Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life

Americans engage with their communities and society through religion, contributing significantly in terms of both time and money to religious organizations. While the US upholds the separation of church and state, the majority still see religion playing a crucial public role. This relationship between religion and public life has evolved significantly throughout American history, moving from a period where religion was intertwined with public and political life to a more privatized and individualistic approach in contemporary times.

From the early colonists who viewed their settlement as a divine mission, religion has been a public affair. However, the diversity of religious beliefs and the principle of religious freedom gradually led to the disestablishment of religion, pushing it into a more private sphere. Despite this, religion has continuously influenced American public discourse and social initiatives, from education and charitable work to social and political activism.

In modern America, religion is often seen as a matter of individual choice, leading to a highly pluralistic and privatized religious landscape. This has not diminished the public functions of religion; rather, it has transformed how religion interacts with public life, with religious diversity being widely accepted due to the personal and voluntary nature of religious belief.