Our National Religion
Why “God and Country” is more than just a phrase
I’m in Washington, D.C. this week, a place bathed in religious symbolism and baptized in the waters of patriotic fervor.
It should come as no surprise that the United States is a religious nation, but it might shock you to find out that Christianity is not its primary faith.
There is another, stronger, religious system than the one based upon Jesus’ words and work.
That religion? The nation itself.
In the 1970’s, Robert Bellah picked up a term from Rousseau and expanded it: Civil Religion.
“Civil Religion” is a public profession of faith in a country.
Civil Religion embeds the political dogma, rites, symbols, and rituals of the nation into the soul in much the same way that a faith-based religious experience works.
Christianity vs. Country.
Even for Christians, it can be quite difficult to discern which of these two is the more powerful religious expeirence.
Consider the parallels between the signs and symbols of the Christian faith and American Civil Religion…
:: SACRED TEXTS ::
CHRISTIAN: the Bible
NATIONAL: the Bill of Rights, Constitution, & Declaration of Independence
:: HYMNS ::
CHRISTIAN: Amazing Grace, A Mighty Fortress, Jesus Loves Me
NATIONAL: the National Anthem, the Battle Hymn of the Republic
:: PRIMARY SYMBOL ::
CHRISTIAN: Cross
NATIONAL: American Flag
:: PRAYER OF COMMITMENT ::
CHRISTIAN: Lord’s Prayer
NATIONAL: Pledge of Allegiance
:: SACRAMENTS ::
CHRISTIAN: Lord’s Supper/Eucharist, Baptism, etc.
NATIONAL: Voting, Military Service, Taxes
:: HIGH PRIEST / PASTOR OF THE RELIGION::
CHRISTIAN: Pope, Denomination/Local Pastor
NATIONAL: U.S. President
:: FATHER FIGURE ::
CHRISTIAN: God the Father
NATIONAL: George Washington ("Father" of our nation)
:: SAVIOR / REDEEMER FIGURE ::
CHRISTIAN: Jesus Christ
NATIONAL: Abraham Lincoln (sits in a temple, on a throne, shot on Good Friday, Easter Sunday services called him a "Redeemer"), Trump?, Biden?
:: SPIRIT FIGURE ::
CHRISTIAN: Holy Spirit (flame is the symbol, from Pentecost)
NATIONAL: John F. Kennedy (grave marked by eternal flame)
:: HOLY DAYS ::
CHRISTIAN: Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, Epiphany
NATIONAL: Memorial Day, Labor Day, the 4th of July, Super Bowl Sunday
:: PILGRIMAGES ::
CHRISTIAN: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Camino de Santiago
NATIONAL: D.C. (Like Mecca, you're expected to go and take your kids there), Hall of Presidents (Disney), U.S. National Parks
:: HOLY SITES ::
CHRISTIAN: Golgotha, Garden Tomb, Catacombs
NATIONAL: Arlington (called "Hallowed (holy) ground")
:: SAINTS ::
CHRISTIAN: Martyrs
NATIONAL: War veterans, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
:: LITURGICAL PRACTICE of HONOR ::
CHRISTIAN: Head bowed / Eyes closed
NATIONAL: Stand at attention / Hand over the heart
:: WEEKLY GATHERING EVENT ::
CHRISTIAN: Sunday Worship Services
NATIONAL: Saturday/Sunday Sports
:: TRIBES ::
CHRISTIAN: Denominations
NATIONAL: Political Affiliations
:: RELIGIOUS CENTERS of WORSHIP and DUTY ::
CHRISTIAN: Church Building
NATIONAL: Sports Stadiums, voting booth
... can I stop?
As long as there is separation between these two religions, everything is okay.
It is when they come into conflict that it gets messy... like when someone takes a knee during a "sacred prayer" in a "house of worship" during a nationally broadcast "worship service” as Colin Kaepernick did in 2016.
In such moments, followers of Jesus are forced to choose a side.
Country or Christianity?
We don’t want to choose between the two. It’s painful, and we hate it, but it IS healthy.
Civil religion is not the Christian faith.
Despite 200+ years of trying to meld our Civil and Christian religions into one, these two religions ARE mutually exclusive.
2000 years ago, Christians were told that they simply cannot faithfully serve more than one god.
"You cannot be the servant of two leaders! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other."
—JESUS, Mt.6:24
To take a deeper dive, read: “The Broken Covenant: American Civil Religion in Time of Trial”
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This is the most accessible description of civil religion I've read, and I'm very familiar with Robert Bellah's seminal work on the topic. I taught an online class on American exceptionalism which I inherited and proceeded over the years to evolve from an indoctrination course to a critical examination of the topic. I would have definitely offered this article as a reading assignment for one of the modules. If you have time, I also recommend John D. Wilsey's book, "American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea."
What a remarkable discussion. This is the first time I have felt like something can truly improve in our "God AND Country".