Only so Free: Religious Rhetoric and the American Democracy in Crisis

This session will be moderated by Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion Cynthia Hogan, Ph.D. This student-led, roundtable-style session builds on questions being asked in REL 102: Religion in America regarding “freedom of religion” vs. “freedom from religion.” Students will be invited to participate in a conversation that explores how American myths are either invoked or challenged (e.g., the myth of the Christian nation, myth of American exceptionalism, etc.) through the religious rhetoric used by media, political activists, and popular culture in America, either to fuel divisiveness or build community. I will ask students to submit questions to me ahead of the roundtable and will serve as moderator. The goal of the roundtable is not to determine a single, simplistic, or correct way to view the influence of religion in America, but instead to build awareness around the various roles that media, political actors, and cultural forces play in framing how Americans think about religion, democratic processes, and national identity today.

Location: Howard J. Burnett Center, Room 203