Title:
Understanding civil religion in America: the role of the Executive Branch
Author:
Lisa Ann Limongello
Thesis Advisor:
John Kiess
Committee Member:
Lesley DiFransico
Committee Member:
Joesph Rossi
Committee Member:
Claire Mathews-McGinnis
Committee Member:
Steve Fowl
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola Univeristy Maryland
Date Created:
2020
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
This research explores the concept of civil religion, which was first explicitly defined by Robert Neely Bellah. I broadly observe the academic discussion on the existence of an American civil religion and how the concept animates democracy in America. American civil religion captivates leaders, theologians, academics and politicians alike; and it gives them the opportunity to invoke general theological claims that appeal to people across a multitude of religious backgrounds. Civil religion is the common denominator religion in a country that abides by the First Amendment. By creating a public theology with a common language, Americans have been able to unite during national times of trial. After examining the academic review of civil religion in America, I describe the significant role that the executive branch plays in mobilizing civil religion in America. For as long as this nation has been founded, presidents have been the chief spokesperson for American civil religion. I identity Abraham Lincoln and Donald Trump as two revealing presidential brands of civil religion. By gaining an understanding of the special status of presidential speech in America, it becomes evident how simple it is for political leaders to invoke civil religion in a distorted way. It has become imperative for American citizens to reclaim civil religion from the political elite and seize its potential to enhance the common good.
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Subject:
Academic theses
Degree:
Master of Theological Studies
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Theology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online to Loyola Notre Dame Library basic constituency.
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Identifier:
LimongelloLAM-20