Civil Religion in Obama's 2009 Inaugural Address
New President's Speech Shows Deference to Nation's Ideals
A civil religion was on display in President Obama’s 2009 Inaugural Address when he showed deference to our Founding Fathers, sounded a theme of renewal, and suggested that our nation has a special purpose. According to Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2007), a “civil religion” is an attempt to understand the history and purpose of a nation in religious or transcendent terms. A civil religion is not a religion, but shares many similarities with religion. For instance, while many religions have sacred texts, the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights constitute the sacred texts of the United States’ civil religion. And, while many religions have their religious holidays, the Fourth of July, Presidents Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day constitute some of our nation’s civil religious holidays. The inauguration ceremony itself is a civil religious worship service. In this service, the president plays the role of preacher and his inaugural address is his civil religion sermon.
Deference to Founding Fathers
Obama shows deference to our Founding Fathers and founding documents, much like religions show deference to their founders and sacred texts. He said that we, “have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.” Obama praised the work of the founders at the Constitutional Convention. Noting that they were “faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine,” Obama claimed that the “ideals” of the Constitution “light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake.” These words echo the words of Jesus Christ who claimed to be the “light of the world.”
Renewal of the “Faith”
Religions often argue that its people have lost their way and must renew their commitment to the faith. Similarly, Obama sounds a theme of renewal, arguing that America has lost its way and must renew the promise of its founding. He cites the New Testament when he says, “the time has come to set aside childish things.” Rather, he argues, it is time to “reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history….” Also, he talks about “remaking America,” and “ushering in a new era of peace.” Additionally, in what will likely become the most quoted part of the speech, he says that we need “a new era of responsibility.”
The US has a Higher Purpose
And finally, our nation’s civil religion rests upon the notion that we are special. The US has a purpose given to it by a higher power. Obama provides this theme as well when he says that “source of our confidence” is “the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.” He ends the speech discussing the future, noting that “God’s grace” is “upon us,” and with the familiar benediction, “God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”
References
Wald, Kenneth D. and Allison Calhoun-Brown. 2007. Religion and Politics in the United States, 5th Ed. Rowman & Littlefield.
Barack Obama after Inaugural Address
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