Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 21 hours ago
In the United States, theistic language is regularly incorporated into political discourses and rituals. The national motto "In God We Trust" and the phrase "under God" in the pledge are key examples of this language. Such language encourages the public to view themselves as a theistic collective and nontheists as outsiders with polls regularly showing that people associate belief in God with Americanism. Nontheists are regularly pressured to perform theism and hide their atheistic beliefs and identities. So much so that, for many nontheists, such behavior is considered "normal." This points to the way that theistnormativity is ingrained in U.S. culture. Recognizing and bringing attention to the pervasiveness of theistnormativity and its relationship to the equally prevalent Christonormativity is an important step in helping to explain the atheist experience in the United States and address the growing threat of Christian nationalism.
Becoming a supporter of the Secular Student Alliance! The SSA is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that relies on the generous support of individuals. With your help, we help empower nonreligious students across the country and ensure a more secular future. Go to secularstudents.org/donate for more information on how you can help secular students.
In the United States, theistic language is regularly incorporated into political discourses and rituals. The national motto "In God We Trust" and the phrase "under God" in the pledge are key examples of this language. Such language encourages the public to view themselves as a theistic collective and nontheists as outsiders with polls regularly showing that people associate belief in God with Americanism. Nontheists are regularly pressured to perform theism and hide their atheistic beliefs and identities. So much so that, for many nontheists, such behavior is considered "normal." This points to the way that theistnormativity is ingrained in U.S. culture. Recognizing and bringing attention to the pervasiveness of theistnormativity and its relationship to the equally prevalent Christonormativity is an important step in helping to explain the atheist experience in the United States and address the growing threat of Christian nationalism.
Becoming a supporter of the Secular Student Alliance! The SSA is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that relies on the generous support of individuals. With your help, we help empower nonreligious students across the country and ensure a more secular future. Go to secularstudents.org/donate for more information on how you can help secular students.
