This is a one-term introduction to the study of American religion from colonial times to the present. The emphasis will be on how Americans have practiced their religion in different eras rather than on religion as a set of formal beliefs. We will explore the European roots of American religious forms, the rise of revivalism as a major cultural force in colonial and nineteenth-century America, the commercialization and fragmentation of religious life after the American Revolution, the legal and political history of the doctrine of religious freedom, the place of women in the major religious traditions, the synthesis of African and Christian belief systems in the slave community, the emergence of fundamentalism on the political stage in the twentieth century, and the wide diversity of sectarian beliefs in all eras of American history. Readings will include a variety of first-hand accounts written by people in the past describing their beliefs and practices, legal cases over differing interpretations of the First Amendment, novels and films depicting religious communities, and scholarly analyses of the place of religion in American life.

Course Requirements:

Periodic quizzes, regular discussion posts, and a research paper

Intended Audience:

Non-majors, first and second year students

Class Format:

Lecture and discussion