Resources

A 2009 course by Ira Chernus at the University of Colorado-Boulder focuses "principally on the relation between religion and nationalism in the history of the United States. We will look particularly at the the question of how a self-styled “chosen people” understands itself and its mission and deals with other peoples."

A 2013 course by Kenneth Wald at the University of Florida concerns "the impact of religion on the major dimensions of politics in the United States. 'Religion,' as defined in the course, refers not only to formal theological creeds but also to the social beliefs, organizations and subcultures associated with various religious communities. The principal aim of the course is to understand how religion affects politics (and vice versa)."

A 2014 course by Laura Olson at Clemson University "designed to examine and critically analyze the nature of the relationship between religion and various aspects of politics in the United States."

A 2012 course by Molly Jensen at Southwestern University approaches American religion through novels and "considering distinctive religious expressions of geographically- and culturally-diverse communities."

A 2011 course by Colleen McDannell at the University of Utah asks "how do commercial filmmakers . . . understand religion? How does Hollywood call on religion to articulate various social, aesthetic, and economic concerns? Which social and cultural changes have made their impact on the movies?"

A 2010 course by Gerardo Marti at Davidson College "pursues an understanding of both the "social-ness'" of religion itself and the mutually influencing interactions between religion and its social environment" with focus on American society.

A 2011 course by Gerardo Marti at Davidson College "pursues sociological analysis at the intersection of race-ethnicity and religion. Our focus in this class centers on American congregational communities (whether it be church, temple, or mosque)— especially in relation to processes of immigration and transnationalism."

A 2001 course by Tim Miller at the University of Kansas examines new religious movements in America "that stem from or are closely related to the mainstream American traditions, Christianity and Judaism."

A 1998 course by Tim Miller at the University of Kansas examines "American alternative religions . . . Specifically ones that do not have explicit foundations in Christianity or Judaism."

A 1999 course by John Grim at Bucknell University pursues a history of religions approach "concerned with the settings in which religious beliefs and practices emerge, change, and continue. . . . . focused) largely on North American Indian religious life with some attention to MesoAmerican indigenous religions."