Political Peculiarities

"Civil religion is neither bona fide religion nor ordinary patriotism, but a new alloy formed by blending religion with nationalism. If civil religions were bona fide religions then one would expect to find a soft side to them, teaching love of neighbor and upholding peace and compassion. But this is not the case."

"Let me be as clear as I can be, the God of 'God and country' is not the God of Jesus Christ.  Yet this is not a development that began with Sept. 11. One of the issues before American Christianity is whether the God we worship is the God of Jesus Christ...American Christians simply lack the discipline necessary to discover how being Christian might make them different."

-Stanley Hauerwas (both)