Final Exam - Tuesday, 5/19

Your final examination will be next Tuesday, May 19, in class. (Please note, however, that you have the option to take the exam on Friday, May 15, at 11:30am with my urban politics class.)

1. How might a secularist challenge the prominent role of religion in politics? In your answer, use at least two of the texts (readings or talks) that we’ve discussed this semester.
2. Explain the three components of just war theory. Based on these criteria, was the Iraq War justified?
3. Is religion "conservative" or "liberal"?

Remember also that you can bring ONE 3x5" INDEX CARD with you into the exam. (Do NOT try to take advantage of this; use the card for essay outlines.) Good luck.

Assignment for Tuesday, 5/12

For Tuesday, read Chapter 12 in Wald & Calhoun-Brown (that's right - dig out the old textbook), "Religion and American Political Life." I believe the book is still on reserve in the library.

This is your last chance to submit a summary for this semester.

Assignment for Thursday, 5/7

On Thursday, we will discuss the issue of marriage equality, focusing on the California "Prop 8" ballot initiative. Read both the "FAQ" and "Myths and Facts" documents from the "Yes on 8" website, available here. You are welcome to write ONE summary that covers BOTH documents.

NO CLASS THURSDAY 4/30 EITHER

All the careful planning in the world can sometimes be disrupted by microbes. I'm afraid I have to cancel this Thursday's class as well. (In case you're interested, my mother-in-law, who was supposed to cover for me at home with the new baby, has come down with strep throat. Don't feel obligated to keep up with my family situation, but you deserve an explanation.)

So we'll push back the Gerges article, and the jihad discussion, one more session - to next Tuesday, May 5. My sincere apologies for canceling another class - I will do my best to make sure the rest of the semester moves smoothly.

This also means that I will probably adjust the summary guidelines still further, but let's discuss on Tuesday.

NO CLASS TUESDAY 4/28

The good news: Tristan Paige Meagher, born Thursday night! The bad news (or not so bad, depending on how badly you want to skip class): I still need a few more days at home with her and Mom. So NO CLASS on Tuesday, 4/28. We will discuss the Gerges essay on Thursday, 4/30 instead (and summaries will be postponed until then as well). As a result of yet another delay, I will adjust the number of required summaries downward to 8. (We'll discuss this on Thursday.) See you then.

Assignment for Tuesday, 4/28

Here's the announcement you've all been waiting for: there will be NO class on Thursday, April 23. I'm planning on having a baby instead.

This means that our next class (and summary deadline) is Tuesday, April 28. So for Tuesday, please read "Iraq War Fuels Global Jihad," by Fawaz A. Gerges, available here. Feel free to summarize (and many of you should feel compelled to do so).

Assignment for Tuesday, 4/21

For Tuesday, read "The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace," a publication of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Pay particular attention to Section I, where the piece discusses just war theory and conscience. The reading is available here.

Feel free to summarize (and remember that we will soon run out of summary opportunities). Also keep an eye on this page and the MMC website for updates on baby stuff.

Assignment for Thursday, 4/16

(Remember, there is no reading for Tuesday's talk by Austin Dacey.) For the Thursday after break, read the following excerpts from Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion:

• Excerpts from Chapter 7 ("The Good Book") and 8 ("Why So Hostile?), available on the BBC online
• Excerpt from Chapter 1 ("undeserved respect") on wattpad

Feel free to write ONE summary that covers both excerpts (link available on turnitin.com as usual).

Austin Dacey on Tuesday, 4/14

There is no assignment over the break. But we will be meeting back in the Regina Peruggi room (Main, 2nd floor) when we return to see the following Philosophy Forum talk:

------------------
"THE SECULAR CONSCIENCE: Why Belief Belongs in Public Life"
Tuesday, April 14, 6-8 p.m. in the Regina Peruggi Room
(Co-sponsored by Philosophy & Religious Studies, English, and Political Science)

Dr. Austin Dacey will be speaking about his book The Secular Conscience and his recent work at the United Nations Human Rights Council on freedom of expression. He serves as a respresentative to the United Nations for the Center for Inquiry, a think tank concerned with the secular, scientific outlook. He is also on the editorial staff of Skeptical Inquirer and Free Inquiry magazines. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and his writings have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, USA Today, and Science.
------------------

Remember that like the last time, you are not obligated to stay past 7:10pm, although I welcome you to do so. There will be a reading assigned for the following Thursday; keep your eyes on this space for that posting. Enjoy your break.

Assignment for Thursday, 4/2

For Thursday, read the article, "Whatever Happened to Liberation Theology?" by John L. Kater Jr. The article, from the Fall 2001 issue of Anglican Theological Review, is available here through the MMC library. (You may need to use an on-campus PC to make this link work; if it doesn't, you can also find it through Academic Search Premier.) Summaries are welcome as usual.

Assignment for Tuesday, 3/31

On Tuesday, we'll talk about religion and social movements, with particular attention paid to the civil rights movement. Read Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," available online here (and probably a lot of other places as well). Feel free to post a summary.

Assignment for Thursday, 2/26

Remember that for Thursday, we're reading the chapter from Morone's "Hellfire Nation" that I handed out in class. (Come see me if you need a copy.) Feel free to post a summary on turnitin.com.

Panel Presentation for 3/24

Remember that due to Honors Day and my travel plans, there is no class on March 17 or 19. The next time we meet will be on March 24. However, instead of meeting in our usual classroom, you should join me in the Peruggi room for a panel. (This means that there is no assignment due for the 24th; however, there is a reading handout for the 26th, which you should have received from me after the mid-term.)

The panel is tentatively titled, “Post-Religious? Post-Secular? An Interdisciplinary Forum on the State of Religion,” and features myself, as well as Bradley Herling from Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Magdalena Maczynska from English. The panel may run until 8pm, but you are not obligated to stay past our usual class end (7:10).

Research Paper Assignment

During the semester, we have discussed a number of concepts and theories related to religion and politics. You will now be asked to utilize this knowledge to develop a thesis-driven research paper on a particular policy area, religious group or denomination, or other aspect of religion and politics. I’m going to give you a lot of leeway in your choice of topic, but you should probably run your topic/thesis by me at some point early in the process.

Assignment: Using research from outside sources, as well as your knowledge of the theories we’ve covered this semester, write a medium-length research paper that addresses a problem or question within the subfield of religion and politics. Most of our scope in this class has been limited to the United States, but you should feel free to consider cases from other countries and contexts. Some examples of possible paper topics:

• Tax exemptions for evangelical churches (or a particular church)
• The treatment of Scientology by the German government
• Islamic fundamentalist groups in Saudi Arabia
• A recent Supreme Court decision (or decisions) concerning church and state
  

Your paper should incorporate some of the concepts and theories we have discussed in class this year. For example, you might discuss how the separationist and accomodationist approaches inform a particular Supreme Court case. Or, you could examine how a particular evangelical denomination displays some, but not all, of the features of fundamentalism. Feel free to be creative in identifying a research question, but make sure that there is some connection to the ideas we have discussed in class.

Your paper should have a strong thesis: it should adopt a strong point of view (or “take a stand”); be specific and limited in scope (it can’t too big to cover in a medium-sized research paper); and should be arguably true (it shouldn’t be patently obvious, like “religious believers are interested in church/state separation”).

Your paper should be 12-15 pages, double-spaced, and typed with 1” margins. You probably should state your thesis clearly in your first paragraph. Also, you should use the first paragraph to lay out the structure of the essay (“Below, I will do X, and then Y, and then Z”).

Research and Sources: Research papers require you to support your argument with outside sources; however, this is not an excuse to simply string together a series of quotes and pass it off as your own work. You must organize others’ ideas and arguments yourself, using your own words, while taking care to give credit to others. You should limit the number of direct quotes you use in your paper; in general, if you quote more than 35-40 lines, you’re probably relying too much on your sources’ writing (and you will be penalized). Please remember that all information derived from your sources must be cited, even when you restate others’ ideas in your own words.

All citations should be properly formatted. I prefer Chicago/Turabian citation style, but you may use whichever format you would like as long as you use it consistently. Internet research sources are suitable for this assignment, but be aware that many sites are sponsored by advocacy groups and their objectivity and accuracy cannot be assumed. Wikipedia can provide useful background information and links, but is often poorly sourced and should NOT be cited as an authority. Citations to the Internet should be sufficiently specific so as to allow a reader to arrive at the same web page where you found the information.

Annotated Bibliography: In order to help guide your research, you are required to submit an Annotated Bibliography early in the writing process. The bibliography involves two components: a fully formatted citation for the source (again, using whatever citation style you choose), followed by a short, 100-150-word description of the source’s argument and relevance to your paper topic. Your bibliography should list at least eight (8) credible sources, although you are welcome to include more. (This part of the assignment is only a formal version of what you should be doing anyway, namely finding sources and taking notes on their relevance to your project.) I will return the bibliographies to you with comments that hopefully will help you continue your research and prepare your paper draft. The bibliography will be graded separately from the paper, based on the quality of description, consistency of citation format, effort (less than 8 sources and you will be penalized), and credibility of sources. Examples and further information about annotated bibliographies are available here.

Deadlines: The annotated bibliographies are due by the beginning of class on Thursday, April 2, and will be returned immediately following Spring Break. Final papers are due by the beginning of class on Thursday, May 7. Late papers are subject to penalties as described below (see section on “Grading”). You also have the option of submitting a draft of the paper at any point during the semester. Assuming you leave me enough time before the paper is due, I will be able to return the draft to you with comments. (You are also welcome to come to Office Hours or make an appointment for us to discuss your draft in person.) If you do take advantage of this draft option, I ask that you submit the paper copy of the draft with my comments to me in class on May 7.

Both the Bibliography and the Final Draft must be uploaded on Turnitin.com, using the appropriate assignment link, by the beginning of class on the assigned deadlines.

Just to be clear, these again are the deadlines:

Thursday, April 2
Annotated Bibliography Due
(Comments returned after Spring Break)

Optional Draft can be turned in at any time

Thursday, May 7
Final Draft Due
(first draft also submitted if applicable)

Grading: I’ve included below my standard criteria for grading paper assignments. Your paper will be assigned a letter grade largely based on these criteria. Please note that if you submit your essay late, without a valid and documented excuse, I may deduct up to a full letter grade from your grade for the assignment.

Grading Criteria

A Expresses complex, independent thought with grace, clarity and force. Its purpose is clear from the start: it contains a thesis that is imaginatively, logically, and precisely developed. Not only is the paper organized, the organization does not seem mechanical or imposed. Any source material included is balanced and smoothly integrated into the essay. Each topical paragraph has a controlling idea, solid detail, and smooth transitions. The sentences are varied in length and structure. The writer chooses concrete, specific words and uses them correctly, employing diction that is distinctive and mature, with effective metaphors and analogies for clarity and emphasis. The essay contains no colloquialisms, clichés, or trite expressions. It is virtually free of grammatical and mechanical errors.

B Contains a clear thesis statement supported with good examples. The writer controls the essay’s development by arranging the examples supporting the thesis in an orderly and logical fashion. The essay is well-organized, but transitions are sometimes strained. Any source material included is smoothly integrated, and some independent conclusions are drawn. Each topical paragraph has a controlling idea and good supporting detail. The sentences are usually varied. The word choice is generally correct. The writer often goes beyond the automatic word choice to find one more precise and effective. The paper is generally correct mechanically, though there are some problems with complex grammar and punctuation traps.

C Contains a recognizable thesis and adequate development. Though the paper has some interesting parts, the interest is not uniformly maintained and the purpose is not always clear. There are very few errors in sentence structure by the sentences are not varied. The word choice is generally correct, but the range of words is limited, and in some cases the wording is abstract and imprecise. Source material included is relevant but not carefully integrated. This essay also has errors in syntax, spelling and punctuation. More importantly, it lacks an original, significant purpose or point of view.

D Meets only the minimum requirements of college writing. The writer approaches the topic in a conventional and predictable manner. The essay lacks imagination and insight. Though it still contains a thesis, it is poorly or mechanically developed. It also lacks adequate support of generalizations. Source materials are cited improperly, are not directly relevant, and/or overwhelm the essay. Some principle of organization is apparent but it is not successful followed. The diction is often imprecise and monotonous. The writer uses vague, ordinary words and relies on clichés and jargon. The essay contains sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and numerous basic errors in syntax, agreement, reference, spelling, and punctuation.

Midterm Exam - Thursday, March 12

Your midterm examination will be next Thursday, March 12, in class. You will be randomly assigned two of the following four essay questions:

1. Why is religion such a powerful force in social and political life? (In your answer, use at least two of the sociological accounts of religion we examined this semester.)
2. In what ways are religious interests like other kinds of interests (business, consumer, environmental, etc.)? In what ways are they different?
3. What are the different approaches to church/state separation in American political life? What makes the U.S. case so distinctive?
4. What distinguishes religious fundamentalism from other kinds of religious groups, sects, or organizations?

Assignment for Tuesday, 3/10

We will spend the bulk of the next class reviewing for the exam, but at least a few minutes will be devoted to the future of American evangelicals. So for next time, read Pam Chamberlain's article in The Public Eye, "Younger Evangelicals," available here.

Remember that this is your LAST chance for a second summary (you should have at least two summaries submitted by the midterm).

Assignment for Thursday, 3/5

For Thursday, please read Chapter 8 in Wald & Calhoun-Brown, "The Political Mobilization of Evangelical Protestants."

Feel free to summarize - and remember that you need to submit an additional summary by the mid-term (2 in total). That means that those who have submitted only one summary so far MUST summarize either this reading, or the following one (since your midterm is next week).

Assignment for Tuesday, 3/3

For Tuesday, read Emmanuel Sivan's "The Enclave Culture," which I handed out in class. (This reading, like the last one, is also part of the Fundamentalisms Comprehended book by Marty and Appleby, on reserve in the library.)

Remember that you are required to submit at least a second summary by the mid-term exam, which is coming up soon.

Assignment for Thursday, 2/26

(Remember that we're moving things around in the syllabus.) For Thursday, read the excerpt (402-414) from "Fundamentalism: Genus and Species," by Almond, Sivan, and Appleby, that I handed out in class. (The reading, part of the Fundamentalisms Comprehended book by Marty and Appleby, is also on reserve in the library.)

For those of you who haven't yet written summaries, this is your FINAL CHANCE to write and submit a summary for February (as required by the syllabus).

Assignment for Tuesday, 2/24

PLEASE NOTE that we are departing from the syllabus a bit. So for next Tuesday, read Chapter 3 in Wald & Calhoun-Brown, "Religion and American Political Culture." Feel free to submit a summary.

Assignment for Thursday, 2/19

For Thursday, read Chapter 4 in Wald & Calhoun-Brown, "Religion and the State." You may submit a summary on turnitin.com as usual.

Assignment for Tuesday, 2/17

For next week, continue on in Wald & Calhoun-Brown and read chapter 6, "Religion and Political Action." As usual, you can submit your summaries on the turnitin.com website if you'd like. (Remember that you need to submit one summary by the end of the month, and a second by the midterm.)

Assignment for Thursday, 2/12

For Thursday, please read Chapter 5 in Wald & Calhoun-Brown, "Mobilizing Religious Interests." Feel free to summarize (summaries can be uploaded on turnitin.com).

Assignment for Tuesday, 2/10

For Tuesday, read Chapter 1 in Wald & Calhoun-Brown, "A Secular Society." You are welcome (and encouraged) to write a summary for this assignment. Summaries must be uploaded onto the Turnitin website by the start of class on Tuesday.

Sample Summary #2

Lauren Conrad                                                          PS 106
9/26/08                                                                Summary # 2
Power & Choice: An Introduction to Political Science, chapter 2, by W. Phillips Shively

In chapter 2 of Power & Choice, author W. Phillips Shively defines and categorizes the ideas that shape our political viewpoints, called ideologies. According to Shively, ideologies are defined as a related group of ideas about politics that support one another. Ideologies can be used for two main purposes. From a personal standpoint, ideologies help an individual identify and compartmentalize various opinions within the political environment around them. Second, ideologies can be used in public with the intent of persuading another that our political views are what is best for society. This public usage of an ideology works best if it is defended impersonally as Shively explains that personal motives are not valid within a political argument. For example, a person advocating free college tuition cannot validate his position by simply stating that he himself is poor. On the other hand, this person’s argument can be defended ideologically through asserting that by eliminating college costs, citizens have the opportunity to cultivate skills that can maximize their contributions to society.

Shively proceeds to categorize the many global ideologies into three main groups: Liberalism, Conservatism, and Socialism/Communism. These political viewpoints emerged from the dominant social system of Feudalism, the hierarchical political structure existing in Europe during the middle ages in which people and land where bound to one another based on social status. The social depravity of the time, coupled with the industrial explosion of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth century, caused people the restructuring of society and politics into these main ideological perspectives.

According to Shively, liberalism holds the idea that the chief ideal in society is the ability of its citizens to develop as individuals to their maximum capabilities. This objective, according to liberalists, can only be achieved through personal responsibility and choice, with the least governmental interference as possible. The American colonists that broke away from England during the seventeen century can exemplify this political perspective.

Conservatism contrasts significantly to this point of view. Where liberals believe in individual responsibility and choice, conservatives hold that society is best served if the interests of the group as a whole are maintained through governmental authority, instead of individual pursuits. This objective, according to conservatives, is facilitated best through government involvement and a shared sense of community values. Conservatives hold authority as the main factor in society as they are responsible for the advancement of the entire community.

Socialism/Communism originally developed to appeal to the displaced working class during the nineteenth century. Socialists agreed with the liberal sentiment that all people are politically equal, but felt that government should be involved in the worker’s lives in terms of providing services to humanize their working conditions, which were not the most agreeable in nineteenth century Europe. Shively highlights Karl Marx as the pioneer of this political ideology.

Communism is a more radical form of the socialist ideology in that communists see the objective of socialism only being attainable through revolution, by any means necessary. This caused a rift in the early twentieth century as the revolutionist set up communist parties, whereas the more democratic socialists established a more diplomatic and less extreme organizations.

Sample Summary #1

Heidi Montag                                           PS 106 01
December 4, 2008                                   Summary # 7

Chapter 18: Global Politics
W. Phillips Shively

In chapter eighteen of Power and Choice Shively takes a closer look at global politics. Global politics refers to the interactions between multiple states. The choices that these groups make, especially in terms of power, affect their interactions and also events that occur on a global scale. Global politics has always loosely followed this definition, but as a whole these political interactions have changed dramatically since the end of World War II.

Before World War II, Europe held the majority of the world’s power. As the twentieth century began to approach, Europe was gradually becoming over exhausted and began to weaken. This allowed for the Soviet Union and the United States to emerge as important world powers. As Europe began to grow less important, the United States and the Soviet Union became a bipolar system, governing large portions of political power. When tensions arose between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, this bipolar system began to create a problem. This eventually gave way to a Cold War, where no physical fighting ensued. Nuclear weapons became a central focus of this war, making it impossible for either side to make significant progress.

Another significant change that occurred around this time period was the growing importance of the third world in international politics. While individually the states that make up the third world are not very strong, when they come together they hold significant weight on a global scale. Since the Cold War the tension that has arisen between the developed world and the third world has created further issues. While these problems have complicated global interactions, a few changes have taken place that has lessened hostility on a global scale. International politics has expanded because a larger group of states has begun to hold weight. Also, states have become more dependent on one another. Open markets have allowed individuals to see similarities across state lines. Another improvement has been the recent attempt to create a law that allows for international enforcement across boundary lines.

While similarities can be drawn between politics in a state and politics across state lines, there are also significant differences between the two. One noticeable difference between the two is that there is no form of central authority in international politics. This makes settling problems between states particularly difficult. A lack of central authority allows for an unequal balance of power between larger and smaller states. Not having a central authority also forces leaders to have a better grasp on their morals, since there isn’t very much standing in between them and corruption. International politics can also face problems when it comes to leaders of different states communicating with one another. Quite a bit of information can be lost in translation and cultural differences can also make communication difficult.

As mentioned earlier, more than anything international politics is swayed by those who have the most power. The power of a state is often determined by how strong their military is, their overall population, their economic power, their geography and their leaders. While power effects the larger international decisions made, on a day to day basis not everything is based on power. Smaller decisions are made through the use of consulates. An ambassador from each state also helps to make decisions. While the international system may not have a central form of authority, international sanctions can be used to punish a state. If issues between states become extremely serious and non-negotiable then war is also an option.

Summary Guidelines

One of your course requirements is to write and submit a certain number of summaries of reading assignments (see syllabus for exact number and any specific deadlines). Below are some guidelines for writing these summaries.

Purpose: Summaries have at least two purposes. First, they are part of your participation grade because they help to prevent you from falling behind in your reading assignments. When students experience time pressures, reading assignments are some of the first things to be abandoned. Yet if you write regular summaries, you are more likely to contribute to class discussion and less likely to be unprepared for exams or paper assignments. (Good summaries can be helpful study aids.)

Second, summaries help you focus on the main points of an assigned reading. You cannot write an accurate summary unless you make careful choices about what is important or central in a text. This includes filtering out material that is not essential; as noted below, summaries can be too long as well as too short.

How to Write a Successful Summary:

-- A summary should be approximately one, and certainly no more than two, double-spaced, typed pages with 1” margins. (Summaries that are significantly shorter than one page, or more than two, may be returned for no credit.)

-- Summaries must be submitted electronically, using the Turnitin website, before the start of the class period in which the reading will be discussed. If multiple readings are assigned for a class period, you may choose which reading to summarize; however, only one summary may be submitted per class. If you are absent, you may still submit a summary for credit. No late summaries will be accepted for any reason.

-- All summaries should have a heading using the same, single-spaced format. In the top left, put your name and date. In the top right, put the course number and which number summary it is, e.g., Summary #5. (This assures that your count and mine are the same.) On the third line indicate the reading you are summarizing, listing title and author. (See sample summary for a heading example.)

-- In the body of the summary:

• Restate the author’s main points in the order they have been presented. A summary is not simply a compilation of random notes. Your task is to present the author’s argument and key evidence. It may help to use the first sentence or two to briefly summarize the overall argument.
• Identify the author’s argument, not your view on the subject. Although you are not prohibited from including your reaction to what you read, the point of the summary is to restate the author’s key points. If you devote too much space to your view and too little to the text, you can expect me return the summary without credit.
• Put the author’s main points in your own words. You may NOT quote from the reading in these summaries.
• Divide your summary into paragraphs, one for each of the author’s key points. (Failure to divide a summary into paragraphs is a warning sign that you have not followed the structure of the author’s argument.) When a text contains headings, you can often use these as a guide in organizing your summary, with (generally) one summary paragraph per heading.
• Summarize the entire argument, and not just the first few pages. Summaries that cover only part of the assigned reading will be returned without credit. (Again, summaries in most cases should only cover ONE text, even if more than one reading is assigned for a particular class.)

-- Submit only the required number of summaries for the semester. If you accidentally submit an extra summary, you will not receive credit for it.

Grading: Summaries are not evaluated with letter grades. Either a summary is acceptable, or it is not. As suggested above, failure to follow the above guidelines may lead me to return a summary without credit. I will likely consider a summary unacceptable if it:

• Is too short (only half a page);
• Is too long (over two pages);
• Only covers a small part of the reading;
• Devotes a considerable amount of space to your views instead of the author’s;
• Presents the author’s words, not yours;
• Violates these guidelines in any other way.

If a particular summary shows considerable merit—i.e., it is organized exceedingly well, it clearly and comprehensively presents the author’s argument in its entirety, and it is free of grammatical and mechanical errors—I may mark it as an “exceptional” summary. Exceptional summaries help increase your class participation grade.

We will spend some time in class going over these guidelines. I encourage you to SUBMIT YOUR SUMMARIES EARLY; do not run out of time to complete the required number.

Assignment for Thursday, February 5

For Thursday, read the handout I provided in class - the section on "Classical Sociological Definitions of Religion." I will leave extra copies on my desk for anyone who missed class on Tuesday.

Do NOT summarize this reading - I will go over summary guidelines on Thursday.

Syllabus

Course Description

A foreign paramilitary organization, motivated in part by religious beliefs, destroyed the World Trade Center as a response to American foreign policy. The Christian Right, we are warned, is a movement dominated by theocrats who wish to govern the United States while guided by Biblical principles. Orthodox Jewish settlers push further into Israeli-occupied territory in Palestine, further unsettling a Middle East seemingly dominated by millennia-old religious vendettas. Religion and politics clearly have something to do with each other; in many cases, their interactions have crucial effects on political outcomes.

For much of the last century, despite the growing evidence that religion continued to affect politics and vice versa, many social scientists pretended that the two actually were growing apart. Thanks to recent events and the efforts of a few committed scholars, the study of religion and politics is now a growing subfield of political science. Scholars can no longer ignore religion’s important consequences for political outcomes, both in the United States and across the globe.

In this class, we’ll look at the ways in which religion and politics interact. We will focus somewhat on the contemporary United States—mainly due to the instructor’s expertise—but will also look to examples from other contexts and countries. After an overview of some important definitions and concepts from the study of religion and politics, we will examine “conservative” and “liberal” religion (with these terms used loosely), ranging from liberal social movements like civil rights to the religious fundamentalists found in all major religions. Next we will investigate religious doctrines of war and peace, and also examine challenges to religion’s role in politics offered by atheists and other critics. We will also include an examination of selected, contemporary public policy issues that have a religious dimension, such as abortion and marriage equality; these latter topics likely will provide the basis for student research papers. By the end of the course, we should have a better understanding of how religion impacts political and public life, for better and for worse.

Required Texts

Students are encouraged to purchase the following book:

Religion and Politics in the United States
Kenneth D. Wald, Allison Calhoun-Brown (eds)
Fifth Edition (2007)
ISBN: 9780742540415

This book is available from Shakespeare and Company (939 Lexington Avenue, at 69th Street). You may be able to find a less expensive used copy online. If you purchase online or elsewhere, however, make sure that you can get the book in a timely fashion.

Additional readings may be assigned throughout the semester through the use of handouts, library resources, and online links at the course website.

Course Requirements

-- Come to class prepared. Complete all required readings beforehand, and bring your readings to class.
-- Participate. Attend class regularly and on time—you cannot participate if you are not present—and join your colleagues in critical analysis of the assigned readings. In order to encourage participation, you will be asked to complete the following assignment:

• Summaries. Write nine (9) one-page summaries of assigned readings throughout the course of the semester. Guidelines for summary writing will be distributed during class at the beginning of the semester. In general, you can submit summaries whenever you would like, with the following restriction: one summary must be completed in September, with an additional one (two in total) due by the mid-term exam. Still, I encourage you to WRITE YOUR SUMMARIES EARLY – do not wait until the end of the semester, or you may run out of time to complete your required number. Summaries must be submitted electronically before class (see below).

-- Complete all other written assignments:

• Exams. You will be given two examinations during the course, a mid-term and a final. The final exam focuses primarily on material covered in the second half of the course, but may build upon and refer to material discussed earlier. Exams will consist of brief essay questions, with the questions distributed in advance. Questions will be based on the required readings and on classroom discussions.
• Paper Assignments. A 12-15 page research paper is required, with final draft due towards the end of class. As part of your research, you will be required to submit an annotated bibliography, which will be graded separately from the paper. Details for the assignment, including deadlines and instructions, will be distributed in class during the semester.

All summaries and paper assignments must be submitted electronically using the Turnitin website. You should make sure you are familiar with Turnitin long BEFORE an assignment is due; ignorance, unfamiliarity, or technical difficulties will not be an excuse for late submission of any assignment. To enroll in Turnitin:

• Using a web browser, go to http://www.turnitin.com.
• Click on “New Users Click Here” in the upper right corner of the screen. Create a student profile using the class ID of 2599515 and enrollment password randp09.
• Follow the remaining enrollment instructions. Remember your user name (which should be your e-mail address) and password for future access.

Grading

Your grade will be based on your written work and your class participation. Course requirements will be weighted as follows when calculating your grade:

Annotated Bibliography: 10%

Paper: 25%
Grading criteria will be included when the paper assignments are distributed. A one letter grade penalty will be imposed upon late papers without valid documentation (e.g., medical emergency).

Exams: 45%
Of the two exams, your lowest grade will be worth 20%, while your highest will be worth 25%. Make-up exams will be given only when proper documentation for the absence is provided.

Participation: 20%
Submission of all required summaries establishes a base participation grade of B. Failure to submit a summary will lower this grade by one-third of a letter (e.g., B to B-). Excessive lateness or absences may lead to further reductions, while frequent and thoughtful contributions to class discussion will have the opposite effect.

Incomplete grades will be assigned only for a valid and documented cause, for a length of time specified by the instructor when the documentation is accepted.

Academic Integrity

Students should be aware of the college’s policies regarding cheating, plagiarism and any other kind of academic misconduct as outlined in the MMC Academic Honesty Policy. These policies will be discussed briefly during the first class, and are available here and at the course website. Students who have questions or concerns about their written work should discuss these with the instructor before submitting any assignments.

Special Needs

Any student who is learning disabled, whose primary language is other than English, or who has other special needs and may thus require special accommodations should notify me immediately.

Course Schedule (subject to change)

RELIGION AND POLITICS: AN OVERVIEW

Tuesday, February 3
Introduction and Course Overview

Thursday, February 5
What is Religion?

Tuesday, February 10
Secularization

Thursday, February 12
Religious Interests

Tuesday, February 17
Religious Action

Thursday, February 19
Church and State

Tuesday, February 24
American Religion – Demographics

Thursday, February 26
American Political Culture

CONSERVATIVE RELIGION

Tuesday, March 3
Morals in Politics

Thursday, March 5
Christian Evangelicals in the United States

Tuesday, March 10
Christian Evangelicals in the United States (continued)
Exam Review

Thursday, March 12
MID-TERM EXAMINATION

Tuesday, March 17
NO CLASS – HONORS DAY

Thursday, March 19
NO CLASS – INSTRUCTOR CONFERENCE

Tuesday, March 24
Religious Fundamentalism

LIBERAL RELIGION

Thursday, March 26
Social Movements

Tuesday, March 31
Religion and State-Building

Thursday, April 2
Liberation theology

Tuesday, April 7 - Thursday, April 9
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

WAR AND PEACE

Tuesday, April 14
Just War Theory

Thursday, April 16
Islamic Jihad

Tuesday, April 21
The “War on Terror”

RELIGION AND PUBLIC POLICY

Thursday, April 23
Evolution

Tuesday, April 28
Abortion

Thursday, April 30
Marriage Equality

Tuesday, May 5
T.B.D.

Thursday, May 7
T.B.D.

CHALLENGING RELIGION

Tuesday, May 12
The “Proper” Role of Religion

Thursday, May 14
Atheism and Secularism
Exam Review

Tuesday, May 19
FINAL EXAM