Asian American Religiosities J2

AMERICAN CIVIL RELIGION AND RACE

KEY CONCEPTS

Manifest Destiny Biblical motifs Race and Manifest Destiny American Civil religion

MANIFEST DESTINY

translates American exceptionalism into action

God-given right to conquer and colonize North America

Civilize the natives

The doctrine of MD was popularized and normalized during the period of the Great Awakening (1725-1750)

BIBLICAL MOTIFS

Israelite persecution Chosen-ness Deliverance Puritan settlers selected people of God

RACE AND MANIFEST DESTINY

“Curse of Ham”

CIVIL RELIGION IN AMERICA

Manifest Destiny is American civil religion Worship of America, is American civil religion

QUESTION TO THINK ABOUT

Where are Asian Americans and their religions on the American civil religion landscape? Does America need Civil Religion? Do we need civil religion?