Habits of the Heart

1
Habits of the Heart

• Individualism and Commitment in American Life

2
Argument

• American religion, like American society, is
  strongly individualistic
• But, this can be transformed through a better
  understanding of how individuals are always in
  relation with others (community)
• In religion, individual and society are not
  opposites but require each other (246, 248)

3
Individualism in religion

• Religion seen as private and personal
• Therapeutic approach for many
• Serves the individual does not tie back into
  community
• Accepting valid authority of a religious
  community is difficult for many (240)
• 80 think people should come to their beliefs
  apart from any church/synagogue (228)
• Marriage not seen as tied into community (241)

4
Types of religious engagement

• Church
• Group has priority over individual body of
  Christ
• engages society works for transformation
• Sect
• Voluntary membership individual has priority
  over group
• Focuses on purity of group
• Mysticism
• Personal experience
• Weak group
• Radical religious individualism Sheilaism

5
Questions

• Do you think religion in America individualistic?
• What factors make it so?
• Do you think this religion is influenced by other
  (non-religious) forms of individualism in the
  U.S.?
• How is religion in the U.S. community-oriented?
• Do you disagree with Bellahs presentation?
• What forms of community are strong today?

6
More questions

• Do you think the example of Sheilaism is
  representative of a larger trend?
• Do you interpret this positively or negatively?
• Do you think American community needs to be
  revitalized?
• If so, how?