The Religious Affects of the American Revolution

Throughout America's history, religion has vigorously molded and shaped society into what it is today. Additionally, the relationship between church and state in America has constantly been the center of controversy among many social and political topics. An event that transformed religion and society into the beginnings of what we have today is undoubtedly the American Revolution. In the book, Awash in a Sea of Faith, Jon Butler describes the relationship transformation between church and state and religion and society caused by the Revolution, while placing a high level of emphasis on the role of state authority and coercion as a means of advancing Christianization in the American colonial society.

Just prior to the American Revolution, America had undergone a "momentous" change involving religion and society. The state church tradition had experienced a revival in New England and Virginia, while the landscape embraced a heavy dose of sacralization. According to Butler, even Dissenters "embraced the authority of coercion in their own ranks; and eventually had a profound effect on American society" during this time. Additionally, the relationship between church and state seemed to strengthen, making the proclaimed (by Butler) influence of state authority and coercion more evident.

The 1626 law establishing the Church of England in Virginia gave it state support while also spreading parish authority into "too many hands." In Virginia, the number of Church of England buildings steadily increased from thirty-five in 1680 to sixty-one in 1724. This development exemplified the use of state authority, manifested by law, to establish parishes for new settlements and reinforce religion's influence on society. Utilizing its power, the Virginia Assembly successfully laid out new parish boundaries, authorized new vestries, levied new taxes, and backed new church construction. Not only was the bond between church and state strong and well fortified, but it built and maintained a heavy influence on colonial society as well.

Interestingly, Butler states that "Church of England adherence and involvement in parish life and governance became a sine qua non for success in Virginian society and politics from the 1680s until the time of the Revolution." In other words, if you were not in some way associated with the Church of England in Virginia, success was highly unlikely. Therefore, the public was coerced into either embracing religion's hold on them or failing socially, politically, and probably monetarily. Additionally, up until the American Revolution, organizations such as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge "sent thousands of tracts and pamphlets to the colonies for public distribution." The distribution of such pamphlets and reading materials exhibits the promotion of religion within the colonies using a manipulative methodology. Moreover, areas where Christian buildings never existed, "now found them in striking profusion" and religious graffiti was introduced on sacralized landscapes to catch the attention of passers-by and fisherman-another coercive tactic.

This Anglican renewal in Virginia foreshadowed the inevitable "reassertion" of the state church in colonial America. From there, many colonies followed Virginia's lead and strengthened their English ties by using laws to establish the Church of England as their official state church. The colonies began constructing new church buildings and other Anglican Church structures. Bell's were rung to serve congregations and signal the beginning of the Protestant Sabbath services, further demonstrating an influence on society as the bells could be heard from very far away. While religion and the Anglican Church seemed to be on the rise, a war approached that would drastically change the relationship between church and state and religion and society.

As the impending time of war drew near, a disruption in religion shook the colonies and had already begun to transform society. In the newly formed parishes, Anglican ministers left because they "could not endure the abuse by local patriots" for openly supporting the Crown. Also, supporters of the Revolution stripped Anglican churches of their royal coats of arms. Religion became unstable and Clerics knew that "their hold on the laity was tenuous and that the colonists were dissolving political allegiances far older than any religious allegiances they then held." Already, the church and state bond was beginning to break.

From a social standpoint, Chaplains found new ways to promote Christianity to a new audience, using pulpits to preach to soldiers. However, soldiers tired of the sermons and officers had to command them to attend. The heat of battle, accompanied by death, disease, sorrow, and hopelessness, all strained the relationship between the soldier and his Chaplain. Nevertheless, Butler claims that "organized religion not only survived the revolutionary era but probably prospered from it" by cleverly supporting the American cause to eventually "sacralize independence much as they had earlier sacralized the landscape."

Following the American Revolution, the writing of the Declaration of Independence set a precedent for the function of religion in the times to come. It directly displayed the clearly "secondary role that religion and Christianity played in the creation of the revolutionary struggle." The Declaration of Independence presented the religious world as a deist's world and appeared indifferent to religious concerns and issues. Not a single religious issue, not even the dispute over an Anglican bishop, was presented in the "history of repeated injuries and usurpations" in the Declaration, which outlined repeated British offenses.

Still, religion tried to weave its way into society and establish power again by attempting to stamp out the irreligious. Butler says, "American church and denominational leaders renewed efforts to stamp Christian values and goals on a now independent society." Important attempts include "powerful Christian explanations" for the Revolution and the "proper political order that ought to govern American society," the attack on irreligion and deism, and the development of new religious groups.

Socially, the Revolution stimulated "a strong sense of cultural optimism that fitted certain religious themes, particularly American millennialism." Optimism drove the new republic and was openly secular rather than religious. Millennialism grew and clergymen thought that the Revolution was "preparing the way for this glorious event," referring to Christ's return. Despite this newly spread viewpoint, some disregarded the idea of religion in a supernatural sense. For instance, a great social piece by Thomas Paine, entitled

Common Sense, reinforced the idea that "it is repugnant to reason, that North America can any longer remain subject to any external power." Although religion tried desperately to attack irreligion and establish itself as a high power once again, the separation of church and state was inevitable.

Both states and the newly formed federal government made changes that guaranteed the freedom of worship and "largely removed government from religious affairs" (Gaustad). Several states abolished their Church of England legal establishments and Thomas Jefferson introduced a bill "for Establishing Religious Freedom," which banned government support to religion and protected the freedom for all religious groups. In 1791, the first amendment to the constitution stated that "no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" could be made by Congress. As a result, the range of religious beliefs present in America were protected and recognized, while altering the relationship between church and state-severing the bond.

As evident in Butler's book, the relationships between church and state and religion and society have indeed changed as a result of the American Revolution. A religious society that was once dependent on its state authority now had none, and probably flourished because of it. Religious groups have grown and a mixture of religious beliefs and practices now flood a society that was previously limited. Additionally, our country is not plagued with a high power such as the Church of England, but rather a political system complete with checks and balances for passing new laws and policies. Had the American Revolution not occurred, or if America had lost the war, this would certainly be a very different place.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

Jon Butler, Becoming America: The Revolution Before 1776 (Cambridge, Mass.:Harvard University Press, 2000)

Edwin S. Gaustad, Neither King nor Prelate: Religion and the New Nation, 1776-1826 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W. B. Eerdmans, 1993)

Nancy L. Rhoden, Revolutionary Anglicanism: The Colonial Church of England Clergy during the American Revolution (New York: New York University Press, 1999)