PHL/HST 3333 Syllabus Part III
Lesson 7
Lesson
Ethnic Christianities Part II
Date
March 5 and 7
Objectives or
Goals
To examine the presence of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in the U.S.
and Canada
Topics
The History and Beliefs of Eastern Orthodox Christians; Russian
immigration; Russian dissidents--The Doukhobors
Readings
Gaustad & Schmidt, pp.285-288; Handout (?)
Lesson 8 a, b
Lesson
The Social Gospel; Disruptions and Changes in Protestantism
Date
March 19, 21, 23
Objectives or
Goals
To examine the impact of modernism and fundamentalism on the
development of Protestantism.
Topics
What fundamentalism means; what was modernism; why did the
holiness movement arise? Holiness and Pentecostal Churches
Readings
Gaustad & Schmidt, pp. 231-254; 291-321
Lesson 9 a, b, c, d, e
Lesson
Alternate Christianities
Date
March 26, 28, 30; April 2, 11
Objectives or
Goals
To examine the origin and nature of American born Christianities such
as Mormonism, Adventism, and Christian Science. Additionally, to
discuss some peculiarly American communal religions such as the
Shakers and Oneida community. To examine what contributions these
religions may have made to American and Canadian social and
political values and practices
Topics
Readings
1. Communalism: The Shakers and the Oneida Community,
pp.149-152
2. Adventists and Witnesses, pp.152-156; 226-228; 349-355
3. Mormons, pp. 177-80; 280-281
4. Christian Science, pp. 228-230
5. Unitarians and Universalists, pp. 158-161
See above for appropriate pages in Gaustad & Schmidt
APRIL 4
SECOND EXAMINATION
April 6 and 9 Instructor at Conference April 6, 9. No class (students should do
on-line research on Buddhism and Islam in North America
Lesson 10
Lesson
Buddhism in North America
Date
April 13, 16
Objectives or
Goals
To gain some understanding of the presence of non-Western traditions
in North American religious practices. To pose a preliminary answer to
the question of why North Americans may be turning to non-Western
traditions.
Topics
The Nature of Buddhist belief; American and Canadian Buddhism
Readings
Gaustad & Schmidt, pp. 288-291; 412-418
Assignments
Go to the Religious Links page and visit and explore either the
American Buddhist site or the Buddhism in Canada site.
Lesson 11
Lesson
Islam in North America
Date
April 18, 20
Objectives or
Goals
To gain some understanding of the presence of non-Western traditions
in North American religious practices. To pose a preliminary answer to
the question of why North Americans may be turning to non-Western
traditions.
Topics
The nature of Islam; Islamic belief in North America; Black Muslims
Readings
Gaustad & Schmidt, pp. 417-422
Assignments
Visit the Religion Links page and explore the various sites on Islam
Lesson 12 a, b, c
Lesson
Fundamentalism revisited, the New Evangelicals, the
Religious/Political Right and Christian Television
Date
April 23, 25, 27
Objectives or
Goals
To critically examine the role of evangelical Christians and
fundamentalists in American and Canadian politics; to critically
examine the mission of the "electronic church" and the ideologies of
televangelism
Topics
Readings
1. What is Fundamentalism?
2. "Christian Television"
3. The "Moral Majority," the "Christian Coalition" and American
Politics
4. The religion of the New Conservatives in Canada
Gaustad & Schmidt, pp. 335-348; 398-412
Lesson 13
Lesson
American Civil Religion
Date
April 30
Objectives or
Goals
To develop a critical analysis of American Civil Religion
Topics
Readings
1. The Historical Development of Civil Religion
2. The Structure of Civil Religion
3. The Meaning of Civil Religion
Handout
Lesson 14 a, b
Lesson
Religion and Culture
Date
May 2, 4
Objectives or
Goals
To discover the origin and appeal of new age and self-help
philosophies; to examine the ways in which sports, music, and
television programs have risen to the status of religious cults; to
discuss the problem of defining a cult
Topics
Readings
1. New Age & Self-Help Philosophies
2. Pop Culture and Religion
3. Cults
TBA
The Final Examination Will be Held on
Monday, MAY 7 at 10:15 AM