The Church of Baseball and the U.S. Presidency

Abstract

American sociologists and historians muse whether an atheist could be elected president of United States of America. Until John F. Kennedy, there had not even been a Roman Catholic president. Political pundits identified John Kerry's failure to present a identity during 2004 campaign as cause of his defeat. As pluralism grows and Christian denominational identities fade, religious for presidential elections may demand radical reconsideration. question now for American sociologists and historians may well be whether someone who does not embrace could be president. THE CHURCH OF BASEBALL AND THE NATIONAL RELIGION How is it that a U.S. president must be to enter office? After all, is guided by of church and state. First Amendment in Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of and Thomas Jefferson's concept of a wall of separation provides theoretical buffer to preserve that freedom. As such, has no officially recognized state church. Nevertheless, that has not stopped Americans from instituting a national faith. Sociologist Robert N. Bellah's 1967 article called attention of scholarly world to phenomenon of a national religion as uniting force undergirding nation. Bellah brought to forefront dimension through which interprets its existence in light of a reality beyond itself. As Bellah wrote, By civil refer to that dimension, found think in life of every through which it interprets its historical experience in light of transcendent reality. (1) America's civil religion is general enough that it does not serve as a substitute for private belief but specific enough when it comes to America's cherished values. words, trust, on currency; Under God, in Pledge of Allegiance; and I swear to tell truth--the whole truth and nothing but truth--so help me God, in national courts as well as George Washington's--and every subsequent president's--promise, so help me God, when sworn into office are all firmly grounded in deep national meaning. America's civil religion threads throughout its history. All references are to a general god--not to Jesus, Jehovah, Allah, or Buddha--who is engaged in nation's specific activity. America's god gives transcendent credence to America's public beliefs, values, symbols, and ceremonies as pursues God's will by ushering in, as national currency testifies, the new order of ages. Such mottos point to American conviction that nation has a divinely appointed mission. In addition is intimately intertwined with both nation and nation's god. Past presidents have recognized bond. Next to religion, President Herbert Hoover observed, baseball has furnished a greater impact on American life than any other institution. That is why it is appropriate to sing Bless America at games and why I trust in God and I love my country are first two lines in Little League pledge. (2) America's civil religion is powerfully represented in game of baseball. There are few places where entire body politic is welcome. But ballpark brings together people from all walks of life. In American culture, ballparks function as gathering places for we people, where cherished public values--the nation's moral glue--are celebrated. During first game of 1918 World Series, as nation prepared for First World War, The Star-Spangled Banner was performed. (3) lyrics, especially second stanza, reveal American civil religion. Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may heaven-rescued land Praise Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. …