📘 Lexicon Entry: Civil Religion

A set of sacred symbols, rituals, and beliefs that provide transcendent meaning and legitimacy to a political community, functioning as a quasi-religious system alongside or in tension with traditional religious traditions

Civil Religion, a concept developed by sociologist Robert Bellah in his seminal 1967 essay "Civil Religion in America," refers to a set of sacred symbols, rituals, and beliefs that provide transcendent meaning and legitimacy to a political community. Unlike traditional religions, civil religion focuses on the sacred dimensions of collective political life, creating shared narratives about national purpose, destiny, and moral obligation. Bellah argued that American civil religion draws upon biblical themes and language while remaining distinct from Christianity, creating a public religious dimension that can unite citizens across denominational lines. However, civil religion becomes problematic when it conflates national identity with divine purpose, leading to forms of Christian Nationalism and Identity Synthesis that subordinate theological integrity to political loyalty. The concept provides crucial background for understanding how MAGA Christianism and Dominative Christianism function as corrupted forms of civil religion that transform political movements into sacred causes requiring absolute allegiance.

Theological Genealogy

civil religion, Robert Bellah, American civil religion, political theology, sacred nationalism, public religion, civic faith

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Civil Religion.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Robert Bellah’s foundational essay “Civil Religion in America” (1967) established theoretical framework

Subsequent scholarship by scholars like John Wilson, Catherine Albanese, and Conrad Cherry developed the concept

Critical perspectives from theologians like Stanley Hauerwas and William Cavanaugh highlight theological problems

Contemporary research by Philip Gorski examines civil religion’s role in American political polarization

International comparative studies show how civil religion functions in different national contexts

Related Primary Concepts: Christianism, Providential Identitarianism, MAGA Christianism

Key Mutations: Binary Apocalypticism, Tribal Epistemology, Practical Atheism

Contemporary Movements: Christian Nationalism, Identity Synthesis

Theological Alternatives: Prophetic Patriotism, Counter-Imperial, Being With

Historical Context: [Covenant Theology](placeholder-url), [Syncretism](placeholder-url)

May 22, 2025

*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*

Jean-Jacques Rousseau first coined the term “civil religion” in *The Social Contract* (1762)

Rousseau argued that every state needs a civic faith to bind citizens together in common purpose

Robert Bellah revived and developed the concept for analyzing American society in 1967

Bellah identified distinctly American civil religious themes in founding documents and presidential speeches

The concept gained prominence during the Vietnam War era as scholars examined religion’s role in legitimating state power

Functions as sacred canopy providing transcendent meaning to political community

Creates shared narratives about national purpose, destiny, and moral obligation

Employs religious language and symbolism without being identical to institutional religion

Establishes sacred times (holidays), sacred spaces (monuments), and sacred texts (founding documents)

Provides rituals of integration (pledges, ceremonies) and differentiation (us vs. them narratives)

Sacred symbols that represent national identity and values

Ritual practices that reinforce collective belonging and shared purpose

Prophetic dimension that calls the nation to live up to its ideals

Priestly dimension that sanctifies existing political arrangements

Narrative structure that interprets national history in terms of divine purpose

Moral demands that transcend immediate political interests

Integration function that creates unity across religious and cultural differences

Biblical language in founding documents (“city upon a hill,” “promised land”)

Presidential rhetoric invoking divine blessing and guidance

Memorial practices treating fallen soldiers as martyrs for sacred cause

Flag rituals and pledge ceremonies as acts of civic devotion

National holidays that commemorate sacred moments in national history

Sacred spaces like Arlington Cemetery, Mount Rushmore, and war memorials

Civil religious documents like the Declaration of Independence and Gettysburg Address

Risk of idolatry by treating nation as ultimate rather than penultimate value

Temptation to conflate divine will with national interest

Potential to subordinate prophetic critique to patriotic loyalty

Tendency to baptize violence and injustice in the name of sacred national purpose

Confusion of Christian identity with national identity

Reduction of complex moral questions to simple patriotic categories

Exclusion or marginalization of those who don’t share civil religious commitments

Christian Nationalism represents fusion of civil religion with evangelical Christianity

MAGA Christianism transforms political movement into quasi-religious devotion

Identity Synthesis shows how civil religion enables fusion of religious and political identities

Tribal Epistemology emerges when civil religious loyalty overrides commitment to truth

Binary Apocalypticism uses civil religious language to divide world into absolute good and evil

Can provide shared values and common purpose in pluralistic society

May offer prophetic critique of national failings and call for moral renewal

Creates space for civic engagement motivated by transcendent values

Can inspire movements for justice and social reform

Provides framework for understanding national obligations to universal human values

Prophetic Patriotism maintains love of country while resisting idolatrous nationalism

Counter-Imperial theology challenges civil religion’s tendency to sacralize state power

Being With offers alternative to instrumentalizing religion for political purposes