The Rhetoric of American Civil Religion

Symbols, Sinners, and Saints

Author: Jason A. Edwards, Joseph M. Valenzano, Kevin M. Coe, David Domke, Theon Hill, Bethany Keeley-Jonker, John P. Koch, Angela M. Lahr and Catherine L. Langford Series: Lexington Studies in Political Communication

This book examines the rhetoric of the Founding Fathers, activists, presidents, and contemporary actors who play a large role in helping to define American civil religion. It demonstrates how America’s civil religion is forged through contestations of its beliefs, rituals, places, events, and myths by different groups and individuals.

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Summary

Description

The tie that binds all Americans, regardless of their demographic background, is faith in the American system of government. This faith manifests as a form of civil, or secular, religion with its own core documents, creeds, oaths, ceremonies, and even individuals. In The Rhetoric of American Civil Religion: Symbols, Sinners, and Saints, contributors seek to examine some of those core elements of American faith by exploring the proverbial saints, sinners and dominant symbols of the American system.

Critic Reviews

“The symbols and rites of organized religion are the warp and woof, not only of America's political culture, but of language itself. Wherever there is the desire to obtain the elusive political ideal, there too we will find saints, sinners, and rest assuredly, dynamic symbols ready to unite, divide, and if necessary, conquer. "The Great Stereopticon" is no match for either the awe-inspiring god-term or the cultural demands of civic piety. The authors of this timely collection do a fine job reminding us that this remains the case, today more than ever. Well done.”

In this edited volume, Edwards (Bridgewater State Univ.) and Valenzano (Univ. of Dayton) offer a sampling of studies about civil religion to establish a contemporary starting point for understanding the topic. In 12 chapters, a variety of noted scholars discuss the elements, development, and literature regarding the different forms of civil religion. Authors examine a range of viewpoints and artifacts, including biblical texts, abolitionist rhetoric, presidential rhetoric, feminist perspectives, philosophical perspectives, and Islamic discourses. In a particularly intriguing chapter titled "Sinners and Saints," John P. Koch (Univ. of Puget Sound) discusses the relationship among public memory, civil religion, and the presidency of the US. There are myriad volumes covering the topic of civil religion; this book adds to the literature by establishing that this topic has not been readily defined by scholars, thus contributing toward a refining of how civil religion has been constructed and manifested in American culture. The book is a suitable companion reader and supplemental text for courses that examine the rhetoric of religion. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. CHOICE
-- Joseph Rhodes, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Honors College
Anyone interested in exploring the historical, political, and rhetorical manifestations of American civil religion should start with this volume. It covers significant moments in the shaping of a unique and fascinating phenomenon. -- Dennis Cali, The University of Texas at Tyler
Edwards and Valenzano bring together a palette of fresh faces and ideas in this edited volume. Collectively the authors answer well the questions concerning the contemporary epistemological status of American Civil Religion, and then posit further questions that arise from their nuanced understandings. This is an important contribution to the literature on American Civil Religion. -- Jim A. Kuypers, Virginia Tech

About the Author

Jason A. Edwards is associate professor of communication studies at Bridgewater State University.Joseph M. Valenzano III is associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Dayton.