People always say it’s not polite to discuss religion in public, but I disagree. In the United States, religion has always been tied to public life.
The magnitude of religion’s role in public life has ebbed and flowed considerably throughout time, though.
Modern Americans feel that religion is an essential part of their public identity – many choose to define their public identity as a part of their religious identity, according to a recent article by Daniel Lichterman, published in the February 2007 edition of the American Sociological Review.
Judging from religious clashes we often see in Free Speech Alley and the comments section of The Daily Reveille’s Web site, lsureveille.com, many University students also feel strongly about the role religion plays in public life.
The reactions we see at the University reflect a national trend – religion is once again a powerful force in the public life of most Americans.
Yet America’s public face likes to pretend it is not a religious nation.
President Bush references Christianity in his speeches and appeals to conservative Christian base, but the official stance is that we are a nation that tolerates religious freedom while having no national religious identity.
Ignoring this may honor the separation of church and state; it cannot stop religion from affecting the public sphere.
Simply pretending something does not exist is not tolerance.
Everyone knows the role religion played in the formation of America. It’s important, but frankly, it’s old news – no matter how interesting tales of Anglican oppression and Puritan freedom are.
What’s more interesting and relevant is the public role religion has played in the 20th century when waves of religious fervor washed over the nation.
The roaring ’20s brought about heights of excess that lead to the socially-conservative policy of prohibition. Protestant Americans rebelled against the flaws they saw in the culture and brought their religion into the public life.
More recently, the ’60s and the Civil Rights Movement brought another wave of religious-based civic involvement. Southern Baptist churches were integral in the organization and success of the movement, bringing about a revolution in the structure of American culture.
In more recent times, we see the rise of evangelical Protestantism into public life. Joel Osteen, influential Christian pastor and author, publicly endorsed Mike Huckabee, and Huckabee has campaigned on ideals important to the evangelical base.
If Huckabee wins the Republican nomination, that base will be incredibly important in the upcoming election. Assuming he makes it to the presidency, would America finally acknowledge itself as a religious nation?
I doubt it.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees a separation of church and state, but are we really so naive a nation to believe no politicians or leaders carry their beliefs with them into office?
We’re not naive, but Americans are big on ignoring pink elephants that sit quietly in the room.
The way I see it, religion has always been one of – if not the most – interesting and influential portions of American culture.
To ignore it seems ignorant.
The intersection of religion and public life, though occasionally explosive, is a particularly important facet of American culture and has existed since the start of American society.
We are a religious nation, even though the demographics have changed throughout time. More Americans identify as “non denominational” than ever before, but a majority are still religious, according to a 2007 survey released by Pew Forum for Religion and Public LIfe.
Yet for some reason, open public discussion of religion is shunned despite religion playing a role in most Americans’ lives.
By open discussion, I don’t mean yelling at each other with contempt and attempting to convert one side to the other – quite the contrary.
Discussion in this context means an open dialogue with due respect given to all perspectives.
This includes acceptance of atheists. This group is often seen as controlling the media but makes up a small percent of the population and is less likely to be accepted, both publicly and privately, than gay people, according to Edgell et al’s 2006 analysis of public opinion surveys.
For most people, religion – or lack thereof – exists as more than just a checked box on the census form. For many, it’s a way of life that often bleeds over into the public arena and should not be ignored.
I do not support the idea of theocracy and personally identify as agnostic, but I also believe there is a halfway point. Blindly rejecting others’ views is extremely short-sighted.
Americans are polarized by religion but should be able to acknowledge its existence and its importance in the lives of many without losing their individual integrity or national character.
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Contact Skylar Gremillion at [email protected]