Asian American Religiosities J2

American Civil Religion and Race

Manifest Destiny (MD) “the doctrine of MD translates American exceptionalism into action. MD is the doctrine that Euro-Americans had a God-given right to conquer and colonize North America, and eventually to civilize and imperialize Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines” (Christopher Buck, 32).

Protestantism is superior to Catholicism, legitimate conquest of territory of Mexico (Christopher Buck, 36). The doctrine of MD was popularized and normalized during the period of the Great Awakening (1725-1750) (Christopher Buck, 32) Manifest Destiny relies on Biblical motifs: Israelite persecution (Persecution of the Puritans) Chosen-ness Deliverance (in America, the new land, the new Eden) Puritan settlers selected people of God

Race and Manifest Destiny “Curse of Ham” myth = One of Ham’s descendants, Cush is black, Black slaves were curse… fated to be slaves.

Ham was Noah’s youngest son, and Canaan was one of Ham’s sons. Canaan gets punished for Ham’s delict (breaking the law, an offense).

Black Exodus myth/story Black slaves were the new oppressed people (they are the Israelites) America is the new Egypt

Civil Religion in America Robert Bellah Manifest Destiny is American civil religion Worship of America, is American civil religion

Where are Asian Americans and their religions on the American civil religion landscape? Does America need civil religion? Do we need civil religion? What’s wrong with Bellah’s model of civil religion?