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HOW TO COMMEMORATE 1776.

The article explores the concept of U.S. civil religion, particularly how public ceremonies like presidential inaugurations function as a form of worship and national devotion. Topics include the role of religion in the public life in the nation, the historical roots of civil religion in the U.S., a...

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Published in:First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion & Public Life no. 353; pp. 27 - 36
Main Author: MCDOUGALL, WALTER A.
Format: Article
Published: Institute on Religion & Public Life May2025
Subjects:
Civil religion
Religion & politics
Worship
Nationalism
Inauguration
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article explores the concept of U.S. civil religion, particularly how public ceremonies like presidential inaugurations function as a form of worship and national devotion. Topics include the role of religion in the public life in the nation, the historical roots of civil religion in the U.S., and the diverse ways in which political leaders have invoked God to unite the nation.