Rick Gribble – Religion in America

RS-262 Religion in America–Section A

Instructor: Rev. Rick Gribble. CSC, Ph.D. Office: Duffy 263; Phone: (508) 565-1263 (Office),

(508) 238-6685 (Home–Before 9 PM)

E-mail:  rgribble@stonehill.edu

Class Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 1-2:15 PM

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 AM, Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.  Any day by appointment

Books/Resources: John Corrigan and Winthrop S. Hudson, Religion in AmericaCSeventh Edition (Hudson); Class Reading Packet (Readings)

Course Description: This course is designed as a survey of historical trends of prominent religious groups in American history.  Beginning with the post-Columbian evangelization of the New World and ending with modern church movements of the late twentieth century, the course will trace the genesis, development, and theological understanding of those religious groups that sought a home in the United States.  Lecture presentations, based on critical reading of primary and secondary sources will be combined with discussion of documents and ideas of various periods to discover the reasons for America=s religious plurality and the unique ideas and contributions of the United States to religious history in general.

Objectives of Course:

1. To gain knowledge of and respect for the pluralism of American religious history

2. To understand the many different religious movements, their historical roots and progress in American history

3. To gain an appreciation for the historical, social, and ethnic context from which American religions have their roots

4. To gain additional proficiency in historical research and writing, including proper documentation.

Pedagogical Techniques:

Lecture and discussion will be the base of each session.  It is my intent to amplify on the readings you have been assigned from the Corrigan/Hudson text and readings.  I assume you have read this material and have some familiarity with same.  The primary texts assigned from the reader will be the basis for discussions.  A list of discussion questions will be provided for most class sessions to inform your reading of these primary texts and to serve as a basis for discussion, hopefully a point from which the discussion can flow. Discussion requires serious preparation on the part of students.

The approach used in this class will be historical and chronological.  Movements and specific periods of religious history will be studied in chronological time, with emphasis on historical roots and connections.  Specific theological understandings of religions will be studied from an historical rather than a confessional perspective.

Class Sessions

Thursday August 28: Introduction–Religion in America–Where we have come from

Tuesday September 2: The Spanish and French Evangelize America: Two Contrasting Approaches

Readings: Hudson, pp. 1-40; Readings: Bartolome De Las Casas, AOnly Method,@ ABrief Account,@ ADeclaration of Human Rights@; John Tracy Ellis, Documents of American Catholicism, Jean de Brebeuf, S.J. AInstructions@

Thursday September 4: Anglicanism and Puritanism in Early Colonial America: The Establishment of Religion

Readings: Hudson, pp. 41-83; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, AVirginia=s Cure,@ Rhode Island and the Baptists,@ Pennsylvania and the Quakers,@ and APenn and Liberty of Conscience@

Tuesday September 9: Roman Catholics in the English Colonies

Readings: Readings, Jay Dolan, American Catholic Experience, ACatholics in the English Colonies,@ Ellis, Documents of American Catholicism, AState of Catholicism in Maryland,@ through, ANew York=s Grant of Religious Toleration@

Thursday September 11: George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards and the First Great Awakening

Readings: Hudson, PP. 84-104; Readings, Jonathan Edwards, AJustification by Faith@; George Whitefield, AJustification by Christ@

Tuesday September 16: The Churches and the Revolutionary War

Readings: Hudson, pp. 105-146; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion ALoyalism@; AReligious Liberty Guaranteed@ (Jefferson and Madison)

Thursday September 18: Catholicism in an Age of Democracy

Readings: Readings, Jay Dolan, In Search of an American Catholicism, ACatholicism in an Age of Democracy@

Tuesday September 23: The Second Great Awakening: Religious Explosion in Nineteenth Century America

Readings: Hudson, pp. 147-199; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, AUnitarianism@ (Channing and Emerson)

Thursday September 25: Catholicism and Immigration

Readings: Hudson, pp. 255-277

Tuesday September 30: Anti-Catholicism in America-1820-1900

Readings: Readings, Sydney Ahlstrom, AAnti-Catholiicsm and the Nativist Movement,@ Gaustad, Documentary History of Religion in America, ANativism,@ John Tracy Ellis, Documents of American Catholicism, ASecret Oath of the American Protective Association@

Thursday October 2: Radical Protestants I–Peace Movement, Communitarians, Apocalyptic (Adventist) and Millennial Movements

Readings: Hudson, pp. 200-216, 220-227; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, ASchwenkfelders,@Shakers,@ Oneida Community,@ AMillerites,@ AAdventists@

Tuesday October 7: Radical Protestants II–Mormons, Harmonial Religion, Spiritualism, Twentieth Century Sects and Cults

Readings: Hudson, pp. 293-297, 426-434; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, ALatter Day Saints and New Revelation,@ ASpiritualism,@ AChristian Science,@ APersonality Cults–Jonestown@

Term Paper I Due in Class

Thursday October 9:  The Churches, Slavery, and the Civil War

Readings: Hudson, pp. 216-220, 231-248, 252-254; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, AInstitutional Schism,@ Ellis, Documents of American Catholicism, ATaney=s Reflections of Slavery,@ ABishop Lynch, Case for South=s Secession@; AFather Purcell on Behalf of the Slaves@

Mid-Term Take Home Exam Distributed

Tuesday October 14: Academic Development Day–No ClassesBVisit of Local Churches TBD

Thursday October 16: Judaism and Orthodox Christianity in America

Readings: Hudson, pp. 192-194, 339-352; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of Religion, AOrganization,@ AReform Platforms@ and AConservative Approaches@

Mid-Term Take Home Exam Due in Class

Tuesday October 21: The Social Gospel in America

Readings: Hudson, pp. 298-335; Readings, Walter Rauschenbusch, ATheology of the Social Gospel@

Thursday October 23: John Ryan and the Catholic Social Gospel

Readings: Hudson, pp. 394-412; Readings, Ellis, Documents of American Catholicism, ABishops Program for Social Reconstruction@

Tuesday October 27: Liberal Protestantism and Catholic Theological Modernism

Readings: Hudson, pp. 278-97; Readings, ASyllabus of Errors of Modernists@; Edward Hanna, ASome New Books on Theology@

Thursday October 30: Revivalism in America

Readings: Hudson, pp. 248-252; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of Religion in America, ARevivalism,@ ADwight Moody, Sam Jones and Billy Sunday@

Tuesday November 4: Holiness and Pentecostalism

Readings: Hudson, pp. 352-68; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, AHoliness and Pentecostalism@

Report on Church Visit Due

Wednesday November 5 Film Night AElmer Gantry@ (Place TBD)

Thursday November 6: No Class

Tuesday November 11: The Fundamentalist Voice

Readings: Hudson, pp. 369-385; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, ALitigation: The Scopes Trial

Thursday November 13: Catholic Social Action

Readings: Readings, Marvin Mich, Catholic Social Teaching and Movements, Dorothy Day, AOur Country,@ ATo Our Readers,@ ALoaves and Fishes@

Tuesday November 18: The Heyday of American Religion–The 1950s

Readings: Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, ABilly Graham,@ AYou Can Win,@ (Peale) APeace and Positive Thoughts@ (Sheen)

Book Review Due

Thursday November 20: Religion and Education: Courts and Varied Approaches

Readings: Readings: Gaustad, ALitigation and Division: Public Education and Private Education@

Tuesday November 25: Religion and Public Order: Politics and the Courts

Readings: Readings, Mario Cuomo, AWhat Religion Demands and Pluralism Requires@; Edward Harrington, AThe Metaphorical Wall@; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, AThe Participation of Catholics in Political Life@

November 26-30 Thanksgiving Holidays

Tuesday December 2: Religion and Pacifism–The Case of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Readings: Hudson, pp. 385-393, Readings, Martin Luther King, ALetter from the Birmingham Jail@ and ADeclaration of Independence from the War in Vietnam@

Thursday December 4: Vatican II and American Catholicism

Readings: Hudson, pp. 420-426; Readings, Timothy McCarthy, AVatican Council II,@ and ADeclaration on Religious Liberty@

Term Paper II Due in Class

Tuesday December 9: The Christian Coalition and Televangelism

Readings: Hudson, pp. 413-420, 426-433; Readings, Gaustad, Documentary History of American Religion, ATelevangelism and Political Power@

Final ExamBMonday, December 15, 9 AM

Assignments/Grading Policy:

1. Term Paper 1 15%

2. Mid-Term Examination 15%

3. Term Paper II 20%

4. Class assignments 15%

5. Class discussion/attendance 15%

6. Final Examination 20%

Policy on Attendance and Assignments

1. Class attendance and promptness is important and expected.  If you know that you cannot attend a class please inform me via phone or e-mail on or before the date.  Excessive (more than three) unexcused absences will reduce your class participation grade at least one letter grade. More than five (5) unexcused absences will reduce your final grade at least one letter grade.

2.  Extensions are granted on assignments only for serious personal health or family issues.  If some situation arises check with me as soon as possible.

3.  Assignments are due in class on the date assigned.  Late assignments will be reduced one letter grade (ten points) for each day (not simply class day) late.

4.  Students are responsible for any material missed in class–notes, handouts, etc.  I will be more than happy to assist you at any mutually convenient time.  Please allow me to assist if the need arises.

5.  Plagiarism, defined in Stonehill=s documents and website, will result in a grade of zero (0) for the assignment and possibly other sanctions.  I follow the policies presented in these documents.  There will be no exceptions. I highly recommend that you review the Academic Honesty Policy of the College and the requirements for students and professors.

6.  Rough drafts on written assignments are encouraged and will be reviewed by me in an expeditious manner.  However, for your benefit and mine all drafts must be submitted NO LATER THAN one week prior to the date. I will make an appointment with you to personally review your draft

Grading Policy

92-100 A 78-80 C+

90-92 A- 72-78 C

88-90 B+ 70-72 C-

82-88 B 60-70 D

80-82 B- Below 60 F