REL 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: American Civil Religion, Robert Neelly Bellah, Civil Religion

• School: University of Alabama
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: REL 105
• Professor: sumaikeuchi

Document Summary

By: robert bellah: consists of the full set of political doctrines, historical narratives, exemplary figures, celebratory occasions, and memorial rituals through which the state impresses itself on the minds of its members. Write your own groups definition of civil religion: set of shared beliefs, doctrines, rituals that is set by the state. Beliefs: freedom, patriotism, american dream individualism. Fathers are creators: the soldiers and veterans, statue of liberty. Occasional rituals: 4th of july, pledge of allegiance, christmas, flag, anthem, transfer of power. Notes from reading: the placing of the references in a public speech generally indicates that religion has only a ceremonial significance , the principle of separation of church and state guarantees the freedom of religious belief and association. Is nation like a religion: depends on how you define religion, bellah says there are many parts of american civil religion that people debate when others don"t follow it.