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.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.