REL 221 Religion in America

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Clinic: 0 Credits: 3

This course is an examination of religious beliefs and practice in the United States. Emphasis is placed on mainstream religious traditions and nontraditional religious movements from the Colonial period to the present. Upon completion, students should be able to recognize and appreciate the diversity of religious traditions in America.

This course has been approved for transfer under the CAA as a general education course in Humanities/Fine Arts.

Pre-requisite(s): DRE 097 or ENG 002
Course is typically offered in Fall.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
At the completion of the course, the students should be able to do the following:

Interpret the historical impact of religious beliefs and practice on American culture.
Analyze the diversity of religious practice and belief currently a part of life in the U.S.
Through the use of literature, analyze the evolution of religious belief and practices.
Evaluate the interests of religious sectarians and special interest groups and their impact on American culture.
Relate the ideal of the “Protestant” foundation of American culture to other founding American religious traditions.
Evaluate the influence of religion in American political life using assigned current topics.