A Liberal Civil Religion: William Penn's Holy Experiment

Abstract

Civil religion is often viewed with suspicion. It is frequently portrayed as a form of fanatical patriotism that imposes a worldview on citizens, actively discourages dissent, and is used to justify questionable activities undertaken in the name of the state or nation. Opponents of civil religion fear that it poses a danger to political freedom because it is seen, as William McKay has recently argued, as “a form of dangerous idolatry.”1 America in particular has been marked by a tradition of civil religion, sanctifying its political code and institutions while secularizing religious faith to encourage citizens to better serve their nation. Elements of this debate over civil religion and the appropriate role of religion in a religious-tolerant society remain lively today. From the place of prayer at high school graduations to the hanging of the Ten Commandments on the walls of public buildings to debates over the definition of marriage, the degree to which the state should protect or promote religious values remains a heated question.