American civil religion
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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American civil religion is a sociological theory that a nonsectarian quasi-religious faith exists within the United States with sacred symbols drawn from national history. Scholars have portrayed it as a cohesive force, a common set of values that foster social and cultural integration. The very heavy emphasis on nondenominational religious themes is quite distinctively American and the theory is designed to explain this. The concept goes back to the 19th century, but in current form, the theory was developed by sociologist Robert Bellah in 1967 in his article, "Civil Religion in America". The topic soon became the major focus at religious sociology conferences and numerous articles and books were written on the subject. The debate reached its peak with the American Bicentennial celebration in 1976.
See also
- American exceptionalism
- American's Creed
- "And I don't care what it is," Dwight Eisenhower quote from 1952
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Ceremonial deism
- Civil religion
- Constitutionalism
- Gettysburg Address
- Independence Hall
- Judeo-Christian ethics
- Liberty Bell
- Republicanism in the United States
- Statolatry
