REL 251 - Religion in American Life

An introduction to religion in the United States, from Native American religions and European-Indian contact in the colonial era, to present-day movements and ideas. The course will explore a variety of themes in American religious history, such as slavery and religion, politics and religion, evangelicalism, fundamentalism, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam in the United States, “cults” and alternative spiritualities, New Age religions, and religion and popular culture, with an emphasis on the impact of gender, race, and national culture on American spiritual life.

(Cr: 3)