Abstract
The place of religion in the United States has been hotly contested ever since the establishment of the Americanpolity. This article revisits the origins of national identity in that country and argues that while religion played acrucial role in the formation of American consciousness, the wisdom of the US Founding Fathers lies in theirdecision to separate the public and private spheres—and to keep Church and State firmly divided. This was not,it should be noted, because they regarded the State to be more important than the Church, but rather because theythought that government was unworthy of interfering with religious faith and private conscience.
Highlights
IntroductionAmerica’s relationship with religion has been both close and complex, and it remains an issue of fierce debate
Religion, History and Politics in the United StatesHistorically, America’s relationship with religion has been both close and complex, and it remains an issue of fierce debate
This article revisits the origins of national identity in that country and argues that while religion played a crucial role in the formation of American consciousness, the wisdom of the US Founding Fathers lies in their decision to separate the public and private spheres—and to keep Church and State firmly divided
Summary
America’s relationship with religion has been both close and complex, and it remains an issue of fierce debate. Tocqueville was writing just forty years after the French and American Revolutions, and at a time of considerable political and religious turmoil in France (Tocqueville, 1967) His analysis remains relevant as it draws attention to one of America’s biggest contradictions: while it is arguably the most religious democracy in the world today, historically the US has done the most to maintain the separation of its spiritual beliefs and its socio-political institutions. It has gone the farthest in its efforts to protect religious freedom (Safran, 2003: 13). Religious freedom is not inherent to the United States
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