Spring 2017/Pasadena

CH568

Graves

CH568: HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE (4 Units: 160 hours). Wilfred Graves.

DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the history of religious movements and institutions of African Americans from the period of slavery to the present. Topics in this course will include Christianity in Africa; African religions in America; religion of the slaves; the development of the black church; the rise of black Protestant denominations; the development of religious movements among African Americans outside Protestantism (e.g., Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam); the relationship between religion and culture; race relations in American church life; gender relationships within African American religion; politics in black American churches; religious aspects of civil rights movements; and the modern role of religion in African American life.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of taking CH568, students will (1) acquire knowledge of the history of the African American religious tradition; (2) understand the social and historical contexts of slavery, racism, gender, and civil rights that have shaped the history of the African American religious tradition; (3) understand the diversity of beliefs and practices of African Americans and how those cultural practices have shaped American religion broadly; (4) understand theological and other types of development occurring within the African American religious and church tradition today; and (5) increase their critical skills and knowledge in the field of African American religion through the assigned readings, discussions, presentations, and exams.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction. The course will consist of lectures, readings, presentations, and discussions and will include 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1200 pages required.

Fulop, Timothy E. and Albert J. Raboteau. African-American Religion: Interpretive Essays in History and Culture. Routledge, 1997. ISBN: 978-0415914598, Pub. Price $39.95 [200 pp. assigned].

Gilkes, Cheryl Townsend. If It Wasn’t For the Women: Black Women’s Experience and Womanist Culture in Church and Community. Orbis Books, 2001. ISBN: 978-1570753435, Pub. Price $24.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Raboteau, Albert J. Slave Religion: The “Invisible Institution” in the Antebellum South. Updated edition. Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0195174120, Pub. Price $19.99 [300 pp. assigned].

Sernett, Milton C., ed. African American Religious History: A Documentary Witness. 2nd ed. Duke University Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0822324492, Pub. Price $29.95 [200 pp. assigned].

Wilmore, Gayraud S. Black Religion and Black Radicalism: An Interpretation of the Religious History of African Americans. 3rd ed. Orbis Books, 1998. ISBN: 978-1570751820, Pub. Price $30.00 [300 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Class attendance and participation (10% of final grade). [30 hours].

2. Directed Learning Activities. Students will be required to answer and turn in weekly reflections based on the current class topic (10% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5]. [10 hours].

3. 1200 pp. of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.] [80 hours].

4. Midterm (30% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5] [10 hours].

5. In-class presentation on an aspect of African-American religious experience. The professor will provide a list of suggested titles (10% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3 and 4] [10 hours].

6. A final take-home exam; students will have a choice of questions; essay responses will total 10-12 pages and include evidence of research, including citations and bibliography (40% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5] [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MAT Programs (Fall 2015). Option to meet requirement in African American Church Studies emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, Take-home.