Clearly this country has gone off the rails in the past few years. Three-quarters of people recently polled say we’re on the wrong track. True, many people approved this track when we got on it, but now they don’t. Still talking past each other, however, we can’t seem to figure out how to fix this mess. Why?

There’s a subterranean conversation going on in this country, and it’s a conversation about theological concerns: God, justice, mercy, redemption, judgment. Many people believe in American Exceptionalism, and this belief lies at the root of our problems because it places our country in a particular relationship to other nations and to God. But even bringing such things up can ruin a perfectly good time. Patriotism to one person may be idiocy or treason to another.

I think it’s very important to become aware of the subtexts in our national conversation. We need to understand how we’re manipulated by essentially good intentions, namely love of country. This article does a great job laying out the confluence of religion and politics. Here’s how it starts…

American foreign policy is built on a deep foundation of Christian theology. Some of the people who make our foreign policy may understand that foundation. Most probably aren’t even aware of it. But foundations are hidden underground. You can stand above them, and even take a strong stand upon them, without knowing they are there. When it comes to foreign policy, we are all influenced by theological foundations that we rarely see.

It’s very enlightening.