Student Research: Presidential Speeches & Islamophobia
Religion student Dominic Mejia ’17 analyzed the State of Union Addresses of Barack Obama and George W. Bush to trace the construction of apocalyptic language and how the careless and irresponsible use of this language has led to generalized Islamophobia.
In the research project, which he presented at the 2016 Student Symposium, Mejia examined the God of American Civil Religion, which is the God we refer to in American rituals, such as the Pledge of Allegiance. He emphasized how American Civil Religion is based on Judeo-Christian tradition, but it is not Christianity; however, the lines between American Civil Religion and Christianity have become blurred. In his project, Mejia argues that, for the first time, American Civil Religion has constructed for itself a devil, an abstract enemy that is opposed to its ideals. This enemy is found in extremist Islam, serving as the counterpart in the cosmic apocalyptic battle between the state God of the American empire and this new Satan. Mejia presented his research at the 2016 OWU Student Symposium.
Project Title: Apocalypse and Islamophobia: A New Era in American Civil Religion
Student: Dominic Mejia ’17
Mentor: Dr. Susan Gunasti