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Readings in Religion and American History, 1600-1990 This seminar explores intersections of religion and society in American history from the colo-nial period to the 1990s as well as methodological problems important to their study. The course covers considerable ground and is designed to give graduate stu-dents a working knowledge of the field, ranging from major recent studies to bibliographical tools. In short, this is a broad readings course surveying religion in American history from European colonization to the present. It is not a specialized research seminar. The major written work for the seminar consists of three relatively short critical essays based on the readings. The first paper (1250 words) is due Oct. 10 and will critically analyze the problem of interpreting Puritanism or American revivalism. The second paper (1250 words) is due Nov. 7 and will offer a review essay on any one of the books by Taves, Raboteau, Abzug, or Franchot. The third paper (2800-3000 words) is due Dec. 18 and will offer an extended review essay on the general intellectual problems raised in any one of the books by Wenger, Fox, McGreevy, or Orsi. The essays are arranged to spread written work across the semester and eliminate the need for incompletes. Each stu-dent will initiate the seminar discussion once during the semester with a ten-minute critical assessment of the major interpretive and methodological issues raised by the weekís reading. These remarks should *not* summarize the readings and should not exceed ten minutes. They should highlight analytical, interpretative, and methodological issues in the weekís readings. The course grade is based on a com-bination of written work and seminar participation, both of which should be excellent and timely. Books are available at Book Haven bookstore and (usually) in the Cross Campus Library. Copyright restrictions prevent placing the York Copy packet on reserve. Books Butler & Stout, Religion in American History: A Reader Dunn and Yeandle, eds., The Journal of John Winthrop, 1630-1649 [abridged edition]. Fox, Reinhold Niebuhr: A Biography Seminar Schedule Note: * = selection in Butler and Stout reader; ** = selection in reading packet available at York Copy Week 1 Sept. 12 -- Introduction The Journal of John Winthrop; *Miller, ìErrand into the Wildernessî; **David D. Hall, The Mental World of Samuel Sewall, ed. David D. Hall Saints and Revolutionaries, 1984); **Charles L. Cohen, "The Post-Puritan Paradigm of Early American Religious History," William and Mary Quarterly, 3d ser., 54 (1997): 695-722 Week 3 Sept. 26 -- The Origins of American Revival Culture Harry S. Stout, The Divine Dramatist: George Whitefield and the Rise of Modern Evangelicalism; *Butler, "Enthusiasm Described and Decried: The Great Awakening as Interpretative Fiction." Week 4 Oct. 3-- What is American Religious History? Week 5 Oct. 10 -- A Christian Republic? Religion and the Making of the
Nation PAPER I DUE Week 6 Oct. 17 -- Theology or Experience--The Soul of American Religion? Week 7 Oct. 24 -- The Religion of Americaís Slaves Week 8 Oct. 31 -- Religion, Reform, and Abolition in Antebellum America Abzug, Cosmos Crumbling. *Frederick Douglass, "Address Delivered at Market Hall, Syracuse, New York, September 1847" Week 9 Nov. 7 -- Encountering Others in "Protestant America" Franchot, Roads to Rome. *Jay Dolan, "The Immigrants and Their Gods"; *Wood, ìEvangelical America and Early Mormonismî; *Moore, "Insiders and Outsiders in American Historical Narrative and American History" PAPER II DUE Week 10 Nov. 14 -- Religion and Social Experience Wenger, New York Jews and the Great Depression; *Sarna, "Seating and the American Synagogue"; *Dinnerstein, "Antisemitism in the Depression Era." Week 11 Nov. 28 -- The Power of Theology in Modern America Fox, Reinhold Niebuhr; *Johnson, ìJesus, the Liberatorî; *Falwell, "The Imperative of Moral Involvement"; * Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U. S. Economy (Washington, D. C., 1986), excerpt. Week 12 Dec. 5 -- The Racial Divide in American Religion McGreevy, Parish Boundaries; *Spillers, "Martin Luther King and the Style of the Black Sermon"; *Orsi, "'He Keeps Me Going': Women's Devotion to Saint Jude Thaddeus and the Dialectics of Gender in American Catholicism, 1929-1965." Week 13 Dec. 12 -- Religion and American Modernity Return to RSiSS Syllabi |