Course home pages can be found here:
http://trickster.org/basilica/rel32105.htm
http://trickster.org/basilica/rel321resources05.htm

Required Texts:
Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr, Martin Luther King, Jr and Clayborne Carson (editor)
Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X, Alex Haley, M. S. Handler
Pocahontas: Medicine Woman, Spy, Entrepreneur, Diplomat, Paula Gunn Allen
American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon, Stephen R. Prothero
Guadalupe: Our Lady of New Mexico, Jacqueline Orsini Dunnington
World Religions in America: An Introduction, Jacob Neusner (editor)
Various materials available on-line

Course description: This course is designed to explore facets of Religion in America from the colonial period to the present day. We will examine a variety of historical events and interpretations of those events as well as consider religion in our contemporary context. Discussion will be a major part of this course, as we explore texts that reinforce or challenge common understandings of religion in America. The vision of American Religious history has been changing in the past decade and will be reading some of the newer interpretations. We will explore in depth some of the events in early American life that are intensely connected with religion: race, gender, ethnicity and social slavery.

The course goals are at least the following:

• To familiarize students with the history of religions in the United States;
• To enable students to appreciate and critically analyze the social- political role of religion in an American context;
• To facilitate the creation of a intellectual structure which allows and encourages students critically to appreciate the role of religion both in creating situations of oppression as well as in being a resource to resist oppression
• To create a forum in which the students can begin to critically analyze the social- political implications of religion in their own contexts;
• To introduce the methods of discourse that constitute an academic conversation, enabling students to formulate responses within that discourse. We will focus on the construction of academic discourse - what is the thesis of the article/book, how are the points presented and argued for and about, as well as what constitutes evidence and interpretation.

Course Requirements:
This class will function like a seminar. This means that you are expected to come to class not only having done the readings but prepared to discuss issues raised by the material you have read. The quality of this class is dependent on you. This class will be very interactive - you need to come to each class prepared to TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE READ!

• Attendance is required. This course will be primarily a discussion course, we will discuss the various books and their themes and contrasts. In order for each of us to get the most from this experience, each person must come to class prepared.
• Reading assignments: This class is what you make it. Please come prepared to discuss the readings.
• Reading presentations. You will be required to present on 1 chapter of a textbook in the course of the semester. In your presentation you will summarize the main points of the chapter and lead a discussion of the material.
• Writing assignments: You are required to write 1 paper 6-8 pages in length on a class topic of your choice. The font should not exceed 12 points and the margins should be 1" top and bottom, left and right. If you use an internet source that is not from the course homepage you must put the URL in the footnote. This is very important. I have prepared an internet resource page specifically for the topics in this class. Please utilize that resource. http://trickster.org/basilica/rel321resources05.htm
• Research topic presentation. This presentation will introduce the other students to a religious movement or group. This group or movement should be the topic and area of your final research paper.
• Viewing and discussion of films for the course.
• Occasional quizzes on assigned reading material.

Special Accommodations:
To receive special accommodations, a student must complete the following process, which has been approved by the College. Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make the necessary accommodations. The student also should present appropriate verification from the Learning Support Services Office.

No incompletes will be given. This course can only be taken for a grade.

Reading Schedule

10 Feb - Introduction

Native Americans
Tuesday 15 Feb - Pocahontas - introduction pp. 2-23; Chapter 1 pp. 28-42

Thursday 17 Feb - Pocahontas - pp. 42-81

Tuesday 22 Feb - Pocahontas - pp. 84-133

Thursday 24 Feb - Pocahontas - pp. 136-169
Film In the Light of Reverence

Tuesday 1 Mar -Pocahontas - pp.196-251

Thursday 3 Mar - Pocahontas, pp. 254-305

African-American Religious Biography

Tuesday 8 Mar - MLK group pp. 1-82
Malcolm X group pp. 1-72
Film: HBO Slave Narratives Documentary

Thursday 10 Mar - MLK group pp. 83-141
Malcolm X group pp. 73-153

Tuesday 15 Mar - MLK group pp. 142-204
Malcolm X group pp. 154-214
Film: Do the Right Thing

Thursday 17 Mar - MLK group pp. 205-269
Malcolm X group pp. 215-293
Film: Do the Right Thing (conclusion)

Tuesday 22 Mar - MLK group pp. 270-332
Malcolm X group pp. 294-348

Thursday 24 Mar - MLK group pp. 333-370
Malcolm X group pp. 349-389

Spring Break - 28 Mar - 1 Apr

Catholics, Protestants and Jews (oh my!)
{ April 4 = Anniversary of MLK's assassination}

Tuesday 5 Apr - American Jesus group pp. 1-42
Our Lady of New Mexico group pp. 1-43
Film: The Apostle

Thursday 7 Apr - presentations

Tuesday 12 Apr - American Jesus group pp. 43-86
Our Lady of New Mexico group pp. 45-77
Film: The Apostle (conclusion)

Thursday 14 Apr - presentations

Tuesday 19 Apr - American Jesus group pp. 161-199
Our Lady of New Mexico group pp. 77-99

Thursday 21 Apr - presentations

Tuesday 26 Apr - American Jesus group pp. 200-228
Our Lady of New Mexico group pp. 101-150
Film: Blinking Madonna

Thursday 28 Apr - presentations

Tuesday 3 May - American Jesus group pp. 267-290
Our Lady of New Mexico group pp. 101-150

Thursday 5 May - presentations

Tuesday 10 May - Does Lisa Speak for Jesus? "There's Something Wrong with that Kid. She's So Moral." (available on-line)
"Star Trek is to me a way of life": Fan Expressions of Star Trek Philosophy (available on-line)
Matrix Article - available on-line

Thursday 12 May - presentations

Tuesday 17 May - Conclusion of the course; last minute presentations and etc.

Reading Day 18 May
Final paper due: May 20 by 5pm