Résumés
Résumé
Les chercheurs et les critiques sociaux présument souvent que la religion influe sur la vie publique en nous fournissant des motifs que nous utilisons pour justifier nos opinions sur les enjeux sociaux. Cet article examine étroitement, d’un point de vue ethnographique, la façon dont le langage religieux circule dans deux associations volontaires locales, des sites de ce que j’appellerai la place publique locale. Dans ces deux associations de dénomination protestante, l’une ayant une théologie libérale et l’autre conservatrice, les membres présument qu’un « bon » croyant n’est pas quelqu’un qui parle abondamment de ses motifs religieux, mais quelqu’un qui agit en fonction de ces motifs. Dans les deux cas, cette notion commune d’identité religieuse impose des limites ou même le bâillon aux discussions religieuses. Contrairement à ce que croient les sceptiques et les défenseurs de la religion sur la place publique, il est fort possible que le simple citoyen américain ne soit pas intéressé à faire intervenir la religion dans les discussions publiques.
Abstract
Scholars and social critics often assume that religion influences public life by giving us reasons we use to justify opinions on social issues. This study takes a close, ethnographic look at how religious language circulates in two local voluntary associations—sites of what I will call the local public square. In these two, Protestant-based associations, one theologically liberal and the other conservative, members assumed that a “good” religious person is not someone who talks at length about religious rationales, but someone who acts on them. In both cases, these shared notions of religious identity limited and even silenced religious deliberation. Counter to assumptions of both skeptics and proponents of public religion, ordinary Americans may not be very interested in injecting religion into public deliberation.
Resumen
Los investigadores y los críticos sociales suponen a menudo que la religión influye sobre la vida pública proporcionándonos motivos que utilizamos para justificar nuestras opiniones sobre lo que está en juego a niveles sociales. Este artículo examina estrechamente, desde un punto de vista etnográfico, la forma en la que el lenguaje religioso circula en dos asociaciones voluntarias locales, lugares a los que llamaré el lugar público local. En estas dos asociaciones de denominación protestante, una teniendo una teología liberal y otra conservadora, los miembros suponen que un <buen> creyente no es alguien que habla demasiado de sus motivos religiosos, sino alguien que actúa en función de estos motivos. En los dos casos, este concepto común de identidad religiosa impone límites o incluso el bozal a los debates religiosos. Contrariamente a esto que creen los escépticos y los defensores de la religión en la plaza pública, son muy posibles que el simple ciudadano americano no esté interesado en hacer intervenir las religiones en los debates públicos.
Parties annexes
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