America's 'Religion of Civility' and the Calvinization of the World*. Issue 2 (17th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cristaudo, Wayne
• Is Part Of: European legacy. Volume 22:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2017-02-17
• Subjects: Calvin -- Calvinism -- Puritanism -- Unitarianism -- United States of America; Europe -- History -- Periodicals; Europe -- Intellectual life -- Periodicals; 940.05
• DOI: 10.1080/10848770.2016.1264723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1084-8770

Abstract

Abstract: This article examines the importance of Calvinism in producing the public/political "mind-set" of the United States, and how, after the Second World War, the export of this mind-set was as significant as the export of democracy, rock-'n'-roll, jeans, and Coca-Cola. It discusses the historical legacy and evolution of Calvinism from a civil religion to a religion of civility, and how the form and manner of Calvinist thinking—more specifically its ethic and aesthetic—has persisted in a secular manner so that much that Calvin would have found damnable is now intrinsic to the "religion of civility." It then concludes that the central principles and practices of this religion of civility have had success within nations already "Christianized" but, perhaps understandably, not outside of that sphere.