DESCRIPTION:

This course will provide an introduction to the more important themes, and an overview of the more significant movements in the history of the American church. Beginning with the Puritans in New England, the student will survey the vibrant and often conflicting features from established churches to frontier revivalism, from European transplanted historic churches to American-born new religious movements. Attention will be given to religion in the Southwest and to the contributions of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and women to American religious history, especially in the readings.

This course should enable students better to understand and interpret contemporary events and discussions in light of their historical and social contexts. Students should expect to be ecumenically sensitized.

The class will meet two hours, twice a week in a lecture-discussion format.

Fulop, Timothy E. and Albert J. Raboteau, eds. African-American Religion: Interpretive Essays in History and Culture. New York: Routledge, 1997.

Lindley, Susan Hill "You have Stept out of your Place": A History of Women and Religion in America. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996.

Matsuoka, Fukmitaka. Out of Silence: Emerging Themes in Asian American Churches. Cleveland: United Church Press, 1995.

Noll, Mark. History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992.

Ahlstrom, Sydney E. A Religious History of the American People. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1972.

Gaustad, Edwin S. A Documentary History of Religion in America. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982 (2 volumes).

Hudson, Winthrop S. Religion in America. New York: Charles Scribner's Son, 1965, 1981, 1987 (4th edition).

Lincoln, C. Eric and Lawrence H. Mamiya. The Black Church in the African American Experience. Durham: Duke University Press, 1990.

Marsden, George M. Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth Century Evangelicalism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980.

Sweet, Leonard I., ed. The Evangelical Tradition in America. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1984.

There will be one midterm and a final examination covering the text and lectures accounting for 70% of the final grade. A five page written response to a contemporary document and written notes on a second document will be assigned. They will count for 30% of the grade.

None.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Church History "C" (CHC).

Yes.