Subject: This course is intended to acquaint you with the impact
of
religion on the major dimensions of politics in the United States.
“Religion,”
as defined in the course, refers not only to formal theological creeds
but also
to the social beliefs, organizations and subcultures associated with
various
religious communities. The principal aim of the course is to understand
how
religion affects politics (and vice versa) rather than to
explore the
moral questions raised by the interaction of these two forces. By the
end of
the semester, you should have a much greater understanding of the
vitality and
variability of religion as a factor in American public life.
Procedure: Class meetings are intended to blend lecture
and discussion. If the latter is to prove valuable, you will need to
complete
the assigned readings on time and to attend class with questions and
observations
in mind.
In discussing such a sensitive topic as religion, it is important
that we respect views different from our own. As part of that respect,
keep in mind that the class is not intended as a place for
proselytizing or conversion.
It is important that we respect both those who have religious faith and
those
who do not. If your own views are so sensitive that they cannot bear
scrutiny,
you may want to consider another class. Keep in mind, however, that
this
is a course about politics and we are interested in religion primarily
as
it affects public life.
The core readings will be taken from the following paperbacks
(which should be available in area bookstores):
Kenneth D. Wald and Allison Calhoun Brown. Religion
and Politics in the
United
States. 5th edition. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
Jay Wexler. Holy
Hulabaloos: A Road Trip to the Battlegrounds of the Church/State Wars. Beacon
Press, 2009.
J. Matthew Wilson, ed. From Pews to Polling Places. Georgetown
University Press, 2007.
Charles Marsh. God's Long Summer: Stories of Faith and
Civil Rights. Princeton University Press, 1997.
The course grade will be based on three components: a midsemester
examination (30%), an end of semester examination (30%) and two papers
(one @25%
and the other @ 15%). The
examinations involve a mixture of objective and essay questions that
cover all the assigned reading
(whether discussed in class or not) and any other material (videos, Web
presentations)
covered in class. The first
paper (15%) , due Thursday,
February 4th, will involve some experiential education and
locating
information through the Internet and other sources. The second
paper, due Tuesday, April 6th,
will focus on a specific policy issue or debate involving religion and
politics. Students who
participate productively in classroom
discussion may earn bonus points at my discretion and there may be
other
opportunities for extra credit in the form of attendance at speakers,
plays, etc.
In this upper-division course, I expect students to attend class
regularly, take exams when scheduled, and meet assigned deadlines.
Papers
that are not completed on time will be penalized.
Outline: Here is our
tentative schedule:
Day
|
Dates (no. classes)
|
Topic |
Readings |
Tu
|
January 5
|
Orientation
|
|
Th-Th
|
January 7-14 (3)
|
Religion as a
Political Resource
|
Wald, chs.
1-2
Marsh, Intro., chs. 1-2 |
Tu-Th
|
January 19-21 (2)
|
Religion
& American
Political Culture
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 3
|
Tu-Th
|
January
26-February 11 (6)
|
Religion
& State
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 4
Wexler, entire book
Fishman,
"Unto Caesar"
|
Tu-Tu
|
February 16-23 (3)
|
Religion
& Political Behavior
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 7
Wilson, chs. 1-2
|
First Exam on Thursday, February 25th
|
Tu-Th
|
March 2-March 4 (2)
|
Religion and
Public Policy
|
Wald & Brown,
chs. 5-6
|
Spring Break from March 6-13th
|
Tu-Th
|
March 9-18 (4)
|
Politics of
Evangelical
Protestants
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 8
Marsh, ch. 3
|
Tu-Th
|
March 23-25 (2)
|
Politics of
African-Americans & Other Minorities
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 10-11
Wilson, chs. 5-9
Marsh, chs. 4-5
|
Tu-Th
|
March 30-April 1
(2)
|
Politics of Roman
Catholics
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 9 (247-267)
Wilson, ch. 4
|
Tu-Th
|
April 6 - April 8
(2)
|
Politics of
American Jewry
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 9 (274-281)
Wilson, ch. 8
|
Tu-Th
|
April 13 - April
15 (2)
|
Politics of
Mainline Protestants
|
Wald & Brown,
ch. 9 (267-274)
Wilson, ch. 3
|
|
Second
Exam on Tuesday, April 20
|