RLBcB270 Religion in the USA

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
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 Václavík, 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
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( RLA06 Christianity I || RLKA06 Christianity I || RLBcA006 Christianity I || RLBcKA006 Christianity I ) && ( RLA07 Christianity II || RLKA07 Christianity II || RLBcA007 Christianity II || RLBcKA007 Christianity II ) && ! RLB270 Religion in the USA
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 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
Student will be able to:

  • to identify the main trends of religiosity in American society;
  • critically reflect the key features of American society toward religion and selected religious groups;
  • describe and explain and critically reflect some specific features of American religiosity (eg. so-called American messianism)
    • Syllabus
    • Main Interpretation models of the history of American religion; Basic characteristics of the American religion; From the Pilgrims fathers to the emergence of the USA. Religious life in the colonial era; Phenomenon of religious awakening; Religious situation in the first half of the 19th century; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; adventist movement and religious life in the second half of the 19th century; Religious pluralism in the 2nd half of the 20th century; Religious fundamentalism and "desecularitization" of American society at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries; Phenomenon of the so-called cultural war
    Literature
      required literature
    • CHAVES, Mark. American religion : contemporary trends. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2011, xiii, 139. ISBN 9780691146850. 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
    • MARTY, Martin E. Modern American religion. 1893-1919. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986, xi, 386. ISBN 0226508935. info
      recommended 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
    • 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
    • ALBANESE, Catherine L. A republic of mind and spirit: a cultural history of American metaphysical religion. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007, 628 pp. info
    • GAUSTAD, Edwin S. Dissent in American religion. Rev. ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006, xv, 190. ISBN 0226284514. info
    • ROOF, Wade Clark. Spiritual marketplace : baby boomers and the remaking of American religion. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999, x, 367. ISBN 0691016593. info
    • ALBANESE, Catherine L. Nature religion in America : from the Algonkian Indians to the new age. Pbk. ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991, xvi, 267. ISBN 0226011461. info
    Teaching methods
    lectures, class discussion, reading
    Assessment methods
    Knowledge test (70%); active participation in lessons (30%)
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    The course is taught once in two years.
    The course is taught every week.
    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, Spring 2024.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2025, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2025/RLBcB270