West Valley College Philosophy 16

Religious Pluralism in the United States

Catalog Description
This course examines religious pluralism in the United States, including such topics as: the philosophic background of the idea of religious pluralism, the role of religion in personal and social identity (including the parameters of gender, race, and class), conflicts between religions and religious violence, the role of religion in cultural imperialism, interactions between religious traditions, and the impact of non-Western religions on American philosophers. By means of this survey students will become familiar with the major themes in Religious Studies. The course will examine both those religions which were introduced to the Americas and those which arose within the context of American culture.

Prerequisite
Recommend eligibility for English 1A

Text
No department requirement

Course Objectives

1. Students should be able to recognize and explicate the major religious traditions from Europe, Africa, and Asia which have been introduced into the United States.
2. Students should be able to recognize and explicate several of the religions which have their origin in the United States.
3. Students will be able to explain the philosophic basis for religious pluralism, and the legal and institutional forms which this has taken in the United States; and how these legal and institutional forms affect the degree of dependency, self-determination, and political empowerment of individuals.
4. Students will be able to explicate and give American examples of the social role of religion in imposing and maintaining gender roles.
5. Students will be able to explicate and give American examples of the social role of religion in cultural imperialism, i.e., the imposition of a cultural pattern by members of an economically or militarily dominant culture (e.g., European men) onto members of a different culture or ethnic group (e.g., Native Americans).
6. Students will be able to explicate and give American examples of the role of religion in imposing and maintaining social class stratification.
7. Students will be able to explicate and give American examples of the role of religion in imposing and maintaining social distinctions based on race.
8. Students will be able to explain and give American examples of how religions enable/inhibit cross-cultural relations.
9. Students will be able to demonstrate and give American examples of how religions can provide alternative forms of social identity.
10. Students will be able to explain how religions can provide justification for radical social change.

Course Content

I.  INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 
The nature of religion				1 week             
Sources of religion in the United States                                
Native American religions			1 week             
African religions				1 week             
European and Near Eastern religions		2 weeks 
    Judaism; Orthodox and Roman Catholicism;
    Protestantism (especially Calvinism);
    Rosicrucianism; Islam
Asian religions					2 weeks            
    Advaita Vedanta, Yoga, Krishna Bhakti-yoga;
    Theravada, Chinese, Zen, Nichiren and Pure Land
     Buddhism; Unification Church
Religions indigenous to the United States	2 weeks
     Beliefs, practices, origin, and history;
     Mormons, Christian Science, Pentecostalism,
     Black Muslims, Spiritualism and Channeling,
     Millenarianism, Native American Church            

II.  RELIGIOUS PLURALISM                   
Philosophic basis of personal identity 
     and social identity			1 week
Renaissance pluralism, e.g., Jean Bodin;             
Locke's "Letter on Toleration"
Legal and political expression 
     of religious pluralism			1 week 
     American Constitution -- separation and protection;
     Appropriate Supreme Court cases            


III.	RELIGION AND SOCIAL VALUES, GENDER ROLES, 
       CLASS, AND RACE                      
Religion, ethnic identity and social identity	1 week
     Immigrants and the "Melting Pot"
     Alternative vehicles for social status
Religion, social integration and social change	1 week
     Civil religion
     Liberation theology
     Religions of the radical right
     Accomodation and assimilation             
Religion as a means of social domination	1 week 
     Missionaries as agents of cultural imperialism
     Religion and reinforcement of gender roles
     Images of the divine (e.g., Jesus depicted as white)
     and their psychological impact
Polemics, religious persecution and 
religious violence				1 week
     Salem witchcraft trials
     Anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, anti-Mormonism
     Contemporary Anti-Muslim sentiments
Religion, socialization and education		1 week
     Secular role of public education
     Clashes over textbooks
     Pledge of Allegiance
Influence of non-Western religion on 
American philosophy				1 week 

General Requirements
Completion of required reading and final exam. Other requirements are determined by instructor; these may include completion of one or more papers, other written exams, journal assignments, participation in class discussion, class attendance, etc.

Evaluation
In accordance with Title V regulations, there must be at least one substantial (greater than one paragraph) writing assignment. Generally, evaluation is based primarily on written papers and essay examinations.

Suggested Instructional Methods and Materials
Primarily lecture and discussion. This can be supplemented by films, videos, oral reports, guest speakers, class debates, etc., as deemed appropriate and desirable by the individual instructor. Readings should include primary source material.