In the words of Robert Bellah, civil religion is “an apprehension of universal and transcendent religious reality revealed through the experience of the American people (Bellah, 172). The nation’s history of fighting for freedom and equality are documented with words from our founding fathers and wise historical figures. They are recognized through sacred texts and symbols including, but not limited to, the Declaration of Independence, the Star Spangled Banner, phrases such as “God Bless America” or the official motto “In God We Trust.” The American people express their patriotism and love for their country through the acknowledgement of such texts, rituals and hymns. However, when do these beliefs and deep sentiments become too extreme and
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Aside from these opportunities, America is embodied with beliefs, rituals and a rich history. At a young age, the Pledge of Allegiance was rooted into my daily routine to profess my love for this country and learn the values upon which it was founded. I whole heartedly considered myself an American that was equal to native-born Americans, as we were both learning the same traditions and principles. A connection was built between both parties based on the religious values of this nation. But, is one entitled to be an American if all beliefs and rituals of American civil religion were not practiced? From a personal experience, my mother did not speak America’s native language, English, so I was the translator as we ran errands. As the salesclerk noticed I was translating every word, she condescendingly stated, “You don’t speak English?” The salesclerks’ reaction was shocking and disappointing. The language barrier was no representation of our beliefs of American religion or of how we should fit in to American society. However, the salesclerk could have viewed the situation as a culture clash and the beginning of the end in preserving the American …show more content…
After such a tragic incident, civil religion was stronger than ever among the American people. Ground Zero was now a shrine that represented the sacrifice and the lives lost of innocent people. People reassured their love for this country and what it meant to be an American. Nonetheless, people wanted to hold someone accountable for this attack and they were identified as Muslims. After the 9/11 attack, acts of violence against Muslims or mistaken Muslims were reported across America. In one occurrence in Phoenix, an Anglo American murdered a Sikh man as he shouted “I stand for America all the way” (Williams 244). After the first shooting, the shooter had moved on and fired at an Afgahn-American home. The retaliation from this so called American believed he was protecting his country by eliminating the threat. From my point of view, his religious beliefs for this country were so strong, he believed this was his purpose in life and was willing to do anything to defend it. The terrorist attack not only affected the American people but Muslims and their community as well. The threat imposed on Muslim-Americans and their religion was a mirror image of the attack on America from 9/11. “The nation is the ultimate concern of the civil religion” as “God is the ultimate concern of many
Aside from these opportunities, America is embodied with beliefs, rituals and a rich history. At a young age, the Pledge of Allegiance was rooted into my daily routine to profess my love for this country and learn the values upon which it was founded. I whole heartedly considered myself an American that was equal to native-born Americans, as we were both learning the same traditions and principles. A connection was built between both parties based on the religious values of this nation. But, is one entitled to be an American if all beliefs and rituals of American civil religion were not practiced? From a personal experience, my mother did not speak America’s native language, English, so I was the translator as we ran errands. As the salesclerk noticed I was translating every word, she condescendingly stated, “You don’t speak English?” The salesclerks’ reaction was shocking and disappointing. The language barrier was no representation of our beliefs of American religion or of how we should fit in to American society. However, the salesclerk could have viewed the situation as a culture clash and the beginning of the end in preserving the American …show more content…
After such a tragic incident, civil religion was stronger than ever among the American people. Ground Zero was now a shrine that represented the sacrifice and the lives lost of innocent people. People reassured their love for this country and what it meant to be an American. Nonetheless, people wanted to hold someone accountable for this attack and they were identified as Muslims. After the 9/11 attack, acts of violence against Muslims or mistaken Muslims were reported across America. In one occurrence in Phoenix, an Anglo American murdered a Sikh man as he shouted “I stand for America all the way” (Williams 244). After the first shooting, the shooter had moved on and fired at an Afgahn-American home. The retaliation from this so called American believed he was protecting his country by eliminating the threat. From my point of view, his religious beliefs for this country were so strong, he believed this was his purpose in life and was willing to do anything to defend it. The terrorist attack not only affected the American people but Muslims and their community as well. The threat imposed on Muslim-Americans and their religion was a mirror image of the attack on America from 9/11. “The nation is the ultimate concern of the civil religion” as “God is the ultimate concern of many