The Presbyterian Middle Way

Can civil religion overcome the partisanship that afflicts American society? Samuel Goldman, a professor of politics at the University of Florida’s Hamilton School, thinks it’s possible. He has called for a revival of civil religion—featuring a shared esteem for George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, the Constitution, the public piety inherent in Arlington National Cemetery and the Judeo-Christian ideals that animated American social norms. Mr. Goldman thinks this can point toward a shared sense of national purpose.