PS 150 American 20 th Century Political History, John F. Settich, PhD Faith and Religion in 20 th Century America: Sacred & Profane America believes in God, Democracy and Capitalism Each has the features of faith and religion. Our practice of one is somewhat like the practice of the others. 1. Transcendent Promise: 2. Sacred text(s): 3. Organized institution(s): 4. Clergy & Religious: 5. Revered figures (saints): 6. Sacred Sites: 7. Central canons / doctrines: 8. Liturgy: 9. Hierarchy in Authority: 10. Norms for the Faithful:
Sacred Faith: Religion in America 1. Transcendent Promise: Heavenly Salvation made possible by redemption of our eternal souls by a loving and forgiving God. 2 2. Sacred text(s): The Bible 3. Organized institutions: Churches of many denominations 4. Clergy and Religious: Those who devote their lives to leading us in the practice of our central doctrines toward our transcendent goal. In the case of religion itself, these are the pastors, preachers and holy women whose lives are devoted to this work. 5. Revered figures / saints: Past figures whose exemplary lives serve as examples and inspiration to us in leading lives dedicated to the Transcendent Promise. In America, St. Elizabeth Seton & others. 6. Sacred sites: The National Cathedral in Washington, DC and our neighborhood churches. The former is Episcopal, part of our heritage from Mother England. Our local churches celebrate our diversity and demonstrate open tolerance of our freedom of religion. ourselves and in our families. 7. Central canons / doctrines: Trust in God, work everyday for salvation through private and public prayer, do not violate the sacred principles set forth in the Ten Commandments, develop virtue in 8. Liturgy: Public celebration of faith (n Mass or prayer services) announce our personal faith, shared in community with other believers who share our principles. These events are led by the clergy and religious, according to established forms & practices. 9. Hierarchy in Authority: The cardinals and other bishops (in the Roman Catholic Church) who lead the organized institutions in preservation of our journey of faith. They are men (and in some other denominations, women) who are heirs to our First Earthly Leader. They interpret the sacred texts and preserve institutional norms. 10. Norms for the Faithful: Do good, avoid evil, go to Church and Love Yourself and Your Neighbor. These are expected behaviors for all of the faithful.
Sacred Faith: Democracy in America 1. Transcendent Promise: Justice and the Common Good for all, regardless of means or status. 3 2. Sacred text(s): The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution 3. Organized institutions: Central, state and local governments, all of great diversity and with accessible locations near all Americans. These include courts, legislatures and executive offices. 4. Clergy and religious: Elected and appointed officials who devote full-time to this work. They lead our democratic liturgies and they preach the principles in our sacred texts and they invoke the inspiration of others in guiding their choices. 5. Revered figures / saints: Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan. Their visions expressed our quest for the Transcendent Promise in their times and for all times, as well. 6. Sacred sites: The U.S. Capitol, Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, as well as noble state capitols and the National Archives where our secular, sacred texts are enshrined. 7. Central canons / doctrines: All men are created equal; We The People (are sovereign) do establish and ordain this Constitution; the vote of every American is his or her formal method of consent to the acts of government; Justice is fair and impartial; ours is a democratic republic where we select persons to represent our interests. 8. Liturgy: There is no bigger holyday than the 4 th of July, our Day of Independence. We celebrate publicly with established forms, speeches, patriotic music and fireworks. The decorum of courtrooms, formality of legislative proceedings and the honor shown our executives, all demonstrate public homage to the central canons. These events are conducted by our clergy. 9. Hierarchy in Authority: The President, The Supreme Court and the Congress represent our official hierarchy at the national level. Governors and the members of their legislatures operate closer to us. 10. Norms for the Faithful: Vote, respect authority & pay taxes.
Sacred Faith: Capitalism in America 1. Transcendent Promise: Material sufficiency is within the reach of every American who applies his talent in honest work. 4 2. Sacred texts: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the WALL STREET JOURNAL. 3. Organized institutions: Publicly traded corporations, privately held companies and businesses run by entrepreneurs. In addition, media of all types are partners with these institutions, not only carrying messages, but using powers of persuasion to sustain the faith. Naturally, this includes banks and other financial institutions that trade in all forms of capital, the means of production. 4. Clergy and religious: Business owners and chief executive officers who devote full-time to maintain the system that protects the Promise. 5. Revered figures / saints: Andrew Carnegie (he made a fortune and donated many libraries in America); John Rockefeller (created the modern oil businesses and created a charitable foundation); Warren Buffet (a billionaire, wise investor, who has given away billions); Bill Gates (a college dropout whose invention enabled 20 th century computers; and founder of a huge charitable foundation). 6. Sacred sites: Wall Street and its famous exchanges where America had its first capital city (New York), near the bosom of wealth & commerce. George Washington was inaugurated there. Also, those grand temples of wealth, banks, that exist in most American cities, celebrating our diversity. 7. Central canons / doctrines: Profit is good. Taxes are inherently evil and diminish ambition. Those who risk the most deserve the greatest rewards, without regard to their talent or work effort. If it is not illegal, then it probably makes good business sense. Opportunity comes to those who take it. Anyone in America can become wealthy, if they have an idea and ambition. Unequal distribution of wealth and income are natural conditions that need not be artificially remedied. 8. Liturgy: We shop and we consume in public. These are daily rituals that validate our beliefs in the central canons. This free exercise demonstrates who has and who does not and who has worked to achieve what they are spending and consuming today. 9. Hierarchy in Authority: The Federal Reserve System, the Fortune 500 and the local banker to whom you apply for a loan to buy something that you want or need. 10. Norms for the Faithful: Pay attention: business is always inventing new needs that you will soon want to satisfy at a price you may be able to afford. Commerce makes the world go round. America has the world s highest standard of living, go shopping. Money is (almost) always available in America to finance your dreams (for a fee they call interest ). Believe in The American Dream, you can all own a home, two cars and vacation where you choose, if you just work hard.
CONCLUSION: Americans (generally) believe in religion, democracy and capitalism with equal fervor. Sometimes, we are disaffected with any or all of these, but our faith in these principles has made America great and, to some extent, compliant to those who lead those institutions. Faith is a belief in an unseen, transcendent reality. We have faith in God s salvation, democratic justice and capitalism s promise of plenty. We often mix and mingle our devotion to the three without being conscious of apparent conflicts. 5 Americans are faithful: We Pray We Vote We Shop