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    American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea
    Unavailable
    American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea
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    American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea
    Ebook406 pages5 hours

    American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea

    By John D. Wilsey and John Fea

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    About this ebook

    Ever since John Winthrop told his fellow colonists in 1630 that they were about to establish a City upon a Hill, the idea of having a special place in history has captured the American imagination. Through centuries of crises and opportunities, many have taken up this theme to inspire the nation. But others have criticized the notion because it implies a sense of superiority which can fuel racism, warmongering and even idolatry. In this remarkable book, John Wilsey traces the historical development of exceptionalism, including its theological meaning and implications for civil religion. From seventeenth-century Puritans to twentieth-century industrialists, from politicians to educators, exceptionalism does not appear as a monolithic concept to be either totally rejected or devotedly embraced. While it can lead to abuses, it can also point to constructive civil engagement and human flourishing. This book considers historically and theologically what makes the difference. Neither the term nor the idea of American exceptionalism is going away. John Wilsey?s careful history and analysis will therefore prove an important touchstone for discussions of American identity in the decades to come.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIVP Academic
    Release dateOct 22, 2015
    ISBN9780830899296
    Unavailable
    American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea
    Author

    John D. Wilsey

    John D. Wilsey is associate professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also the author of American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea and One Nation under God? An Evangelical Critique of Christian America.

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    • 3/5
      A historical investigation into the convergence of American ideology and Christianity from the beginnings of the United States until the present.The author explores American history in terms of its perceived Christian heritage. His primary thesis involves a contrast between "open exceptionalism" and "closed exceptionalism": in all cases, America is seen as blessed by God, maintaining great ideals, and a significant and progressive development in the history of nations. The author seeks to chastise what is deemed "closed exceptionalism," the fervently patriotic "Christian Americanism," uncritically believing that America is always a force for good and whatever America does must be right and good and God loves America and Americans more than everyone else and any critique of America is not only unpatriotic but theologically questionable. The author sees examples of "closed exceptionalism" among many of the more fervent advocates of manifest destiny all the way through many in the modern "religious right," going so far as to critique a series of homeschool-based history textbooks and demonstrating how they display such closed exceptionalist views. The author nevertheless continues to maintain a high view of America and commends such in terms of what he calls "open exceptionalism," a patriotic "American Christianity," in which Christians are thankful for the blessings of America but recognize its failures and limitations. He lifts up W.E.B. DuBois (and, strangely, Ronald Reagan) as examples of this "open exceptionalism": willing to critique America for its failings but appreciating where it has been in the right. The author commends this "open exceptionalism" as the way forward for how Christians should participate in American "civil religion," and relies fairly heavily on a particular reading of Justin Martyr and his Apology in order to commend it religiously.In terms of history and American culture the author's analysis has much worthy of commendation, although I must wonder how much his affection for Reagan has perhaps clouded his judgment about how Reagan saw America, or, if nothing else, how Reagan allowed others to think he saw America. It is helpful to provide the nuance of "open" vs. "closed" exceptionalism to consider the different trajectories of how Christianity has been used to advance American prerogative vs. when many who professed Jesus sharply critiqued American prerogatives in Jesus' name. In terms of Christianity, however, whereas it is good to see the author recognize there is no redemption for the nation-state, he still seems quite eager to find a way to commend patriotism via this "open exceptionalist" view. Open exceptionalism still is exceptionalist, and still comes with a bevy of assumptions and ideas that have come out of American views of itself rather than anything Jesus said. Yes, it is true that Justin Martyr spoke of Christians as the best citizens, but he did not mean that because of any love of Rome, but because Christians are commanded to live quietly, pay taxes, and keep focused on their real citizenship. The author's argument is very wide open to critique from what Rousseau saw clearly, that in the eyes of the nation-state Christians are the worst citizens, since their purposes have nothing to do with the advancement of the nation-state, and would just as easily serve under any other government. This is true even in America; those who dared maintain pacifistic views during the Civil War and World War I were at best seen as suspect, and at worst as a fifth column for the enemy, since they would not involve themselves in the affairs of the nation-state. The author saw well that the reason that many have fallen for the "closed exceptionalist" trap is the ever closer association of Christianity with American ideals; that trap does not only exist for "closed exceptionalism," but anyone who would want to find a way of being a good American while serving the Lord Jesus.Therefore, whereas the work provides a helpful lens for seeing the relationship of Christian religion to America throughout the latter's history, its value as a framework for Christians attempting to make sense of their standing in American society is more suspect. **--book galley received as part of early review program
    • 5/5
      The best United State history book I have read so far!