Crossroads: Religion and Capitalism in the Americas

Why are Americans afraid of selling their souls? Legend tells us that the Delta blues were born when a young black American sold his soul at a crossroads to play the guitar. Since the moment of European contact, the “Crossroads” have represented opportunity, danger, and spiritual power. In this course we will study the Crossroads as an entrée into the field of comparative religion and economy in the Americas. We will explore the contact points between European Christian and African diasporic religion in the U.S. and Brazil, while critically assessing how capitalism has shaped religious life across the hemisphere. 3 hours lect./disc.