Abstract

Tocqueville observed that individualism and materialism, the twin effects of equality of conditions, were threats to the political and moral integrity of modern democracy. But in America, these dangers were moderated by religion, specifically Christianity. This dissertation examines Tocqueville's view of the nature of religious faith as it pertains to the future of liberal democracy. ;Christianity was an antidote to equality of conditions because it could appeal from self-interest to a form of civic responsibility compatible with democracy. The promise of rewards in the next world provides impetus for restraint in this world. Tocqueville was at pains to show that the liberal democratic citizen in America is motivated not by naked self-interest but by "self-interest rightly understood." ;Tocqueville's doctrine of self-interest rightly understood has led most commentators to conclude that Tocqueville's concern for religion was at the same time indifference to the content of religion. But Tocqueville was not indifferent to the content of religion. It is often forgotten that he viewed Christianity as superior to other types of religions such as Islam and Hinduism. Tocqueville had some very specific things to say about the type of religion modern democracy required--not only that it be a Christian religion but that it incorporate, or at least tolerate, some aspects of Protestantism. This is most apparent in his treatment of Catholicism, the success of which in modern times is dependent on the extent to which it resembles Protestantism more than traditional European Catholicism. ;The common argument is that Tocqueville advocated myths, and not genuine revealed religions: The former serves self-interest; the latter transcends it. However, Tocqueville argued that the logic of self-interest rightly understood is precisely the heart of revealed religion as it occurs among common men. Only the few, such as Pascal or Montaign, are capable of sounding the depths of divine truths. Organized religion, based on self-interest rightly understood translates the profound truths of religion into the language of the multitude. The religion of America is neither myth nor civil religion, rather, it is the happy coincidence of modern times and the eternal dialogue between God and man