Reading List

 

Participants will be expected to read in advance of class sessions, and consider looking at suggested readings to amplify one’s understanding of the subject matter. Neusner’s World Religions in America is an excellent introduction to the specific religions and when necessary, additional reading will be required.

WEEK ONE
Monday, July 9, 2018
  • Carol Bakhos, “Introduction,” The Family of Abraham: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Interpretations,  Harvard University Press, (2014).
  • Benjamin Marcus, Religious Literacy in American Education in Oxford Handbook on Religion and American Education (2018).
  • Diane L. Moore, “Overcoming Religious Illiteracy: A Cultural Studies Approach,” World History Connected, Vol 4, Issue 1.
  • Warren Nord and Charles Haynes, Taking Religion Seriously Across the Curriculum, (ASCD and First Amendment Center, 1998), Intro., chapters 1, & 2.

Resources for Teaching about Religion 

  • American Academy of Religion, Guidelines for Teaching About Religion in K-12 Public Schools in the United States (2010).
  • First Amendment Center, Teacher’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools (2001).
  • Religious Studies Companion Document for the C3 Framework.
  • Religious Literacy Methodology.

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

  • Service in the City: Midnight Mission (http://www.midnightmission.org)
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
  • Catherine Albanese, “Understanding Christian Diversity in America,” in American Christianities: A History of Dominance and Diversity, eds. Catherine Brekus and W. Clark Gilpin University of North Carolina Press, (2011), pp. 29-58.
  • Andrew M. Greeley and Paul Murray, “The Catholics in the World and in America,” Chapter 4 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, pp. 73-86.
  • Martin E. Marty, “Protestant Christianity in the World and in America,” Chapter 2 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, pp. 29-54.
  • Jeffrey S. Siker, “Christianity in the Second and Third Centuries,” in The Early Christian World, ed., P. Esler (London & New York: Routledge, 2000), vol 1, pp. 231-257.
Suggested Readings
  • Justo L. Gonzalez and Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi, “The Religious World of Latino/a-Hispanic Americans,” Chapter 5 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, pp. 87-104.
  • Danny L. Jorgensen, “The Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Religion in America and the World,” Chapter 18 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, pp. 333-352.
  • Jaroslav Pelikan and John McGuckin, “Orthodox Christianity in the World and in America,” Chapter 6 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, pp. 105-122.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
  • Jacob Neusner, “Judaism in the World and in America,” Chapter 7 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, 123-142.
  • Elliot N. Dorff and Arthur Rosett, A Living Tree: The Roots and Growth of Jewish Law, Appendix A-C, p21-25,134-144,337-345.
Suggested Readings
  • Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Chapter 2 “Is there still a Jewish People?,” Future Tense: Jews, Judaism, and Israel in the 21st Century, p 25-48.
Friday, July 13, 2018
  • John L. Esposito, “Islam in the World and in America,” Chapter 8 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, 143-158.
  • Amir Hussain, “(Re)presenting: Muslims on North American Television,” Contemporary Islam, Vol. 4, Issue 1, p 55-75.
Suggested Readings
  • Diana Eck, “American Muslims: Cousins and Strangers,” Chapter 5, A New Religious America: How a “Christian Country” Has Become the World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation, pp. 222-293.
WEEK TWO
Monday, July 16, 2018
  • Gerald James Larson, “Hinduism in India and in America,” Chapter 10 in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, 179-198.
  • Vasudha Narayanan, Understanding Religions: Hinduism, p 23-35, 57-63 ,89-95, 97-105.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
  • Malcolm David Eckel, “Buddhism in the World and in America,” Chapter 11 in in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, 199-212.
Suggested Readings
  • Diana L. Eck, “American Buddhists: Enlightenment and Encounter,” Chapter 4,  A New Religious America: How a “Christian Country” Has Become the World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation, pp. 142-221.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
  • Diana Eck, “From Diversity to Pluralism,” Pluralism Project, Harvard University, (http://pluralism.org/encounter/todays-challenges/from-diversity-to-pluralism/).
  • Stephen Prothero, “Introduction,” God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World, p 1-13, 22-24.
  • Mike McMullen, “The Baha’i Faith in the World and in America,” in Neusner, ed., World Religions in America, 159-178.