America sets itself apart from its partners in the
democratic world foremost in its social structure. Lacking a socialist movement
of European proportion or centuries of class-based struggle has contributed to
the creation of a welfare system that some would describe as pitiless. But
using trite descriptions does nothing to further one's understanding of what
has been one the best examples of robust democracy in the modern era.
In this endeavor, one must consider distinct
traits of American society within its historical, sociological and
institutional context. The article attached below considers American patriotism
within its historical context, as an experience not shared by many European and
Asian nations. Its individualism is revered as the driving force for American
success. Skepticism of the beaureucracy and insistence of personal freedom in
every area of social life is based on a rich constitutional heritage.
Rather perplexing for observers of the
American media is its enduring religiosity. Understanding the important role
religion has assumed in popular movements outside of (and sometimes opposed to)
governmental control, demonstrates its commitment to the separation of temporal
from spiritual authorities. Economic enterprise enhanced by a decentralized
economy and a tradition of social cohesion in spite of historically
unprecedented diversity are yet more features that enhance America's
exceptionalism.
Understanding these factors, among others,
may help the international community contextualize America's sometimes more negatively
viewed attributes, such as isolationism, consumerism, and its addiction to
popular culture. Of course, no nation is perfect, but every nation has earned
the courtesy of being understood.
Peter Schuck, a law professor at Yale, is the author most rece ntly of Targeting in Social Programs (Brookings) and Meditations of a Militant Moderate (Rowman & Littlefield).
Peter Schuck: "Understanding America" in: The American Lawyer, May 2008:
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May 28, 2008
Donald Stadler, Self-employed, Diamond Contributor (1052)
"religiosity. a far higher percentage of americans attend religious services than do Europeans (except in Ireland and Poland). Nearly half of americans attend religious services each week, compared to 4 percent of the English and 5 percent of the French. Church leaders and their
flocks have led almost all of the reformist causes in american history: abolition, women’s suffrage, temperance, civil rights, opposition to unpopular wars, and environmentalism. One
reason for this pronounced religiosity is that creating and sustaining churches was never in the hands of the federal government and only briefly in those of the first states. Instead, unlike in Europe, religious development was promoted by spiritual entrepreneurs engaged in competitive marketing, vigorous proselytizing, and doctrinal and liturgical innovations. Immigration, moreover, has fortified
this religious commitment throughout american history."
Superb. I think European anti-clericalism has been heavily driven by established state churches which historically have been used as instruments of state oppression. The exceptions (US, Ireland, and Poland) I think occurred because the state religion was not the religion of the people, particularly Ireland and Poland. The UK had a state religion but it was never Catholicism, therefore the Irish Catholic clergy has never had a reputation of opression to live down. Similarly for most of Poland which was mostly occupied by Russia (Orthodox) and Prussia (Lutheran I believe). Since WWII Poland has been oppressed by Marxists who also oppressed the Polish Catholic Church. In these countries the native religion has never in memory been an instrument of opression & sometimes an instrument of liberation.
The US doesn't have a state religion but many immigrants to the US came from oppressed religious groups like the Moravians, Anabaptists, Scots Catholics, Hugenots, Spanish and German Jews, many more. Other strains of immigration came from Dissenters in the UK, who had a legal right to dissent but lacked many legal rights afforded only to adherents of the Church of England.
The 'weakness of religiosity' in most of Europe is in fact something quite different - weakness of the historical state churches because they discredited themselves by being tools of the State.