equal opportunity to go for the American dream in full stride and not be denied along the way.The reason most immigrants came over to America in the mid-1800 s was to be successful and make a better life for themselves and their families.
Why American Troops Are Being Sent Overseas
Essay, Research Paper American troops are being sent overseas to maintain peace in a nation involved in a civil war. Whether the peace troops should or should not be sent overseas, they are being sent overseas.
An Essay On The Return To Manzanar
Book Essay, Research Paper Manzanar Essay Way back when during World War II the United States grew conflicts with many other nations. One of those conflicts was with Japan. The Americans discriminated against the Japanese because of the fact that they bombed Pearl Harbor. When we discriminated against them we called them names and did not include them into our life.
Reconstruction Essay Research Paper The Reconstruction Era
Reconstruction Essay, Research Paper The Reconstruction Era The Civil War was one of the bloodiest wars in American history. Its damage to America was profound. It tore at the very fiber of America itself. The Reconstruction Era however was as damaging to America as the Civil War itself. Its damage has its roots in the reasons America went to civil war.
War On New Orleans Essay Research Paper
Summary of the Battle of New Orleans in the American Civil War The battle of New Orleans in the American Civil War was a result if the federal government?s plan to seize New Orleans, one
Was The Civil War Inevitable Essay Research
Paper Was the war that took the lives of six-hundred thousand people avoidable? Did young men from the North and South die in a conflict that could have been solved through negotiation? The Civil War was an inevitable conflict which was bound to explode due to the failure of politics and the North and South’s dispute over the issue of slavery.
Civil Rights Essay Research Paper The Constitution
Civil Rights Essay, Research Paper The Constitution Protects the Civil Rights of Americans but again the Constitution does protect the civil rights of Americans. Even though some laws are passed that violate the civil rights of people in the United States, the Supreme Court corrects these errors. The cases reviewed here ask if it is okay to compose and mandate prayer in schools, whether the death penalty is Constitutional, and how much privacy is given to the American people.
Prayer In Schools Essay Research Paper We
Prayer In Schools Essay, Research Paper We are guaranteed by the first amendment the right for freedom of religion. By this right, we as American citizens should be allowed to have prayer in the public schools and teachers should be allowed to teach religion courses trough the high school years. We should also be able to talk about religion in and out of our classes.
Religion Is Important Essay Research Paper I
Religion Is Important Essay, Research Paper I think culture, religion, ethnicity is very important in one’s life. They should know where there from and who they are. Everyone comes from somewhere around the world, even if they were born in another country, they still
Women In Politics Essay Research Paper During
Women In Politics Essay, Research Paper During the revolutionary era, American leaders decided to use economic boycotts in their struggle against Britain. The goal of these boycotts was to stop the purchase of imported goods
Atrocity And The American People Essay Research
Paper An atrocity is defined as “An act of cruelty and violence inflicted by an enemy-armed force upon civilians or prisoners.” Some believe this war in Kosovo is about politics. However, upon examination of the specifics of this conflict it is apparent that this is about religion. People must then decide whom, if anyone is committing these atrocities.
Religion In American Society Essay Research Paper
The Role of Religion in American Society For many years we have heard about the separation of church and state. Despite being written as part of the First Amendment in the Constitution, can the two really be separated? What law actually dictates the separation of church and state? The truth is that the government has never passed a law implementing a separation of church and state.
Gilded Age By Mark Twain Essay Research
Paper The last quarter of the nineteenth century was dubbed the Gilded Age by Mark Twain for its shallowness and corruption in both American society and politics. The most consuming governmental issues at the national level were the tariff, currency, civil-service reform, and government regulation of railroads, but the prevailing sentiment in Washington was to run a limited, laissez-faire government that would foster economic growth.
How Important Is A Political Canadates Religion
In American Poitics? Essay, Research Paper How Important is a Political Candidates Religion in American Politics? Religion and Politics have played a loud and at some times discordant counterpoint in the United States for many years. There has always been a correlation between conservative politics and fundamentalist religion in American History.
The Philosophes Essay Research Paper The PhilosophesThe
The Philosophes Essay, Research Paper The Philosophes The Age of Enlightenment was the result of the actions that had taken place by intellectuals who gave new thought to the ideas of politics, economics, religion, and the
Indian 2 Essay Research Paper When comparing
Indian 2 Essay, Research Paper When comparing the cultural differences between European Americans and Native Americans, nothing can be said about Native Americans as a whole. Every tribe is different from every other in some aspects and similar in other aspects. In general we can express cultural differences; how differently we see things and vision things, look at things, language, religion, and cultural holidays.
Liberalism Essay Research Paper Liberalism stressed individual
Liberalism Essay, Research Paper Liberalism stressed individual freedom, equality under law, and freedom of thought and religion. Both the Declaration of the Rights of man and the American Bill of Rights stressed these ideals. Liberals were mainly members of the rising middle class. They were bankers, merchants, lawyers, journalists, university students, and intellectuals.
Walt Whitman Essay Research Paper walt whitmanA
Walt Whitman Essay, Research Paper walt whitman A World of Politics Thesis: Walt Whitman was a man who used his thoughts on political issues concerning the Civil War within his writings because of many experiences
Civil Disobeiance Essay Research Paper Civil
Civil Disobeiance Essay, Research Paper Civil Disobedience Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey civil laws. This refusal is in the form of nonviolence. People who use civil disobedience are usually protesting a
The American Civil Liberties Union ACLU Essay
, Research Paper The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Where do you go if someone is threatening your personal rights? Do you go to the police, or maybe to the government? What if the police and government
Thoreau Essay Research Paper Thoreau
Thoreau Essay, Research Paper Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience emphasizes the need to prioritize one’s conscience over the dictates of laws. It criticizes American social institutions and policies, mostly slavery and the Mexican American war.
Political Socialization Essay Research Paper Political SocializationA
Political Socialization Essay, Research Paper Political Socialization A person is fed information throughout their life from various outside influences, this is how one forms values, views and opinions, and from this, one shapes their political views based on what they believe or have been taught to believe.
Transforming America With The Civil Rights Movement
Essay, Research Paper Transforming America with the Civil Rights Movement The civil rights movement transformed American society in to a color conscience society and started the anti-free speech political correct movement that we are seeing today. The civil rights movement gave African Americans the right to be treated as regular citizens but it was the urban riots of the mid-1960s and the voiced black rage that changed the tone of the civil rights movement.
Untitled Essay Research Paper In the Crucible
Untitled Essay, Research Paper In the Crucible there were many things that we could have learned. We could have learned about religion, education, family lives, and justice or politics. Because the people in the Crucible did not do things as we do now, we can also what was different about our lifestyles. Our religion today is much different from the religion back in 1692.
Civil War Causes Essay Research Paper Causes
Civil War Causes Essay, Research Paper Causes of the Civil War Although some historians feel that the Civil War was a result of political blunders and that the issue of slavery
Religion Or Cult Essay Research Paper When
Religion Or Cult? Essay, Research Paper When Does a Religion Become a Cult? When Does a Cult Become a Religion? I think that religion and cults are closely related. However, there can be many noticeable differences. In order for a religion to become a cult, it needs to develop into a negative form of expression.
Religion And Science Essay Research Paper Religion
Religion And Science Essay, Research Paper Religion and Science Is Science and Religion really such an adversary? I believe that it is a very touchy subject, in which it can go either way. Some people may claim that science and religion are two very similar subjects, while other may view it as two very different subjects of life.
Civil War Battles Essay Research Paper Civil
Civil War Battles Essay, Research Paper Civil War Battles- Bull Run, Shiloh and Vicksburg The American Civil War- 1861 to 1895. A terrible four years. Four years of victory, defeat and death. Though, without it where would the United States of America be? Pulled apart or reconstructed and as one?