Since 1956 “In God we trust” replaced “E pluribus unum” as the official motto of the United-States of America. At that time, former president Dwight Eisenhower had to deal with the Cold War and its implications. By renaming the official motto of its country Eisenhower wanted to mark even more clearly its opposition to the “godless” USSR.
60 years later, this motto is still the official motto of the United-States, printed on every American dollar bills. Despite this symbol, religion and politics are separated in the US since the Bill of Rights ratified in 1791. It is indeed stated in the First Amendment of the American Constitution that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …show more content…
As implied, this concept takes its roots in Rousseau’s book “Du Contrat Social”. In his essay, Bellah explains that there is an American civil religion. The profound conviction of the American citizens of their “exceptionalism” has generated a religious faith in the United-States as a state. Based on the historical context of the founding of the American democracy and myths passed on between generations, this idea of civil religion appears as a key to the understanding of the relationship between religion and politics in the United-States. For him, “the public religious dimension is expressed in a set of beliefs, symbols and rituals that I am calling American civil religion” . Some examples of these beliefs and symbols have already been given in this essay such the “In God we trust” motto, the oath on the Bible or the traditional ending to every politician’s speech (“God bless America”). In my opinion, a parallel can be made between Bellah’s point of view and Lacorne’s idea that religious pluralism has ensured its neutrality to the central state. In fact, as visible in the quote, Bellah implies that the public religious dimension is monopolized by this idea of civil religion. I believe that because of the central state’s independence on religious matters, the American people have unconsciously felt the need to express their belief in the United-States. Two centuries before Bellah introduced his theory, Rousseau said: “tolerance should be given to all religions that tolerate others, so long as their dogmas contain nothing contrary to the duties of citizenship”. This quote gives us insight on Bellah’s own theory. As a matter of fact, by saying that the duties of citizenship have to be a priority upon individual religious beliefs, Rousseau corroborates the idea that being an American citizen is the supreme religion
60 years later, this motto is still the official motto of the United-States, printed on every American dollar bills. Despite this symbol, religion and politics are separated in the US since the Bill of Rights ratified in 1791. It is indeed stated in the First Amendment of the American Constitution that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …show more content…
As implied, this concept takes its roots in Rousseau’s book “Du Contrat Social”. In his essay, Bellah explains that there is an American civil religion. The profound conviction of the American citizens of their “exceptionalism” has generated a religious faith in the United-States as a state. Based on the historical context of the founding of the American democracy and myths passed on between generations, this idea of civil religion appears as a key to the understanding of the relationship between religion and politics in the United-States. For him, “the public religious dimension is expressed in a set of beliefs, symbols and rituals that I am calling American civil religion” . Some examples of these beliefs and symbols have already been given in this essay such the “In God we trust” motto, the oath on the Bible or the traditional ending to every politician’s speech (“God bless America”). In my opinion, a parallel can be made between Bellah’s point of view and Lacorne’s idea that religious pluralism has ensured its neutrality to the central state. In fact, as visible in the quote, Bellah implies that the public religious dimension is monopolized by this idea of civil religion. I believe that because of the central state’s independence on religious matters, the American people have unconsciously felt the need to express their belief in the United-States. Two centuries before Bellah introduced his theory, Rousseau said: “tolerance should be given to all religions that tolerate others, so long as their dogmas contain nothing contrary to the duties of citizenship”. This quote gives us insight on Bellah’s own theory. As a matter of fact, by saying that the duties of citizenship have to be a priority upon individual religious beliefs, Rousseau corroborates the idea that being an American citizen is the supreme religion