Religiosity in American Exceptionalism
Elizabeth J. Davis
GOVT 329: American Exceptionalism
February 26th, 2019
Abstract
Religiosity was one of the main ingredients set forth by the Founders that led to the success of
the American experiment. Although not all of the Founders were devout Christians or even
religious at all, they all studied and had an understanding of the Bible’s teachings. It was these
biblical principles the Founders used as a framework to create the supreme law of the land, the
United States Constitution. Without the religiosity trait, the United States would not be the
exceptional nation it was created to be. Through-out history, the United States has evolved into
an altered nation that does not bear the same resemblance as her infancy. The religiosity aspect
that was once so strong, has now drifted out to sea. It is almost completely non-existent in areas
of government, education, parts of society, and the nation as a whole. However, just because
religiosity is not as prominent as it once was, does not mean all hope is lost in re-establishing the
importance of religiosity in America.
Introduction
A successful self-governed government must be built on moral truths, and it is something
the Founders strongly believed. Without these biblical moral truths, the Founders would not have
had the confidence in establishing an unprecedented self-governed government. The Founders
believed religion was indispensable for the morality and self-governed of the new republic.1
America’s founding was truly exceptional for many reasons, but just about every exceptional
trait had a biblical foundation undertone. Religiosity was the common denominator in America’s
founding and the compelling reason for her exceptionalism.
The Founders believed in the biblical truth and that government comes from God.
America is the only society in history to say power comes from God to the individual personally,
make the individual personally sovereign.2 God says, “let everyone be subject to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that
exist have been established by God.”3 It was apparent now, and to this day, religiosity heavily
influenced the Founders in establishing such an exceptional nation. Even through the nation’s
darkest times, there was light. Faith in God and practiced biblical principles created this light.
Religiosity Defined
1. Stephen Krason, “Our Founding Fathers, Religion, and Religious Liberty,” The Catholic Social Science Review
18 (October 2013): 241, https://doi.org/10.5840/cssr20131826.
2. Gingrich, What is American Exceptionalism?
3. Rom. 13:1 (New International Version)
1
Defining religiosity can be somewhat ambiguous because of the various perspectives of
religion itself and what it means to each person. Religiosity is also something that has evolved
over time which can cause the variance in definition as well. One straightforward definition is
“the concretized approach to unite with God.”4 Although this is an adequate definition, it still
does not provide a comprehensive understanding of religiosity in the context of it being an
exceptional trait.
It will be easier to understand the aforementioned definitions if it is broken apart a bit.
First, to even have that type of concretized approach with God, one must have a strong belief in
God. Furthermore, this type of belief in God will ripple out into many areas on one’s life, much
like it did with the Founders. Many of America’s first politicians and leaders embedded biblical
references within their political speeches and political sermons.5 Religiosity is not limited to a
practice performed within the church’s walls. Nevertheless, religiosity is applied to most if not
all areas of someone’s life.
Understanding religiosity is knowing that “religiosity connotes the institutional, ritualist
structure of public worship and belief which directs one outwards to a higher power, God, who
can judge, reward, or punish one’s corporeal living.” This definition also proposes one must have
a strong belief in God to know His authority is over all. The Founders believed no man or
government held authority over God. This belief influenced the creation of one of the most
exceptional systems of government to ever exist.
Early American Culture
4. Chinedu K. Nweke, “Between Religiosity and Spirituality: Christianity and the Reemergence of the
Immanentist Spiritualties,” Theology Today 75, no. 2 (August 2018): 236, https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1177/0040573618783423
5. Amanda Porterfield, “Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers,” Journal of Church & State 60,no. 2 (Spring
2018): 350. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcs/csy011.
2
Even though all of the Founders were not devout Christians, or had a strong belief in their
own faith, they all still placed importance on religion.6 They all emphatically agreed that religion
was an essential element to the success of the American experiment.7 The importance of religion
was not limited to Founders. In fact, most of the early American population had strong religious
beliefs.8
Religion: The Core of Life
Early American culture was centered around religion and was exhibited through their
work ethic, publications, education, and political avenues. Early America was not bounded by
just one religious denomination. There were different practices of religion such as Protestant,
Quakers, Puritan, Anglicans, and Congregationalism.9 Although there were different religious
groups and practices in early America, they shared common ground to a certain degree. The
Quakers and Congregationalists had their difference, but both “preached at heart-centered
religion that emphasized the importance of personal experience.”10
Religiosity was an exceptional trait that was practiced throughout the population. Almost
all books published by women in early America were Christian themed.11 These women defended
their writings to appear in print by affirming their own experience of God’s grace.12 Even the
idea of religious freedom was not limited to just the Founders, it was a belief among the
6. Charles Murray, American Exceptionalism: An Experiment in History (Washington D.C, 2013), 23.
7. Ibid., 24.
8. Catherine A. Brekus, “Writing Religious Experience: Woman’s Authorship in Early America,” Journal
of Religion 92, no. 4 (Oct 2012):484, https://doi.org.10.1086/666834
9. Facing History and Ourselves, “Religion in Colonial America: Trends, Regulations, and Beliefs,”
Facing History and Ourselves, n.d. https://www.facinghistory.org/nobigotry/religion-colonial-america-trends-
regulations-and-beliefs
10. Brekus, “Writing Religious Experience: Woman’s Authorship in Early America,” 484.
11. Ibid., 483.
12. Ibid.
3
everyday person as well. Even the ordinary farmers and goodwives voiced their opinion on
religious freedoms and the opposition of a national church.13
A Much Needed Separation
Early American culture was re-invented during the revolutionary Great Awakening
movement. The Great Awakening impacted Awakeners to petition, mobilize, organize, and
contributed in expanding their political experience. 14 This movement also clarified the
objections early Americans had against the British civil and religious rule they had over the
colonies.15 It provided substantive arguments for the concept of separation of church and state. 16
It was a time when the state was perceived as profane and secular and was “argued the state
should have nothing to do with the church.”17
The Founders wanted a different type of government, one that would not establish a
national church and allow the freedom of exercising religion without the state prohibiting it. This
belief influenced the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.18 The words separation of church
and state are not specifically worded in the Bill of Rights. However, the concept of separation
influenced the exceptional religious liberties set forth in the First Amendment. Contrary to
popular belief, the separation of church and state was not to completely eliminate God and
13. Catherine A. Brekus, “Contested Words: History, America, Religion,” William & Mary Quarterly 75,
no. 1 (January 2018): 11, https://www.doi.org/10.5309/willmaryquar.75.1.0003.
14. Facing History and Ourselves, “Religion in Colonial America: Trends, Regulations, and Beliefs.”
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Glenn R. Martin, Prevailing Worldviews of Western Society Since 1500 (Marion: Triangle Publishing,
2006), 107.
18. Mary Jo Bale, “Social Conscience and Politics in the United States of America: Reflections,” International
Journal of Public Theology 5, no.3 (July 2011):355. https://doi.org/10.1163/156973211X581588.
4
biblical principles from areas of society and government. Rather it was built to prohibit the
church and the state from having overarching power over one another.
The principal concern was to not only protect the church from state intrusion but, to
protect the state from the church, as it may lead to a tyranny.19 John Adams wrote about this issue
in his publication, Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law. Adams stated both the
medieval Catholic church and early modern Protestant churches “inflicted tyrannous outrages”
through their control of the state. 20The protection from the state intruding on one’s religious
liberties and individual rights was a priority for the Founders.
No other nation had embraced these God-given individual rights as its fundamental
organizing principle.21 Although the Founders detested a national church, biblical principles, and
morals influenced the founding principles of the United States. Yet again, religiosity set the path
towards the creation of the unprecedented religious liberties and an exceptional government that
America is known for.
Religiosity: A Benefit or Detriment?
Depending on the virtue or vice of the people, religiosity can be either a benefit or
detriment to American exceptionalism. Religiosity can be a benefit to American exceptionalism
because it has underlying biblical and moral principles that determine what is good and what is
bad. The only way it can be a detriment is when individuals stray from the truth and erroneously
interpret biblical teachings to justify their wrongdoing. The true biblical teachings come directly
from God through His Word.
Whether they realize it or not, churches can make a profound impact on a nation. They
have the ability to initiate and lead movements to make a more justified nation. Religiosity shed
19. John Witte, “Facts and Fictions About the History of Separation of Church and State,” Journal of
Church and State 48, no. 1 (Winter 2006): 30, https://www.jstor.org/stable/23920692.
20. Ibid.
21. Newt Gingrich and Vince Haley, A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism Matters. (Washington
D.C.: Regnery Publishing, 2011), 18.
5
light that guided America through some of her darkest times. Small movements can produce
impactful and lasting results on a much larger scale than one could imagine. For example, one
Methodist church in Brunswick County, Virginia, made efforts to convince the faithful to release
their slaves.22 These efforts were recorded to have taken place between the years 1782 to 1808.23
It was this evangelical ideology that motivated the masters to make the initial decision to
release chattels.24 Although this particular movement faced opposition, it still made a positive
impact. Many Christian slaveholders used religiosity in a manner that was detrimental during
these tumultuous times. They justified their wrongdoings of slavery on the theological teachings
of Christianity; some stated it was a part of God’s plan to Christianize Africa, while others used
Scripture to justify “the obedience and submission to white authority that they required from
slaves.”25 This is a prime example of how people’s vice can be a detriment to American
exceptionalism.
Modern-Day America Religiosity
Religiosity Characteristics Remain
Although religiosity may not be as prominent as it once was in early America, it is still a
viable trait in America. In comparison to Europeans, Americans are more likely to identify with
a religious denomination.26 Just as religiosity led antislavery movements in the 18th and 19th
century, it continues to still have an impact on modern-day slavery. This characteristic is not just
observed among the Christian population but is also recognized by secularists.
22. Art Budros, “The Antislavery Movement in Early America: Religion, Social Environment, and Slave
Manumissions,” Social Forces 84, no. 2 (December 2005): 941. https//www.jstor.org/stable/3598486.
23. Ibid.
24. Budros, “The Antislavery Movement in Early America: Religion, Social Environment and Slave
Manumissions,” 941.
25. Yvonne C. Zimmerman, “Christianity and Human Trafficking,” Religion Compass 5, no. 10 (October 2011),
570, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-8171.2011.00309.x.
26. Bane, “Social Conscience and Politics in the United States of America: Reflections,” 353.
6
One secular leader, Laura Lederer, stated evangelical Christians are valuable in anti-
trafficking coalitions because of the moral clarity that is brought to the issue of human trafficking
.27 Lederer also stated Christians main argument in the issues is the fact “we’re made in the
image of God; you don’t do this.” 28 This type of Christian advocacy is not just limited to
America, it is an international movement.29 Equally important, this advocacy shows the evidence
that religiosity is still a characteristic of modern-day America. This international effort also
shows the exceptionalism of America, because she still remains that beacon of light.
Religiosity Characteristics: A Thing of the Past
While the American personality is still recognizable across the world, it is changing into
another social democracy.30 There are some characteristics in modern-day America that do not
portray the religiosity that once was in early America. For example, modern-day public
education is vastly different from early America. Benjamin Rush, one of the Founders and also
the father of public schools, stated public schools should have three main objectives: love and
serve God, love and serve your country, and love and serve your family. 31
It is clear public schools do not teach to love and serve God, this has been completely
eliminated from public schools. It is also evident, the majority of public schools do not teach
children to love and serve their country, as most children are not even taught civics. In some
schools, there is an anti-American rhetoric that is infiltrating children’s’ minds. Benjamin Rush
27. Zimmerman, “Christianity and Human Trafficking,” 573.
28. Ibid.
29. Ibid.
30. Jamie Weinstein, “Charles Murray Says America No Longer Exceptional, Becoming Just Another
Social Democracy,” The Daily Caller, July 22, 2013, https://dailycaller.com/2013/07/22/charles-murray-says-
america-no-longer-exceptional-becoming-just-another-social-democracy/?print=1
31. David Barton, “Constitution Alive-A Citizen Guide To The Constitution Part Two,” (podcast), accessed
February 28, 2019. https://wallbuilderslive.com/podcast/
7
stated country precedes family in education because “If one would lose control of their country,
it will become the great enemy of your family.”32 David Barton stated, “the government is one of
the chief enemies of the family because Americans have not learned our documents and what
public schools use to teach.”33
John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, stated: “whoever is an
avowed enemy of God, I hesitate not to call him an enemy of to his country.” 34 In modern-
American, if this statement were to come out of a statesman’s mouth, he or she would face an
unkind backlash. This comparison shows the significant transition of American culture,
especially in politics. John Witherspoon also believed one’s true love for their country is shown
through their sincerity and actions taken to promote true and undefiled religion while sitting with
great firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind. 35 Again, there is a stark
contrast between the thinking of early America and modern-day America. In this respect, the
religiosity trait is not as strong as it once was.
Conclusion
The Founders believed in forming a government that recognizes the people as sovereign
and not the government. This belief is directly linked to religiosity because it is derived from
biblical teachings. They believed power comes from God to an individual, thus making the
individual personally sovereign. America is exceptional for that reason. Without the religiosity
exceptional trait, the Founders would not have formed a government that was built on such a
principle.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
34. Barton, “Constitution Alive-A Citizen Guide To The Constitution Part Two.”
35. Ibid.
8
While modern-day America may have drifted from early American religiosity, it is still a
prominent feature of the nation. America has the ability to reclaim some of those value that has
been lost along the way. This is possible because America has done it before. America is capable
of a major culture changes, as seen with the Abolitionists, the Civil Rights Revolution, and the
different religious Great Awakenings. It takes strong Christians to stand against the opposition,
remain steadfast, and educate the truth to the overwhelming modern-day Progressive movement
that has taken the stronghold of this nation. God will provide the strength needed, if Christians
are willingly to put worldly opinions aside and stand for truth. “Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” 36
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9
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10
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