Religion Without a Name: Indoctrination at an Early Age

By Anonymous

By Cynthia Oyarce

    Robert Bellah's analysis of civil religion points to the existence of a "public" religion in America that is shaped by religious ideas and rituals. The base of this idea can be found within Emilé Durkheim's basic understanding of religion, which claims that there are three requirements for a religion: people must agree on which beliefs should be sacred (and which aren't), which rituals are sacred (and which practices are not), and which symbols (literature, food, accessories, etc.) are sacred. For Bellah, America's civil religion exists regardless of whether or not all Americans agree with its promoted ideals. Instead, so long as citizens recognize the significance of particular symbols and rituals, civil religion will persist. This contrasts with traditional, private religion, in which sacred beliefs, rituals, symbols, etc. are shared among group members, who are connected by their adherence to these ideas. 




    From an early age, Americans are conditioned to associate their country with God. Bellah's work uses mentions of God within inaugural addresses and other political speeches as a clear example of this (although which God is never specified). However, the inclusion of God as a symbol of America's civil religion is apparent in many other areas. Gathered around a small American flag held by one of their classmates, these elementary schoolers show varying levels of focus. Although some of the kids are looking at the photographer, the majority of the class is giving all of their attention to the flag––something they have been taught is important and respectful. Without understanding why, schoolchildren display solidarity when they are united under the daily, sacred ritual of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Based on the shapes on the rug beneath their feet, it can be assumed that these kids are still learning basic shapes, along with numbers, spelling, and colors. Before they can even understand the abstract idea of a God, kids are pledging themselves to "one nation, under God", solidifying their existence as citizens united under a shared belief. 



Works Referenced

Bellah, Robert N. 1967. “Civil Religion in America.” Daedalus, vol. 96 (no. 1): pp. 1–21. 

 Vardaxis, Dena. 2014. "A Child Recites The Pledge Of Allegiance. A Mother Struggles To Explain It." Wbur.org. (https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2014/10/16/pledge-of-allegiance-immigrants-    america-dena-vardaxis)

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