Religiosity in American Exceptionalism
Elizabeth J. Davis
GOVT 329: American Exceptionalism
February 2nd, 2019
Religiosity Defined
Religiosity can be a little complicated to define because there are different views of
religion and the term and use of the term has evolved over the past centuries. One simple way of
defining religiosity is “the concretized approach to unite with God” (Nweke 2018, 236). For this
concretized approach to take place, one must also experience a strong belief in God. The average
understanding of religiosity states, “religiosity connotes the institutional, ritualistic 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” (Nweke 2018, 235). This alternate way of defining
religiosity also proposes one must have a strong belief or feeling in God in order to worship God
and understand His authority over all.
The Founders were not all devout Christians or even religious at all, but they still placed
importance on religion (Murray 2013, 23). Despite their beliefs, they all emphatically agree that
religion was an essential element to the success of America (Murray 2013, 24). This insistent
attitude and strong sense of desire to incorporate religious principles is similar to the strong
feeling as defined in religiosity. So even though some Founders did not have their own strong
personal belief in God, they still recognized the excessive devotion to religion as an important
aspect when forming the nation.
Although the Founders had this strong feeling to incorporate religious principles, the
Founders refused to formally adopt a national religion. Even though the Founders decline to
form a national religion they still incorporated biblical principles and morals when establishing
the United States. The uniqueness of this establishment was the very reason religiosity became
an American exceptionalism trait. No other nation had embraced God-given individuals’ rights as
its fundamental organizing principle (Gingrich 2011, 18).
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Explanation to Choose Religiosity
Religiosity was prominent prior to the official establishment of the United States, during
the decisions and debates when forming the nation, and thereafter. This is one reason religiosity
was chosen because it is timeless. It is amazing to know a strong belief in God was prevalent
throughout the colonies even before the nation declared independence and that it was one of the
main reasons behind the fight for independence. God is infinite and will always stand the test of
time. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
(John 1:1 [ESV]).
There are habits of liberty that have made America exceptional and all of them are
centered or tied to, in one way or another, to religious principles. The diverse applications of
religious principles are another reason religiosity was chosen as the topic. Although religiosity is
considered a separate trait on its own, it still is intertwined with other traits, if not the core of the
trait. For example, industriousness is an American exceptionalism trait that focuses on the hard
work that one must go through to make a better life for oneself and one’s family (Murray 2013,
19). This hard work attitude is based on Judeo-Christian traditions (Gingrich 2011, 100).
The Founders incorporated faith into the nation’s framing in such an elegant way. They
did not want to force a religion on anyone because they recognized the principle of free will.
Historian, Mark Noll, describes American religious life as voluntary, self-directed, and rooted in
individual choice (Bale 2011, 355). This belief became a principled stance among the Founders
which was later enshrined in the Bill of Rights (Bale 2011, 355).
The absence of an established church and the so-called free market for religion makes it
possible for the American religious life to remain vibrant and diverse (Bane 2011, 354).
Interestingly, the Founders were not the only ones who fought for this religious freedom and
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opposition from establishing a national church. Historians have found it was not only the
Founders who fought to keep religious freedom and were opposed to a national church, but it
was also the ordinary farmers and goodwives who voiced their opinions on the matter (Brekus
2018, 11). The people wished for these freedoms and the Founders did what was best for the
people. That is what makes America so exceptional in its founding, they were for the people.
The Founders applied one significant principle when forming the United States that is
central to this topic, all men are created equal. It is embedded within American culture. Even
during the nation’s darkest times, this basic religious principle guided light and surpassed
darkness, as seen when slavery was eradicated. Even today, modern slavery (human trafficking),
Christian core principles are present within the government and non-profit organizations to help
abolish human trafficking not just within the United States but worldwide. “For God shows no
partiality” (Romans 2:11 [ESV]). America is exceptional for many reasons, but they all are
traced back to the core religious principles embraced by the Founders. For that reason, American
religiosity is certainly exceptional.
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Bibliography
Brekus, Catherine A. 2018. “Contested Words: History, America, Religion.” William & Mary
Quarterly 75, no.1 (January): 3-36. https://doi.org/10.5309/willmaryquar.75.1.0003
Bale, Mary Jo. 2011. “Social Conscience and Politics in the United States of America:
Reflections.” International Journal of Public Theology 5, no. 3 (July):353-365.
https://doi.org/10.1163/156973211X581588
Gingrich, Newt, and Vince Haley. 2011. A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism
Matters. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Pub.
Murray, Charles. 2013. American Exceptionalism: An Experiment in History. Washington D.C.:
AEI Press.
Nweke, K. Chinedu. 2018. “Between Religiosity and Spirituality: Christianity and the
Reemergence of the Immanentist Spiritualties.” Theology Today 75, no. 2 (August):
233-246. https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1177/0040573618783423
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