Sightings Articles

An American flag hangs in a classroom with the English alphabet on the wall behind it.

Christian Nationalism | Civil Religion

Civil Religion as a Gateway to Christian Nationalism

The inclusion of “under God” in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance was a sectarian move whose exclusionary effects are increasingly evident in today's religious landscape....

June 20, 2024
ukraine church chicago

Civil Religion | Russian War on Ukraine | Russia | Ukraine

Ukraine: Religion In Plain Sight?

When gods and kings are too closely aligned, religion becomes an engine of discord and war....

March 24, 2022
Spring at Arlington

memorial | america | Civil Religion | hope

America the Imperfect, America the Beautiful

A veteran's reflection on the meaning of Memorial Day...

May 31, 2021
In God We Trust

politics | Civil Religion

In What Do We Trust?

Reflecting on what holds us together as a society that embodies justice...

June 22, 2020
Obama

Civil Religion | Coronavirus

Commencement 2020: Let the Adulting Begin

What do this year's graduation ceremonies, hallmark rituals of American civil religion, reveal about the state of our collective soul?...

May 21, 2020
Roberts

politics | Civil Religion

Who—or What—is Above the Law?

The presence and absence of religion in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump...

January 23, 2020
Muppets

Christmas | Max Weber | Civil Religion

Christmas Movies and the Religious Dimensions of Story Structure

Can religion help settle the debate about whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie?...

December 2, 2019
Hizon

veterans | citizenship | Civil Religion

What to the Immigrant is Veterans Day?

John Sianghio reflects on the complicated nature of American identity for immigrants today...

November 14, 2019
Trump

Donald Trump | Civil Religion

The Blinding Idol

Daniel Owings discusses the shortcomings of idolatry imagery for understanding Donald Trump...

October 17, 2019

Civil Religion | Fourth of July | Sports

Festivals of Forgetting

Perhaps more than other years, this July in the United States has been filled with festivals. President Trump’s excessive “Salute to America” was filled with jets, armored vehicles, marches, and a Presidential speech. Many have also enjoyed the mont...

July 22, 2019