Civil religion
Civil religion, also referred to as a civic religion, is the implicit religious values of a nation, as expressed through public rituals, symbols (such as the national flag), and ceremonies on sacred days and at sacred places (such as monuments, battlefields, or national cemeteries). It is distinct from churches, although church officials and ceremonies are sometimes incorporated into the practice of civil religion. Countries described as having a civil religion include France and the United States. As a concept, it originated in French political thought and became a major topic for U.S. sociologists since its use by Robert Bellah in 1960.
Civil religion refers to the implicit, often unstated, beliefs, values, and rituals that bind a nation together and provide a sense of shared identity, purpose, and belonging. It is expressed through public symbols like the national flag, national holidays, monuments, and ceremonies, and is distinct from institutionalized churches, though it may incorporate religious language and themes. Prominent examples include the American civil religion, which draws on foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the civil religion of France.
Key characteristics
- Shared values: It establishes a common set of values that unite people under the same laws and rules.
- Public rituals and symbols: It is expressed through public acts like parades, presidential inaugurations, and ceremonies at national monuments or cemeteries.
- Sacred elements: It views national history, founding documents, and symbols as sacred and holy.
- Sense of purpose: It can provide a sense of transcendence, purpose, and worth for the nation’s citizens.
- Distinct from formal religion: It is a separate concept from institutionalized, organized religion, although it often borrows from religious language and themes.
Examples in the United States
- Foundational documents: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are treated as sacred texts that provide the nation’s creed.
- Holy days: Memorial Day and the Fourth of July serve as national holidays where civil religious beliefs are reinforced through public observance.
- Monuments and symbols: National monuments, the flag, and historical figures like George Washington (seen as a saint) and Abraham Lincoln (as a martyr) are central to American civil religion.
- Rituals: Presidential inaugural addresses often contain references to God and a belief in a divine purpose, which are seen as expressions of American civil religion.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/civil-religion/
[2] wikipedia/en/Civil_religion
[3] wikipedia/en/American_civil_religion
[5] https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/985036148/can-americas-civil-religion-still-unite-the-country
[6] https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/2740083.pdf
[7] https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/9/500
[8] https://hirr.hartfordinternational.edu/articles/4195/
[10] https://divinity.uchicago.edu/sightings/articles/civil-religion-gateway-christian-nationalism
[12] https://aaslh.org/public-history-and-american-civil-religion/
[13] https://www.amacad.org/publication/daedalus/civil-religion-america-1967