American society and its form of government are a unique historical realization We seem to be losing our identity and this is a huge danger for the world. First question is whether American society is properly civil. Civil society is a bond of reason or more exactly the exercise of reason which is argument. Amity is the highest good and this is the shared will to justice with the ground of peace. In arguments we must return often to first principles.
American consensus needs to be constantly argued.
If the argument ceases we endanger civilization. Barbarism comes when we lack the ability for reasonable conversation. Religious pluralism is experienced as intellectual, profoundly in the realization that we only minimally share the same history. The split between Protestant and Catholic leads them to distrust each other's intentions. Secularist is also at war and trusts none of the above players.