History 4790:
American Christianity in the Twentieth Century

Course Description

Religion in America is a complex and vibrant phenomenon that influences every aspect of American life and culture. This condensed summer course focuses on contemporary Catholicism and Protestantism. Students will examine how religious practices and beliefs are shaped by society and culture. We will focus on two influential areas of American culture, the movies and politics, to see how religion is represented by these cultural forms during the twentieth century.

This course asks students to engage with controversial, sensitive, and difficult materials. It requires an open mind and awareness of the feelings of others. In addition, it requires you to recognize that some ideas that you have believed about other faiths are incorrect. As in all aspect of history, religious history is based on information, analysis, and interpretation. Expect criticism and conflict in this class. Expect to work hard. Growing in knowledge can be painful but the end result will provide you a more sophisticated perspective on American culture and beliefs. You need to have a good sense of humor and patience - with me, your fellow students, and yourself.

   By the end of the term you should be able to
      •Describe the main beliefs and rituals of Catholics and Protestants
      •Understand the difference between the two religious traditions
      •Analyze the ways that religion is represented in popular movies
      •Chart key changes in the intersection of politics and religion

   Please purchase (available at the University Bookstore):
      •McDannell, Catholics in the Movies (Oxford 2008)
      •Balmer, God in the White House (Harper 2008)

Course Requirements

In this class you contract for grades. This means that you tell me which grade you would like to receive and you do the work required for that grade.

If in the course of the term you decide that you contracted for a grade which is too high, all you have to do is not turn in the assignments on its due date. On the other hand, you may not re-contract for a higher grade.

Likewise, if you do not pass the reading quizzes you will not receive higher than a C. You may have a 1 page (both sides) "cheat sheet" with your for the reading quizzes.

Be realistic with your contracts. Remember, you must turn in the assignments on the due dates. This is, however, your chance to get an "A" with no guessing. I will help you accomplish your goal as long as you are willing to do the work.

I will read the materials you turn in and if I do not find that the quality of work is at college standard level, I will ask you to re-write the assignment.

In addition to reading the descriptions for each written assignment, make sure to take a look at The Ten Commandments of Writing.

Woody Allen says: "Seventy percent of life is showing up."

Students are required to attend all classes and roll will be taken. This is a condensed course where you do 15 weeks of work in 6 weeks. Each class is three hours long and there is more work outside of the course than you would have in a normal semester-length course. Such a course requires you attend every class.

This also is a process-oriented class. You need to be here to make this an interesting and instructive class. This is not the kind of course where you can merely study for a final. You need to be "on top of" the reading and homework.

Consequently, missing more than one class will alter your grade. Everyone has one "no questions asked day," if you miss more than one day you need to come to my office hours (not during breaks) and discuss your absence with me. Leaving after only half the class is finished is considered an absence. Absence of more than one day will most likely result in the lowering of your contracted grade by a half grade ( from B to B-).

Likewise students who manage to attend all the classes and have strong classroom participation will have a plus added to their contracted grade (B to B+).

Students who have to miss more than one class because of vacation plans, weddings, or work schedules should consider taking another course.

Coming on time and staying for the full class period shows respect for your classmates and your instructor. No one likes to be interrupted as you find your seat and plunk your books down. Ditto leaving early. If you think you might be late for any reason, please discuss this with me.

If you read email, play video games, text message, or do any other kind of electronic mischief during class, then you are paying to play not learn. Take notes, think, ask questions. If you are tempted to other pleasures, mention this to me and I will try to spice up my lectures.

Any cell phone that rings during class will cause the owner to stand in front of us all and answer extremely personal questions.

Suffering in silence is not a virtue in this class. Don't wait until the course evaluations to vent. Learn how to express your concerns directly to me, we can work them out.

Cheating or plagiarizing will result in an "F" for the course. I assume you know what plagiarism is, if you're in doubt, talk to me.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that reasonable accommodations be provided for students with physical, sensory, cognitive, systemic, learning, and psychiatric disabilities. Please contact me during the first week of the course to discuss any accommodations needed for this course.

Likewise, if you have any problems speaking up in class and arriving on time, please tell me within the first week of class. If you don’t talk with me immediately, I will assume that all students can meet these basic expectations stated above.

Course Schedule

Use this schedule to print lecture notes and readings: simply click on the lecture title for a printable PDF. Clicking on the title of a reading will also result in a printable PDF. Finally, you can access the full syllabus for this course by clicking here.

M 5/12 Course Requirements and Lecture #1 Introduction to Christianity

W 5/13 Lecture #2 Catholic Beliefs and Rituals
• Read: McDannell, Chs. 1, 4, 9

M 5/19 Lecture #3 Catholic Enclaves
• Read: McDannell, Chs. 2, 3, 5
• Film Discussions: Angels with Dirty Faces, Going My Way, The Song of Bernadette
• *In Class: Quiz #1

W 5/21 Race & Ethnicity
• Read: McDannell, Chs. 6, 7, 8
• Film Discussions: Seven Cities of Gold, Lilies of the Field, The Godfather

M 5/26 No Class Memorial Day

W 5/28 Lecture #4 The Second Vatican Council
• *In Class: Quiz #2
• *Due: Faith Communities, Roman Catholic Mass

M 6/2 Lecture #5 Crisis in Catholicism
• Read: McDannell, Chs. 10, 13, 14
• Film Discussions: The Exorcist, True Confessions, Dogma, The Passion of the Christ

W 6/4 Lecture #6 Protestant Denominations, Beliefs, and Rituals
• Read: Balmer, Preface, Chs. 1 and 2
• Read: "Romney to Walk Fine Line in Mormon Speech"
• Watch: Mitt Romney, "Faith in America" speech
• Listen: John F. Kennedy, Jr. "Address to the Houston Ministerial Association"

M 6/9 Lecture #7 Protestant Modernist Traditions
• Read: Balmer, Chs. 5 and Conclusion
• Read: Danforth, "Onward Moderate Christian Soldiers"
• Read: Banerjee, "Clergywomen Find Hard Path to Bigger Pulpit"
• *In Class: Quiz #3
• *Due: Faith Communities, Modernist Traditions