Herberg and Murray two profoundly different views of religion in America after WWII
Will Herberg's book, Protestant, Catholic, Jew: An Essay in ReligiousSociology,; and John Courtney Murray's work, We Hold These Truths:Catholic Reflections on the American Proposition, both provide aninteresting insight into religious thought in America today. Herbergessentially argues that America is divided into three main groups: theCatholic melting pot, the Protestant melting pot, and the Jewish meltingpot, and that these three groups will divine the future of religion in theUnited States. In contrast, Murray's book is a fundimental look at howreligion plays a role in the consensus that defines democracy in the UnitedStates. Murray argues that the plurality of religion in the United Statesessentially has meant that America no longer has a consensus built upon In his book, Protestant, Catholic, Jew: An Essay in AmericanReligious Sociology, Will Herberg discusses the religious makeup of Americaafter WWII. One of the most fundimental aspects of Herberg's book is hislook at the United States and its relationship to the great historicalreligions of Judaism, Protestantism, and Catholicism. Herberg argueseffectively that within the United States, there are three main
To Murray, the future of religion in the United States is tiedclosely to the idea of a pluralist democracy. "meltingpots" of religious thought: the Catholic melting pot, the Protestantmelting pot, and the Jewish melting pot. Incontrast, Murray's assertion that the plurality of religious thoughtdamages the idea of a shared consensus in American democracy remains evenmore germane in today's increasingly diverse society. He argues that Protestantsfeel uncomfortable with an idea of reason divorced from the idea oforiginal sin. As religious diversity in Americagrows, this challenge continues to become even greater. Effectively, Herberg goes on to say thatintermarriage between religious groups in rater, but intermarriage betweenethnic groups is common, as long as that marriage takes place within areligious denomination. Instead,he argues that Americans define themselves more by their religiousaffiliation than their ancestry. Within the book, We Hold These Truths: Catholic Reflections on theAmerican Proposition, Jesuit John Courtney Murray argues that the Americanmoral consensus implied in the constitution's words, "we hold these truthsto be self-evident" has largely been eroded. For example, Herberg argues that third-generationAmericans of Polish ancestry almost always marry Catholics, but do notnecessarily marry others with a Polish ancestry. In Herberg's analysis, the future of religion in the United Stateswas essentially settled along the lines of the three melting pots. He refutes the idea that there isa single blending of religious thought in America, and instead argues thatreligious thought tends to be defined within these three spheres. In today's secular worldHerberg's analysis seems somehow profoundly dated, and this is notsurprising considering the book was first published in 1955. Whiletheir might be some intermarriage between the three groups, Herbergbelieved they would stay largely distinct. In conclusion, Herberg and Murray give two profoundly different viewsof religion in America after WWII. In addition, the immigration oflarge numbers of Asian and Indian Americans suggest that religions likeBuddhism and Islam are playing a more prominent role in America's religiousmakeup.
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