S4, Ep. 23: The myth of American 'chosenness'

13 snips

Jun 1, 2023

Dr. Catherine Brekus, a noted scholar from Harvard Divinity School, delves into the complexities of America’s self-proclaimed 'chosenness'—a concept entwined with arrogance, exploitation, and violence. She traces its origins from Puritan ideas to modern white Christian nationalism. Brekus highlights how this myth justifies historical atrocities and racial hierarchies while revealing its evolution into a broader American exceptionalism. As demographics shift, she warns that the resurgence of this narrative threatens democratic ideals and calls for a repudiation of exclusionary practices.

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INSIGHT

Origins Of American Chosenness

John Winthrop's 'city on a hill' combined radical Christian love with a sense of chosenness that justified conquest.
Brekus shows this myth mixes reform, arrogance, exploitation, racism, and violence from the start.

ANECDOTE

Pequot Massacre Example

Brekus recounts the 1637 Pequot massacre where Puritans killed hundreds and enslaved survivors.
She highlights Winthrop requested some captives as slaves, revealing hypocrisy in the chosen-nation claim.

INSIGHT

Revolutionary Fusion Of Faith And Nation

Revolutionary rhetoric fused Christianity with nationalism, using Exodus to cast colonists as chosen Israelites.
That religious myth evolved into a secular American exceptionalism embraced across beliefs.

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How does the myth of America being a "chosen" nation lead to the religious nationalism we see today? Harvard Divinity School's Dr. Catherine Brekus talks about how the myth is a complicated mixture of arrogance, exploitation, reform, racism and violence. She looks at the roots of this myth, how it has played out through our country's history, and the ways that the recent surge of white Christian nationalism reflects a deep uneasiness about the loss of Christian privilege in this country.

SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:47): Meet Dr. Catherine Brekus

Dr. Catherine Brekus is Charles Warren Professor of the History of Religion in America at Harvard Divinity School, Chair of the Committee on the Study of Religion in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and an associate member of the Program in American Studies and the Department of History. Her research focuses on the relationship between religion and American culture, with particular emphasis on the history of women, gender, Christianity, and the evangelical movement. Currently, she is writing a book about the relationship between American nationalism and Christianity and co-authoring a biography of Sarah Edwards (1710-1758) with Harry Stout and Ken Minkema.

Read more about her on Harvard Divinity School's website.

This presentation was the 2023 Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lecture on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State, an annual lecture series sponsored by BJC. Dr. Brekus gave this presentation at Old North Church in Boston.

Segment 2 (starting at 2:30): The myth of American 'chosenness'

You can watch the presentation online at this link.

Dr. Brekus' presentation was followed by a panel discussion that included Dr. Brekus; The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, PhD; the Rev. Darrell Hamilton; and Dr. Michael Hoberman. It was moderated by the Rev. Dr. Jaimie Crumley. Our next episode will bring you their conversation.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.