RLBcB270 Religion in the USA

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
RLBcB270/Prez01: each odd Thursday 12:00–15:40 G24, D. Václavík
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( RLBcA006 Christianity I || RLBcKA006 Christianity I ) && ( RLBcA007 Christianity II || RLBcKA007 Christianity II )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 80 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 5/80, only registered: 0/80, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/80
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course focuses on a basic analysis of the religious situation in the United States. The aim will be to show the links and influences between religion and the formation of American society in a historical, religious and sociological perspective, and to analyze their transformation and impact on the political, economic and cultural life of the United States more closely. Deeper attention will be paid to some specific phenomena such as religious awakening, the emergence of evangelical Christianity, the so-called New Right etc., as well as some specific religious groups (eg. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah‘s Witnesses, Adventists).
Learning outcomes
The student will be able to: - identify the basic features and problems of so-called American religiosity - identify primary historical turning points in the history of American religiosity from the 17th century to the present - describe the main factors that influenced its transformation - analyze key concepts - apply acquired knowledge to explain some contemporary phenomena and specifics of modern American society
Syllabus
  • 1. Main Interpretation models of the history of American religion 2. Basic characteristics of the American religion 3. From the Pilgrims fathers to the emergence of the USA. Religious life in the colonial era 4. Phenomenon of religious awakening. Religious situation in the first half of the 19th century; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; 5. Adventist movement and religious life in the second half of the 19th century 6. Religious pluralism in the 2nd half of the 20th century 7. Religious fundamentalism and "desecularitization" of American society at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries
Literature
    required literature
  • VÁCLAVÍK, David. Proměny americké religiozity. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 181 s. ISBN 9788021065963. URL info
  • ALBANESE, Catherine L. America, religions and religion. Fourth edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007, xxi, 326. ISBN 9780534627393. info
  • BLOOM, Harold. The American religion. 2nd ed. New York: Chu Hartley Publishers, 2006, xiii, 305. ISBN 0978721004. info
    recommended literature
  • God in the details : American religion in popular culture. Edited by Eric Michael Mazur - Kate McCarthy. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2011, xviii, 331. ISBN 9780415485371. info
  • ROOF, Wade Clark. Spiritual marketplace : baby boomers and the remaking of American religion. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999, x, 367. ISBN 0691016593. info
  • MARTY, Martin E. Modern American religion. 1893-1919. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986, xi, 386. ISBN 0226508935. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, discussions, analysis of documents
Assessment methods
attendance and active participation in seminars (30%), elaboration of assigned tasks (30%), a final test (40%)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in three years.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2024/RLBcB270