American Religious History

This seminar examines the role that religion plays in the history of the United States, and asks students to critically explore how peoples and communities in various places and times have drawn upon religion to give meaning to self, group, and nation. The course will cover a wide range of traditions, as well as regional, denominational, and racial-ethnic dimensions within these groups.

Throughout this course, we'll examines the dynamic relationship between religion & American culture. Our goal is to recognize, understand, and analyze religious influences in contemporary life through overarching themes: how religion shapes and is shaped by American life, how we encounter minority religions, and how the U.S. handles religious diversity.