RLB270 Religion in the USA

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
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. Šárka Londa Vondráčková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each odd Monday 10:50–12:25 J22
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( RLA06 Christianity I || RLKA06 Christianity I ) && ( RLA07 Christianity II || RLKA07 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: 0/80, 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 is focused on basic analysis of religious situation in the USA. The aim of the course is to show in historical and sociological perspectives role of religion(s) in american history, society and politics. Specific aim of the course is to inform about "typical" american religious movements and trends as example Great religious awakenings, evangelicalism, so called New Right.
At the end of the course students should be able to:
repeat main trends in the religion(s) of the USA
define main period in development of American religiosity
repeat basic characteristics some concrete religious movements (Mormonism, Adventism, Jehovah's Witnesses)
translate reasons and effects of Great religious awakenings
analyze relations between religion and american politics
judge role of religion(s) in concrete period of american history
Syllabus
  • 0. Informations about the course
  • 1. Main periods in American history
  • 2. Basic classification of religious denominations in the USA
  • 3. From Pilgrim Fathers to the foundation of United States. Religious life in colonial period
  • 4. Religious awakening in the beginning of 19th Century
  • 5. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • 6. Adventist movements and religious life in the 2nd part of 19th Century
  • 7. Jehovah's Witnesses
  • 8. Religious counterculture in 2nd part of 20th Century
  • 9. Religious fundamentalism and "desecularization" American society in the end of 20th and in the beginning of 21st Century I
  • 10. Religious fundamentalism and "desecularization" American society in the end of 20th and in the beginning of 21st Century II
  • 11. Final summary
  • 12. Final test
Literature
  • America : a narrative history (Orig.) : Dějiny Spojených států amerických [Lidové noviny, 1996] : Dějiny Spojených států amerických [Lidové noviny, 2000]. info
  • TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Demokracie v Americe. Translated by Vladimír Jochmann. Vyd. 2., v nakladatelství A. Praha: Academia, 2000, 624 s. ISBN 8020008292. info
  • OSTLING, Richard N. and Joan K. OSTLING. Mormon America : the power and the promise. 1st ed. San Francisco: Harper, 2000, xxvi, 454. ISBN 0060663723. info
  • KEPEL, Gilles. Boží pomsta : křesťané, židé a muslimové znovu dobývají svět. Translated by Růžena Ostrá. 1. vyd. Brno: Atlantis, 1996, 182 s. ISBN 8071081205. info
  • MCGRATH, Alister E. Reformation thought : an introduction. 3rd ed. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 1999, xi, 329. ISBN 0631215212. info
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, reading
Assessment methods
Colloquium: Final written test focused on main realia from history of American religion(s)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2009, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2013, Spring 2020, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2015/RLB270