The rhetoric religion involves studying linguistic and symbolic techniques involved in the dissemination, supporting, teaching, or establishing of theological beliefs or structures. A large number of present-day scholars have identified the link between rhetoric and religion as ancient, and that it is impossible to separate the two. Religion is greatly obligated to rhetoric because religion would be difficult to comprehend, progress, support, or spread without the adoption of rhetorical complexity. In fact, many institutions teaching religion today require units that develop rhetorical abilities among students as a part of all-round religious education. However, religious rhetoric is more than the understanding of “God-talk” as it can be stretched to apply to all parts in which religion’s dialect of wholeness seeps into figurative action, even when religion itself is not openly manifested. The study of religious rhetoric can advance our studies into politics and society among other areas as depicted by Bellah in the article Civil Religion in America and Frank in the article about Obama’s “a more perfect union” speech.
Bellah (40), in the article Civil Religion in America, argues that there exists this kind of religion in America and like any other form of religion in the contemporary world, it deserves seriousness and honor. The American Civil religion is a sociological theory that a multicultural partly religious faith is practiced in the United States with holy symbols obtained from the country’s history. Intellectuals have depicted it as a universal set of values that nurtures social and cultural assimilation of the United States citizens. Bellah develops this theory in the article, as he alleges that Americans uphold a mutual “civil religion” with various basic views, ideals, holidays, and ceremonies, which differ with their preferred religion. As seen in various speeches made by presidents either during the campaign periods or when in office, the mentioning of the name of God has been a common practice that reveals the important place of religion in the American’s life. The only concept that most presents refer to is God, a word that a large number of Americans identify with irrespective of their personal religions like Catholic or Protestants. The role of the belief system has not always been consistent in the American society, considering that it has been used both in support of worthy causes and against such well-intended causes. For instance, American civil religion symbolized by the fusion of God, the nation and the flag, on many occasions, has been used to confront rebellious groups. Similarly the issue of the third trial in which America sees itself as the responsible party in the present revolutionary world in maintaining peace, a role that threatens the honor of the American civil religion.
In the article The Prophetic Voice and the Face of the other In Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” Address, March 18, 2008, Frank depicts how the current president of the Unites States, Barack Obama, sought to calm the controversy surrounding the teachings and principles of his Pastor, Jeremiah Wright (180). However, what most Americans among other people in the world viewed as a political damage control turned out to be a serious discussion of racial segregation, mistrust, and demonization. The speech was delivered in a prophetic voice as most scholars concluded, because Obama expressed the issues in an irrational and hyper-emotional terms, which depicted a radical prophetic rhetoric. According to the prophetic custom, rage is the right mood to adopt when addressing injustices in the society and that hope forms the basis of faith in the creation of God. Additionally, the author shows Obama sought to bring out the true values and character of Reverend Wright as he depicted him as a man who led the church for more than thirty years that served the community by doing the work of God. Therefore, the YouTube videos misrepresent the ideas of the Reverend and place his views in a different context as was supposed to be. In so doing, Obama focused on addressing the potential of the citizens of America and distanced himself to the viewpoint of his reverend who mainly dwelled on Americas failures. Obama ascertains his faith in God and assures the American people of the potential they have if they come together, even though they have no choice if they are to remain on the same track of a more perfect union.
These two articles help to explain the concept of religious symbolism as they depict the president as the leader of civil religion, a role that has greatly helped to mould the presidency. Obama in his speech was viewed as a national prophet as he delivered the speech with the anger depicted in the prophetic tradition, a similar tone that Kennedy used during his inaugural. Religious symbolism is also shown in through the instances that the name of God was mentioned in both the articles. Both Obama and Kennedy depict the American civil religion, which acknowledges the name of God as the mention him in order to bring the people of America together and to win their hearts.
In conclusion, the two articles depict religious symbolism, which is the linguistic and symbolic technique involved in the dissemination, supporting, teaching, or establishing of theological beliefs or structures. In both the articles, the significant of God’s name is depicted as both speeches mentioned the name God through which most Americans identify with. Both Obama and Kennedy also depict the prophetic voice of anger when addressing issues of injustices in their speech, which is a prophetic tradition.
Works Cited
Bellah, Robert N. "Civil religion in America." Daedalus 134.4 (2005): 40-55.
Frank, David A. "The Prophetic Voice and the Face of the Other in Barack Obama's" A More Perfect Union" Address, March 18, 2008." Rhetoric & Public Affairs 12.2 (2009): 167-194.
