The Shifting Superstructures of American Power

From Civil Religion to Totalitarian Humanism to the Rise of Hard Zionism

From the founding of the United States to the early 21st century, what Robert Bellah identified as the "American Civil Religion" functioned as the ideological superstructure of the American state and its ruling class. This concept, as articulated by Bellah in 1967, referred to the fusion of American nationalism with quasi-religious symbolism, rhetoric, and rituals. It created a unifying mythology that transcended partisan divides and served to legitimize the nation’s institutions and policies. Despite undergoing significant transformations over time, this civil religion remained dominant for centuries, adapting its specific content to align with the shifting political, cultural, and economic landscapes.