Civil Religion.

28th August 2003

Summer Project – Civil Religion

Definition of a Religious Festival

A religious festival is a period of time e.g. a day a week or a month, when a group of people who share the same beliefs come together to celebrate a festival. The most famous Christian festival is Christmas which celebrates the birth of Christ.

Meredith McGuire

Meredith McGuire examined the factors which influence the type of role that religion has on society. She identifies four main factors that effect the potential of religion to change society.

The first factor is the beliefs of the particular religion. If the religion’s beliefs revolve more around adherence to strong moral codes and criticisms of society rather than beliefs that are confined to sacred and spiritual matters it is more likely to provoke social change in society. An example of this would be comparing Protestantism and Buddhism, as Protestants beliefs are more to do with society (e.g. there work ethic) and Buddhism beliefs are centred around spiritual beliefs it has had a smaller effect on the societies that it is most common in.
The culture of he society in which the religion exists plays an important part in how much change the religion incites. In societies where religious beliefs are central to their culture change is often legitimised through religion. This is not the case in societies where religion does not play a major role, for example in British culture.
The social location of the religion in society is the third factor that predicts how much social change a religion can play in any one society. If an established Church or other religious organisation plays a major role in political and economic life then there is more chance for that religion to provoke change.
The internal organisation of the religion is the fourth and final factor. Religions with a strong centralised source of authority have more chance of affecting change.

Robert Bellah – Civil Religion

Robert Bellah looked into civil religion in America and concluded that America’s main religion was Americanism rather than Christianity. Bellah said that Americans are largely unified by civil religion and that it overrides their own religions, being it Christianity, Judaism or Islam. Civil religion is the only religion that generates wide spread loyalty to the state. Bellah also claims that although a nation’s civil religion does not necessarily involve supernatural belief in America’s case it does. American President’s swear an oath of allegiance before God and the phrase ‘God Bless America’ is ...

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Robert Bellah – Civil Religion

An example of Civil Religion in America would be their Presidents are sworn. The Presidents swear on oath of allegiance before God. A common saying in America is ‘God Bless America’, it is important to note that the phrase does not refer to a particular God (Jewish, Catholic or Muslim) but just America’s God. Civil Religion has the advantage of uniting all the American people in their mutual love for their country.

As in Christianity there are sacred objects in Civil Religion, the most important in America’s being the Flag. During the 1960s people were arrested for using the flag improperly, for example by wearing the flag on the seat of their pants.

Americanism also has its own myths and saints. Abraham Lincoln and his story are renowned in America. Lincoln was born in a log cabin and rose from his meagre beginnings to become President of the United States. Another example is Davy Crockett and how he fought for Texas independence from America. These stories take on a legendary quality.

Skils and Young-The Coronation

Skils and Young looked into the Coronation as an example of Civil Religion. They suggested that the Coronation is like a National Communion, an affirmation of the moral values by which our society. They thought that is is not only the Queen’s promise to abide by the moral standards of society. During the ceremony she says she will observe the principals of mercy, charity and justice and protective affection. She symbolically proclaims her subjects will do the same.

The fact that the Coronation was a collective not an individual ceremony is also significant claim Skils and Young. The communal experience shows the virtue of solidarity or social unity is acknowledged. This solidarity re-emphasises the main values of the family, these are fundamental values vital for the well being of larger society.

Criticisms of Skils and Young

Skils and Young assume there is a moral consensus in society and this is not necessarily the case. Many sociologists argue that because there are so many conflicting views that there can’t be civil religion.

Another view is that moral standards may be part of an enforced agreement and actually the form of psychological manipulation. Further more a lack of shared values may account for some of the attention payed to the Coronation, as it provided some measure of relief from the condition of conflict.

Another criticism would be that there isn’t a symbolic consensus between society and the Queen to abide by those core values. Instead the personality of the Queen and her family function as the object of fantasy and idealisation, much like the Presidents family and many celebrities do in the US.