Robert N. Bellah

Robert Neelly Bellah (February 23, 1927 – July 30, 2013) was an American sociologist and the Elliott Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. He was internationally known for his work related to the sociology of religion. Bellah graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social relations. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1955, with his doctoral dissertation titled "Religion and Society in Tokugawa Japan." His magnum opus, "Religion in Human Evolution" (2011), traces the biological and cultural origins of religion. Bellah's most famous book, "Habits of the Heart," published in 1985, explored the role of religion in American society and the tension between individualism and community. He also coined the term "American civil religion" in a 1967 article, arguing that contemporary American religion includes a trans-denominational civil religion shaping public discourse. Bellah's views are often classified as communitarian. He passed away in 2013 from complications after heart surgery.