This readings seminar offers history majors and non-majors a broad knowledge of religion and American culture from the pre-colonial period to the present. Special attention will be given to the work of historians, filmmakers, religious studies scholars, anthropologists, and sociologists who grapple with the complexities of American religious life. This course will pay close attention to the wide-ranging religious diversity of America—from 19th century Lakota spiritualism to 20th century Catholic devotion; from modern serpent-handling Appalachian pentecostals to covenant-making early American Puritans. Other topics to be covered include: the religious dimensions of gender and sexuality, race and religion, the development of a distinctively American theology, and the recent fusion of religion and politics.
This syllabus was created for the Young Scholars in American Religion program.
Randall StephensAuthor
Eastern Nazarene CollegeInstitution
Private College or University Institution Type
Syllabus Resource Type
Undergraduate Course, Seminar Class Type
2009 Date Published
Religious Studies, History Discipline
General Comparative Traditions, Indigenous, Other Christianities, Protestant Religous Tradition
Business/Capitalism/Labor, Gender/Women/ Sexuality, Politics/Law/Government, Pluralism/Secularism/Culture Wars, Race/Ethnicity, Nationalism/War/Civil Religion, Theology/Liturgy Topics