In class we discussed the topic of Civil Religion and its application to the United States. In this group discussion we compared and spoke of similarities between different religions and the basic core concepts of all of the different beliefs. My table was to discuss the basic principles or characteristics of religion. The basic similarities were a belief in a higher being, a set of morals or codes to live by, a leader, a written document of some sort, a set of rituals, a set of traditions, a time, and a place. After we discussed those aspects we then went on to name more specific information found under each of those categories and the specific religion each belonged to. It was quite surprising to actually realize that all religions do share these basic aspects, from muslim to satanist to the church of Elvis.
The term “civil religion” was actually coined by the man Robert Bellah in 1967. He wrote the controversial article “Civil Religion in America” in which he discussed the belief that there are a number of a fundamentals each religion possesses and that American society is based around those fundamentals. When I thought about it and we discussed it, I saw his point of view. We, after all, do have a place (Washington, D.C.), written document (Constitution), time (Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day), rituals (elections), leader (President), and so forth.
Along with this revalation, I then begin to think that in our set of written documents, it is instructed that there be a separation between church (religion) and state, but how can there truly be? I, like Bellah points out, see and hear the mention of God in almost everything political and not. Whether it be the Pledge of Allegiance, State of the Union, and memorials to American Idol, cartoons, casual conversation, and the list goes on. However of a religious person I may be, I am not naive enough to think that world thinks the same way I do. Giving all the more reason that I notice all the times when God is used “out of context” or times when speeches and televisions shows should be made to incorporate the entire American public, no matter what religion. In addition, I also recognize that it is perfectly all right for others to live and practice their beliefs. So basically my question to those highly concerned with not offending those of different religion is in regards to the nature of either being politically correct or politically incorrect when it involves the mention of God.
In my book, and no I’m not talking a bible, I feel that each religion has their own term for what their God is, whether it be anywhere from Allah and Jesus to Yahweh and Ganash. We all recognize that there is one true higher being, just different names. And although most religions claim themselves to be the “one true” religion, when we use Robert Bellah’s argument and examine religions we can see that at the core they are alot alike. I honestly believe that as America has progressed the name “God” has become more politically correct in that it has transformed in to a universal word in which we all understand.
