Politics in America is the binding secular religion.

White’s line suggests that, in the United States, political life often functions the way religion does in other societies: it supplies shared myths, moral language, rituals, and a sense of collective belonging. Calling it “binding” emphasizes politics’ capacity to unify disparate groups through common civic narratives (the Constitution, elections, national purpose), even when citizens disagree fiercely. “Secular religion” also carries an edge of critique: political movements can demand faith, loyalty, and heresy-hunting, turning policy disputes into moral absolutes. The remark fits White’s broader interest in how American democracy generates meaning through campaigns, leaders, and public storytelling.