The Cost of Invoking Civil Religion

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By Reanna Phillips

    The summer of 2020 was a uniquely agitated time in the context of the 21st century. Amidst the pandemic, racial tensions were especially fraught, particularly in regards to police brutality against black people. The stance of America’s 45th president was a surprise to no one- he was a vocal critic of Colin Kapernick’s public resistance to police brutality in 2016, and in 2020, his stance was unwavering and more pronounced.

    Pictured above is the product of the forceful abuse of power by the police to clear Black Lives Matter protesters from Lafayette Park (Mangan). Though the government insists that the photo was not the cause of that abuse, it doesn’t seem unfair to say that there seems to be a clear correlation between the actions of the police and the fact that then-President Trump emerged from the White House only eleven minutes later in order to take this picture. The picture was taken in front of St John’s church, a famous Episcopal church, one that has an extended history with past presidents.

    The message seemed to me, to be all too clear. The photo was reminiscent of the oath the president made as he was sworn into office, wherein his hand lies on the bible as he says “"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; [...] So help me God." (USAGov). Make no mistake, the domestic enemy that Trump seeks to stand against are the same people he has continuously antagonized in his speeches and his online presence. His message is clear: protesters, and by extension, racial justice stands in opposition to the civil religion America has sought to value above all else.




Works Cited:

    Bellah, Robert N. 1967. “Civil Religion in America.” Daedalus 96(1): 1-21.

    Mangan, Dan. “Trump Bible Photo Op Not Reason Cops Violently Cleared George Floyd

        Protest Outside White House, Feds Claim.” CNBC, CNBC, 9 June 2021, 

        https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/09/protestors-cleared-outside-white-house-for-fence-not-

        trump-photo-op.html. 

    “Inauguration of the President of the United States.” USAGov, 

https://www.usa.gov/inauguration#:~:text=the%20U.S.%20Constitution%3A-,%22I%20

do%20solemnly%20swear%20(or%20affirm)%20that%20I%20will,Constitution%20of%

20the%20United%20States.%22.
















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