https://politicalresearch.org/ The latest research related to u.s. exceptionalism en https://religiondispatches.org/2025/05/15/against-american-exceptionalism-pope-leo-xiv-v-us-christian-nationalism During the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, where bishops, archbishops, and abbots convened in 1884 to, among other issues, discuss the establishment of the Catholic University of America, the Archbishop of Minneapolis John Ireland delivered a star-spangled homily. “The choicest… Thu, 15 May 2025 12:26:34 EDT Ed Simon 1bd8a2fb-30cc-4bce-8fc8-b3b0eb3eba43 https://religiondispatches.org/2021/05/04/how-rights-war-critical-race-theory-taps-powerful-religion-american-innocence I would never pick a fight with the formidable Michelle Goldberg, but I must pick a tiny bone in respect to her new take on what the Right is up to in the current public school wars. After aptly noting… Tue, 04 May 2021 03:52:44 EDT Peter Laarman a43566bf-0b83-4c06-91d5-52e390ed42e7 https://religiondispatches.org/2018/03/07/locked-and-loaded-covenant-religious-roots-americas-gun-culture Garry Wills was being only slightly ironic when he wrote (in the wake of the ghastly Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando) that it is “theologically inconceivable” to implement real gun control in the United States: God gave us guns to… Wed, 07 Mar 2018 04:41:58 EST Peter Laarman ff37285d-aede-4827-8bdf-1856fcc12f16 https://religiondispatches.org/2013/09/11/obama-appeals-american-exceptionalism But do we still think we’re more ethical? Wed, 11 Sep 2013 06:07:30 EDT Peter Laarman 22a91911-97d3-46fd-adb7-0f750d7cb798 https://religiondispatches.org/2012/05/30/state-union-stuck-olde-time-semi-niebuhrianism Obama’s SOTU was a deft combination of centuries-old American exceptionalism and a decades-old consensus that can best be called “semi-Niebuhrianism.” Wed, 30 May 2012 11:30:40 EDT Ira Chernus 6ee58a1b-c804-4ffc-82a6-d311192cc9c8 https://religiondispatches.org/2012/03/22/trayvon-martin-and-american-exceptionalism Is a black person’s life worth anything in America? Not as long as America remains “Exceptional.” Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:02:21 EDT Anthea Butler 5b9d1760-2158-4c0b-9a2c-8a99d5b5008c https://religiondispatches.org/2012/02/15/note-cpac-conservatives-city-upon-hill-wasnt-about-american-exceptionalism Bruce Springsteen channels John Winthrop. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:15:14 EST Julie Ingersoll b4c01fe2-515e-4299-822f-254a5eb241a7 https://religiondispatches.org/2011/11/29/gingrichs-anti-secularism-greatest-hits Some history on the historian. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:33:42 EST Sarah Posner a317bf8d-2df1-492d-95ea-687a2b404bfa https://religiondispatches.org/2011/10/07/new-culture-war-real-americans-vs-mobs-occupy-wall-street Eric Cantor says he’s “concerned.” Fri, 07 Oct 2011 07:27:50 EDT Sarah Posner f91e632d-d179-4db5-8ee8-f7a149b765b8 https://religiondispatches.org/2011/09/28/bachmann-weaves-own-salvation-story-christian-nation-mythology In speech at Liberty University, Bachmann conflates knowing Jesus with freedom from socialism. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:36:13 EDT Sarah Posner 2f429cde-7ba9-4d65-a8ae-a2ba991b5ae5 https://religiondispatches.org/2011/06/30/belated-july-4th-video-greatest-speech-19th-century “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” illumines the hypocrisy of a nation unable to check and challenge itself concerning its own moral hubris. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:22:24 EDT Jonathan L. Walton c5b5a8d6-5514-4dc2-9a18-dcdc0e3bdc8b https://religiondispatches.org/2011/03/15/jesus-hates-taxes-biblical-capitalism-created-fertile-anti-union-soil While the current assault on unions seems driven mostly by the billionaire Koch brothers and corporate-funded groups, religious right leaders and activists have spent decades creating fertile soil for anti-union campaigns through the promotion of biblical capitalism. Tue, 15 Mar 2011 06:52:03 EDT Peter Montgomery 962ca88a-575c-46f8-9591-2990399ee576 https://religiondispatches.org/2011/02/07/no-democracy-huckabees-orientalist-egypt Given the similarities between the protests in Egypt and the rhetoric at Tea Party protests it’s ironic to experience Mike Huckabee’s double standard. Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:08:40 EST Michael J. Altman 3cb94ddc-99cd-4d53-a9f7-3eec9016fe7c https://religiondispatches.org/2010/12/06/homeschooling-and-american-exceptionalism The incoming congress includes the first homeschooled member and a homeschooling activist. Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:01:51 EST Julie Ingersoll bb8a8550-5bfd-4e15-b6e7-20b368ff78ea https://religiondispatches.org/2010/11/24/limits-polling-understand-influence-religion-religion-and-election-part-ii Brookings report too narrowly defines “religious” issues to conclude religion didn’t play a role in the mid-terms. Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:19:12 EST Julie Ingersoll 4e8525ef-e47f-498b-b092-632a767e8abf https://religiondispatches.org/2010/11/23/popes-condom-sense Benedict’s remarks, clarified today, represent a “big shift.” Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:52:08 EST Sarah Posner d8be328e-b61b-48ba-8da2-27cf8d56d374 https://religiondispatches.org/2010/11/19/obamas-supposed-religion-dilemma-and-american-exceptionalism Countering the right’s narratives is not an “uphill battle.” Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:23:14 EST Sarah Posner f2dda38b-0a5d-48b8-b11b-2a4640a2fe0d