Introduction to American Religious History

This course will explore the major themes in American Religious history highlighting the key players, trends, movements, groups and events. Particular attention will be paid to the variety of Protestant groups in the U.S. The goal of the course will be to introduce students to the variety of methodologies employed by scholars in the field. Topics include: Puritanism, Anglicanism, the Great Awakenings, African American Religion, American Catholicism, Native American Religion, Mormonism, Pentecostalism, and Fundamentalism.

Goals: 1. To help students critically appreciate the religious foundations and worldviews of other cultures as well as their own. 2. To help students understand the historical method and the importance of reading, writing and thinking critically about religious traditions. 3. To guide students towards a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and engagement with the world.

Objectives: 1. To be able to identify major persons, texts, trends, terms and events in American religious history. 2. To comprehend the internal logic and coherence linking various traditions' practices, history and social institutions and their development over time. 3. To understand the historiography of American religion. 4. To be willing to discuss openly and analyze critically the presuppositions of one’s world view, religious and cultural tradition or conventionally held ideas in society and to offer arguments for one's own belief and stances rather than accepting them without question. 5. To be proficient in writing analytic papers, expository essays and research papers that reflects standards of good writing and research, using appropriate literary skills.

Requirements: The instructor will lecture on Mondays and the class will discuss the readings on Thursdays. The instructor will seek to engage all students in discussion throughout the class. . All reading assignments should be completed prior to the class period for which they are assigned.

Attendance is mandatory, and will be taken at each class.

Course requirements include:

• Class participation. This is an essential component of the class. Students are encouraged to engage with the material in concert with their peers and the instructor. Note: The instructor reserves the right to give unannounced quizzes during class on the reading assignments. Failure to participate on a consistent basis in discussion is grounds for an UNSAT.
• Two 5-page papers. All papers will be due in class on the Monday of the week specified - without exception. All papers will be Peer Reviewed. Papers not submitted on time will be given an UNSAT unless an exception has been granted by the instructor prior to the due date.
• An in-class Midterm Exam.
• An in-class Final Exam.
  

Note: An optional Webboard has been set up for students to discuss issues thata rise in class and in the readings.

Schedule:

Week 1: January 30, February 2

Introduction

Faith in The Old World: Protestantism and Catholicism in Europe

Butler et al, 1-22.

Document: Richard Hakluyt the Younger, Discourse on Western Planting (E-reserve)
Document: Pope Alexander VI, Inter Caetera (E-reserve)
Document: John Calvin: Institute of the Christian Religion (E-reserve)

Week 2: February 6, 9

Faith in The New World

Butler et al, 23-50

Reading: John Steckley, "The Warrior and the Lineage: Jesuit Use of Iroquois Imagery to Communicate Christianity." (E-reserve)

Document: Jesuit Relations (E-reserve)

Film: Black Robe (On three-hour reserve in the Media Center)

Week 3: February 13 [No class February16]

New England

Butler et al, 51-97

Reading: Perry Miller, “Errand into the Wilderness.”(E-reserve)
Reading: Gerald Fogarty, “Property and Religious Liberty in Colonial Maryland Catholic Thought.” (E-reserve)

Document: Jonathon Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity.” (E-reserve)
Document: Lord Calvert, “Maryland and Catholicism” (E-reserve)

Week 4: February 20, 23

The First Great Awakening

Butler et al, 98-141

Reading: Rhys Isaac, “Religion and Authority: Problems of the Anglican Establishment in Virginia in the Era of the Great Awakening and the Parsons' Cause.” (E-reserve)
Document: George Whitfield and Timothy Cutler(E-reserve)

Week 5: February 27, March 2

Revolution and Disestablishment

Butler et al, 142-180

Reading: Mark A. Noll, “The American Revolution and Protestant Evangelicalism.”
Documents: Anthony Benezet, “Letter to Granville Sharp.” (E-reserve)
Document: John Allen, “Letter to the Earl of Dartmouth.” (E--reserve)
Document: Phyllis Wheatly, “Letter to Samson Occum.” (E-reserve)
Document: Isaac Backus, “Plea before the Massachusetts Legislature.” (E-reserve)

Week 6: March 6, 9

Second Great Awakening/Peer Review

Butler et al, 181-226

Reading: Voluntary Associations(E-reserve)
Document: The Golden Ringlet: or Little Lizzie Dies Tonight (E-reserve)
Document: Joseph Smith, Recounts his First Vision (E-reserve)
Document: Book of Mormon 1Nephi: 13-14. 17-18 (E-reserve)

First Writing Assignment ROUGH Draft Due March 8th to all of the member in your Peer Review Group. We will discus the papers in class on Thursday so please have read and evaluated each of your groups' papers.

Please fill out a Peer Review Form for each paper you evlauate.

Week 7: March 13, 16

Building the Kingdom of God

Butler et al, 227-246

Reading; David Hackett, “The Prince Hall Masons and the African American Church: The Labors of Grand Master and Bishop James Walker Hood, 1831-1918.” (E-reserve)

Document: The Life, Experience, and Gospel Labours of the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen. (E-reserve)

First Writing Assignment FINAL Draft Due March 13th in Class

Spring Break: March 20, 23

NO CLASS

Week 8: March 27, 30

Review and Midterm

Week 9: April 3, 6

Civil War

Butler et al, 247-262

Document: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and Gettysburg Address (E-reserve)

Week 10: April 10, 13

The Immigrant Church

Butler et al, 263-278

Film: Hester Street

Week 11: April 17, 20

The Social Gospel/Peer Review

Butler et al, 279-363

Reading: William Doherty. The Impact of Business on Protestantism, 1900-29 (E-reserve)

Document: Bruce Barton, The Man Nobody Knows (E-reserve)

Second Writing Assignment ROUGH Draft Due Thursday April 20th in Class

Week 12: April 24, 27

In God We Trust

Butler et al, 364-407

William Hutchison."Don't Change Your Name: Early Assaults on the Melting Pot Ideal." (E-reserve)

Second Writing Assignment Final Draft Due April 24th in Class

Week 13: May 1, 4

Down to Now

Butler et al, 408-456

Reading: James T Richardson. People's Temple and Jonetown. (E-reserve)

Week 14: May 8, 11

Review and Final Exam