Civil Religion in America

Civil Religion in America. By: Nancy Mansour.

Civil religion, what is it?. Created and first used by Rousseau Then was developed by Robert Bellah Used to understand the function of religion and the role it places in society in the 1960s Followed a Durkheimian perspective.

Sociologist Robert Bellah. Bellah defined civil religion as “ a collection of beliefs, symbols, and rituals with respect to sacred things and institutionalized in a collectivity” (Bellah,169) Shaped particularly by protestant beliefs as well as certain Christian ideals Concept is rooted in three lenses: 1. ” The nation in religion” 2. “Religion in the nation” 3. “Nation as religion”.

History behind the Emanuel A.M.E Church. Located in South Carolina in a city called Charleston Religious building for the African American community Its roots stem from enslaved and free African Americans Due to the violation of state and local laws, the church was burnt down and later rebuilt.

Charleston Shooting. Occurred on June 17 th , 2015 A 22-year-old white male and white supremacist opened fire during the church’s bible study group Killed 9 African Americans, one of which was the senior pastor and state senator, Clementa C. Pinckney.

Thank you for listening. Sources: Bellah , R. N. “Civil Religion in America.” In: M. Wilcox, Religion in Today’s World. New York & London: Routledge.