God in America (TV Special)

[Balder]

GOD IN AMERICA
	Monday through Wednesday at 9 p.m. beginning Oct. 11 How has religious belief shaped American history? What role have religious ideas and spiritual experience played in shaping the social, political and cultural life of what has become the world's most religiously diverse nation?
	For the first time on television, God in America, a presentation of American Experience and Frontline, will explore the historical role of religion in the public life of the United States.
	God in America A New Adam/A New Eve Part one of three Monday, Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. The first hour explores the origins of America's unique religious landscape, while hour two considers the origins of America's experiment in religious liberty. Watch the trailer | Visit the Web site
	God in America Rebirth/A New Light from Above Part two of three Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m. Discover how religion suffused the Civil War and how the forces of modernity challenged traditional faith and drove a wedge between liberal and conservative believers. Watch the trailer | Visit the Web site
	God in America Soul of a Nation/Of God and Caesar Part three of three Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 9 p.m. Hour Five explores the post-World War II era, when rising evangelist Billy Graham tried to inspire a religious revival that fused faith with patriotism in a Cold War battle with "Godless Communism." The final hour of God in America brings the series into the present day, exploring the religious and political aspirations of conservative evangelicals' moral crusade over divisive social issues like abortion and gay marriage. Watch the trailer | Visit the Web site

[kelamuni]

I didn't watch the first episode consistently, as I think I was watching something lurid on CBC about JFK's mistresses, but I caught snippets the two times it ran here (once on the Detroit station, later on the Seattle station). I was taken by two things:
1. that the search for religious experience (and that includes "spiritual" experience) seems to be ingrained in the American psyche from an early time.
2. that Americans have a tendency to think that a direct experience of the Divine is possible, whether they be a Puritan woman who thinks God communicates with her directly, or a boy from Nebraska who thinks his brain waves demonstrate Nirvikalpa Samadhi. ;-)

[Balder]

Yes, I'm infected with that meme as well.

I missed last night's episode because I was working, but I'll take a peek at the program tonight and will stick with it if it seems interesting.

[kelamuni]

Ya, I was being a bit facetious, though I am also being serious. As a category, "experience" becomes central in modern religion, as evidenced by Schleiermacher's notion of "feeling", which is picked up by Rudolph Otto. In some ways, all of this, including the idea of directly experiencing the sacred, can be traced back to Luther.

I'm not sure if my hunches here can be entirely verified, that is, I'm not sure if this is a predominantly American phenomenon, but it does seem that the proclivity towards experience, be it pentacostal style evangelism or new age spirituality, does seem to be a particularly pronounced feature of the American Experience of religion (which is after all one of the sponsors of this series). The idea of talking to God --I'm less sure about. Does this relate to American anarchism (and frontierism) and libertarianism -- the idea being of personal autonomy? Perhaps. I caught snippets of some Puritan woman who claimed to talk to God. And Joseph Smith comes to mind as well. We don't usually see this kind of thing except among certain radical mystics, like al Hallaj.

Just some off the cuff phenomenology of American popular religion.

[kelamuni]

I fell asleep during the second episode, though found the first half interesting -- re: how people (certain Americans) tend to interpret historical events in terms of God's interaction with the world, his wrath, etc. I always find it amusing, while watching NFL games, when, after someone scores a touchdown, he genuflexes on a knee and then prays. I imagine he is saying something like, "Thank you God. I knew you were on my side." The bit about Lincoln dieing for the sins of the country and ascending to Heaven was amusing, and interesting, too. I had no idea Frederick Douglas was such a nutter. He was a hero of mine as a kid.

I awoke to a disturbing but fascinating programme on the Narco Farm at the Lexington pen in Kentucky.

[Joseph]

Here's an extended interview with Frank Schaeffer from the program about his father Francis Schaeffer and the founding of the Religious Right.

http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/interviews/frank-schaeffer.html

[kelamuni]

On a related theme, re: slavery and Christian inspiration, anyone see "Amazing Grace" about the British dude, Wilburforce, who, almost single-handedly, forced the repeal of laws concerning English slavery?