There is an embarrassing giddiness in the religious studies world today. With our new mantra in hand—the new “salience” of…
The extra-territorial establishment of religion
American exceptionalism
All used up
There is a question that has been haunting me about our times and our collective condition, specifically in regard to…
Toward a universalist exceptionalism
American exceptionalism has been dealt a body-blow. I want to suggest, however, that the variant of exceptionalism that was upset…
Obama and the end of exceptionalism
Presidents are compelled to use the language of exceptionalism in two important ways. If our presidents are to be believed,…
Liberty and liberty together
A nation is not an indifferent condition for the happiness and social relatedness of its citizens, but serves as a…
This is our moment, this is our time
For a long time after November 4, I found it hard to believe that Barack Obama had actually been elected…
An internationalist president
In the Muslim world, as in Europe and much of the world, Obama is welcomed as an internationalist president.