Myth of American religious exceptionalism
Robert Jones writes in The Washington Post's On Faith about the myth of American religious exceptionalism:
American exceptionalism: divine hall pass?
By Robert P. Jones in The Washington Post's On Faith
The idea of American exceptionalism, that God has singled out the country for a special role in human history, goes back to the earliest English settlements on what is now American soil. While still onboard their ship the Arbella in 1630, John Winthrop delivered his well-known sermon to the Massachusetts Bay colonists, describing colonial destiny with biblical metaphor:Now the only way to avoid this shipwreck, and to provide for our posterity, is to follow the counsel of Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God.... For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.
In his famous Second Inaugural Address following the Civil War in which both sides claimed divine favor, Abraham Lincoln struggled to reconcile American exceptionalism with the legacy of slavery and the bloody facts on the ground. And modern presidents as diverse as John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan have hearkened back to Winthrop's biblical imagery.But the idea of a special, even divine, role for America can be fairly slippery. At its best, it has inspired Americans to hold themselves to a high moral standard, serving as exemplar to other nations. At its worst, it becomes a license for rationalizing away morality itself. The former demands humility and responsibility and ties us to the moral human community, making our exceptionalism dependent upon how we treat not only our fellow citizens but our enemies. The latter breaks the bonds of moral solidarity, and turns exceptionalism into a political tool--a kind of divine hall pass that can be conveniently wielded for strategic advantage.
The notion of American exceptionalism, derived from the political and social analysis of de Tocqueville, is extremely problematic. It is worth noting that the doctrine of American exceptionalism is, in fact, not itself exceptional. The British Empire later known as the Commonwealth , for example, voiced a similar rhetoric. The theory of exceptionalism is easily converted into national chauvinism. Baptizing the notion compounds the problems. The speech by Dr. King is perhaps a good corrective i.e. having a dream about one day living out the meaning of the creed. There are national values, and there is the ongoing struggle to actualize said values. When I compare the political grid lock in the U.S. congress with the political stalemate in Canada's parliament, I see more similarities than differences. Both countries have a way to go in translating their respective national dreams into a reality for the most disadvantaged citizens. Churches serve their Lord best by keeping governments honest. There is, by the way, a wide spectrum of opinion on this subject in the several opinion pieces originally printed by The Washington Post.
Posted by Rod Gillis![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 8, 2010 11:34 AM
"American Exceptionalism". Art, image. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cainandtoddbenson/3530242190/
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December 9, 2010 3:19 AM
Interesting art image. Is that Glen Beck behind President Lincoln?
One of the most moving things about seeing the Lincoln monument up close and personal, is the way in which it memorializes, dramatizes, communicates the singular stature of Lincoln and his contribution to the evolution of a "more perfect Union".
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December 9, 2010 9:31 AM