Welcome to the new school year!

CHURCH AND STATE 

REL3127/5125

Calendar
Texts
Assignments
Religious Groups
Additional Readings
Policies
Links
Grades

COURSE CALENDAR

AUG  25 Introduction to course; syllabus, course policies

       27 Overview of issues
       READ: Intro to text
 

SEP  1 LABOR DAY-- No Classes

       3 Classical background
          READ: ch. 1
                                All you could ever want to know about the Pledge of Allegiance

         8  U.S. historical background  (click on links for readings)
             READ:  Mayflower Compact
                      Roger Williams' Plea for Religious Liberty
                      American Toleration Act
                      Jefferson's Letter to Danbury Baptist Association
                 DUE:  1-2 page reflection:  How do these historical documents shape the
                                                               country's approach to the separation of church and state? (undergrads)

        10 Constitutional history I

        15 Constitutional history II  Key colonial religion dates
              READ:  ch. 2

        17 Original Intent
              DUE:  Quiz 1  (undergrads)

          22  The First Amendment:  Establishment
             READ: Ch.  5

          24  Establishment:  history

          29  Establishment: Holidays
                 READ: The December Wars

OCT  1  Establishment: Other countries
            DUE:  2 page report on December Wars (undergrads)

          6  Creationism -- Kelley

          8  Prayer in Schools:  Class exercise
             READ:  Ch. 6

      13  Public Assistance to private schools -- Rui

      15  Free Exercise: The case of Native American religions and entheogenics--Ruben
                READ: pp. 199-217

        20  Vouchers and Taxes -- Juanita
                DUE: Quiz 2 -- undergrads

        22  Capital Punishment -- Rodolfo
                READ: ch. 7

      27  Firing Line I
             POP QUIZ.  Be there or be square.  Those who check the webpage will know about it!

      29  Firing Line II

NOV  3  Free Exercise:  Cults and Sects
                READ:  review the discussion on the RFRA and RFPA and the nature of the courts at the following link
                    and be prepared to discuss it:
                  http://forums.about.com/n/main.asp?webtag=ab-law&nav=messages&msg=76.1
                 `   DUE:  2 page report on "Firing Line" debate.

        5  Free exercise:  Law and Order

         10 Paganism and the law -- Michael
              READ:  Ch. 3

         12 Free exercise:  Exemptions and Ethics

         17 American Civil Religion
                READ:  Ch. 7

         19 Terrorism-- Jeff
                READ:  Ch. 10

        24  Religious Lobbying and Elections -- Jason
                 READ:  Ch. 11

        26  Religious Attitudes toward Politics--Carlos Lacasa, guest speaker
                READ:  Ch. 8, skim Ch. 9
                DUE:  journals

 DEC  1 Debate
                 READ: Opinion articles:
 Preaching politics
The Old Question
View from the African-American Church (if you can't get this, try using a higher level browser)
 Politicking from the Pulpit
Clergy in the Pulpit
                        DUE: Research Paper

           3  Debate debrief and analysis

Notes:

 "READ"  = to be read by date shown on syllabus
 "DUE"    = to be handed in on the day shown on syllabus

TEXTS

EVERYBODY:
    Michael and Julia Corbett, Politics and Religion in the United States
    Readings from websites, as assigned above

UNDERGRADUATES:
    Albert Menendez, The December Wars