Beau Weston Crounse 447 (x8789)
Centre College Sociology of American Religion Hours: see schedule
Centre Term 2008 (SOC 344/ REL 352) Phone: 238-7580 (h)
Our first aim will be to understand what the main denominational traditions found in the United States believe and practice. One important tool we will use is that we will each research our own denominational tradition, whatever that is, and speak to the class material from that perspective. Our larger and harder task will be to see how these traditions win, lose, and change in their competition with one another. Seeing the vast diversity of denominations, and the effects of competition among them, will give us a rich understanding of the American experiment with both the separation of church and state, and the rich intertwining of religion and culture.
Roger Finke and Rodney Stark, The Churching of America, 1776 - 2005 (2005)
Diana Eck, A New Religious America (2002)
NOTE: Both are available in the bookstore. A copy of each is on reserve in the library.
Fact Test 1 20%
Fact Test 2 20%
Field report 10%
Own tradition paper 30%
Journal & Participation 20%
Fact Tests 1 and 2. At the end of each book we will
have a simple one-hour test. While
reading the book, we will generate 100 important facts from each book and
related experiences. In the test, I will ask you to take a subset of the 100,
get the facts right, and briefly explain them.
Field report. In a small group, go to a religious service from a denomination quite different from your own. Interview at least one person connected with the service (not necessarily clergy, but some who knows what is going on.) It would be courteous and more effective to set up this interview ahead of time. Then each member of the group should write a separate paper of about 5 pages. The reports should tell something of the history of the congregation, what happened in the service, and what you learned from a leader of the congregation. Write it as a .doc format document and submit it by way of WebCT. The field reports are due no later than the last Sunday night of the term.
Own tradition paper. You will write a paper of about 10 pages on your denominational experience. This should include the basic historical, theological, and sociological facts of your particular denomination and its place in its denominational "family." You should also analyze how the American religious marketplace affects you in relation to your denomination. If you are not clearly attached to one denomination, pick the one in your family line that has had the biggest effect on you. Write it as a .doc format document and submit it by way of WebCT on the last day of class.
Journal and
Participation: I would like
you to write a journal entry every day
of the term from January 3 to 22.
These need not be long – a page or two (300 – 600
words). You can respond to the
class meetings, readings, field trips, films, outside conversations, religious
experiences, reflections on past experience – anything that helps you
think about American religion. I
will collect the journals three times in the term. I will respond to each
entry. I will use the most minimal
grading scheme – A for really exceptional journals, B/C for the great
majority of good ones, and D for lame/sketchy/incomplete journals. You should
write the whole journal in one .doc file, named with your name (so I can tell
them apart). You will submit them
through WebCT; I will write comments on the journal, and send it back to you
the same way. The last time I will
collect them will be the morning of
January 23, the day after our trip to the Creation Museum. Please be sure to include that trip in
your journal.
The more you participate,
the more you will learn and the more engaging the class will be for everyone.