American Religion

In this course we will explore religion in the United States by asking how the categories “religion” and “American” have been defined in relation to one another. We will seek to better understand how those debates have taken shape in different regions, periods, and public settings, paying special attention to how they have informed narratives about the nation’s past and present. We will cover American variations of traditions such as Christianity, indigenous religious traditions, Buddhism, and contemporary spirituality. Course materials will draw on historical and contemporary cases, including speeches, religious texts, media, and political debates that help us understand how religion has been imagined, contested, and experienced in the U.S. 3 hrs lect, 1 hr. disc.