The American Civil Religion

What is the prevailing belief system in America? While some will argue that Christianity is the domestic devotion of the masses, I contend that there exist a well institutionalized civil religion in America that can be better branded as American Christianity or “The American Way of Life” rather than simply Christianity. This civil religion exists alongside of Christianity and it shares much of the same vocabulary. Although the terminology may be the same, it is not Christianity; it is a false belief system. This belief system may be more accurately described as a domesticated/political version of its authentic ancestor, Christianity; but it is not the Christianity of the Bible.

From the founding of this nation, and before, a generic form of God has been addressed and referred to without specifically pinpointing who this god is or binding him to the “Christian” God, or to Jesus Christ. It has always been politically expedient for our leaders to confine all mention of god to this generic representation of divinity; and this is even more pronounced today as this generic god rises more and more into the foreground of the American way of life.

The god of civil religion is most devoted to our adhering to its primary tenet, which is not faith or trust in the unseen, all-knowing, ever-present, all-powerful God and His promise to supply all of His children’s needs, but to its special form of allegiance which is patriotism. This allegiance to patriotism puts the capability of man’s destiny and provision squarely into his own hands and the hands of his elected leaders.

Our use of the word “god” is really irrelevant when used in our worship or in political speeches, and has only a ceremonial value geared to evoke a sentimental nod of approval. This religious “god” word, along with many other words, are principally served to pacify our unenlightened hearts before getting down to any really serious thoughts, or work, which Christianity has nothing at all to do with. A mocking soul may even observe that Americans have to mention god and patriotism, or risk being disliked, voted out of office, or overlooked for advancement. A semblance of piety and patriotism is the highest requirement of the American civil religion. Let all your religious speech be seasoned with patriotic poetry and you are sure to be recognized and acknowledged that god is on your side. To use the word “god” and “patriotism” in the same sentence is recognized as a certain sign of enduring faith in American civil religion.

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