Dr. Mark Stoll
Office: HH 135 Office hours: Monday 11:00–1:00;
and by appointment
📧 Mark.Stoll@ttu.edu
🌐 https://www.markstoll.net/
☏ (806)
834-6285
“History of Religion in America” examines the ways that Americans have expressed and acted on religious belief from before Columbus until the present. The course investigates how religion has influenced (and been influenced by) society, ideas, economics, politics, gender relations, and many other historical factors. Through lecture, readings, and discussion, students will explore the sometimes strange and fascinating world of religion in America.
Allan Greer, Mohawk Saint: Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits
William R. Hutchison, Religious Pluralism in America: The Contentious History of a Founding Ideal
Matthew Harper, The End of Days: African American Religion and Politics in the Age of Emancipation.
Heath W. Carter, Union Made: Working People and the Rise of Social Christianity in Chicago
Edward J. Larson, Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion
Randall J. Stephens, The Devil’s Music: How Christians Inspired, Condemned, and Embraced Rock ’n’ Roll
60% total: Three midterm examinations (13%) and a
cumulative final examination (21%)
30% total: Six readings quizzes
10%: A 4–6 page analytical book review
Exams: Exams will consist of short answers and an essay. Students will have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of religious history as well as to engage issues raised in lectures and readings. Make-up exams will be given on the last Tuesday of classes only.
Quizzes: Quizzes will test students’ comprehension and understanding of the readings. Make-up quizzes will be given on the last Tuesday of classes only.
Paper: Students will write an analytical
book review on a book of their choice, drawn from the professor’s
bibliography (excluding edited collections of essays or books required for the
course). Papers must be between four and six pages in length, double spaced,
with one-inch margins all around, in 12-point Times New Roman, with a cover
sheet, and stapled in the upper lefthand corner. Grammar and punctuation must
be correct. For links to online writing advice, see http://uwc.ttu.edu/Resources/default.asp.
Also the University Writing Center (paid for by your fees!) would be happy to
help you polish your writing. They can help you in person or via the Internet,
and can be reached through their Website: http://uwc.ttu.edu/. No footnotes or
bibliography is needed. Cite sources for quotations by putting the page
number(s) in parentheses after the quotation marks and before any punctuation,
thusly: (p. 57).
Instructions for the analytical book review: For this review,
students will select a book on religious history from the bibliography of
American religious history on the professor’s Website. There is a full
bibliography here http://www.markstoll.net/Bibliographies/US/Religious.htm and
an abridged one here http://www.markstoll.net/HIST3328/2017/Short_bib.htm.Students
may select a book not on the bibliography if the professor approves it. The
book review will have three sections:
Late Papers: The professor accepts late
papers, but deducts 5 points from the paper grade for each weekday they are
late. Papers handed in after the beginning of class period on the day they are
due are already late. No computer excuses accepted; give yourself extra time
for last-minute disasters like printer problems, etc.
Plagiarism: Using text written by someone else (even in a
close paraphrase) without clear and unambiguous acknowledgment is academic
dishonesty and will result in an “F” for the course.
The professor will take roll at the beginning of each class. Students with a perfect attendance record will receive three bonus points on their final grades. Students with more than two absences will receive one point off their final grades for each absence over two. The instructor will accept excuses in cases of true need as documented appropriately.
§ “Religious holy day” means a holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Texas Tax Code §11.20. A student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to the instructor prior to the absence. A student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. A student who is excused under this provision may not be penalized for the absence; however, the instructor may respond appropriately if the student fails to complete the assignment satisfactorily.
§ Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor’s office hours. Please note: instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, please contact Student Disability Services in Weeks Hall or call 806-742-2405.
§ Academic integrity is taking responsibility for one’s own work, being individually accountable, and demonstrating intellectual honesty and ethical behavior. Academic integrity is a personal choice to abide by the standards of intellectual honesty and responsibility. Because education is a shared effort to achieve learning through the exchange of ideas, students, faculty, and staff have the collective responsibility to build mutual trust and respect. Ethical behavior and independent thought are essential for the highest level of academic achievement, which then must be measured. Academic achievement includes scholarship, teaching and learning, all of which are shared endeavors. Grades are a device used to quantify the successful accumulation of knowledge through learning. Adhering to the standards of academic integrity ensures that grades are earned honestly and gives added value to the entire educational process. Academic integrity is the foundation upon which students, faculty, and staff build their educational and professional careers.
§ Students are responsible for understanding the principles and policies regarding academic integrity at Texas Tech University and abide by them in all class and/or course work at the University. Academic misconduct violations are outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. The University policies and procedures regarding academic integrity can be found in the Student Handbook. The Student Handbook and the Code of Student Conduct can be found online at www.ttu.edu/studenthandbook.
§ It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and high standard of integrity. The attempt of students to present as their own any work not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a most serious offence and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension.
§ Academic or “Scholastic” dishonesty includes, but it not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any act designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor) or the attempt to commit such an act.
§ The Department of History adheres to Texas Tech University’s statement and related policies on issues of academic integrity as detailed in OP 34.12 (see above).
§ Any student found to be in violation of these policies will be subject to disciplinary action at both the departmental and university levels. At the departmental level, such action may include one or more of the following:
o a failing grade (F) for the assignment in question
o a failing grade (F) for the course
o a written reprimand
o disqualification from scholarships and/or funding
The professor reserves the right to change this syllabus at his discretion. Changes will be announced in class and posted on the class Webpages. © 2021 Mark R. Stoll. All rights reserved.
Aug 23 Introduction: What is religion?
Aug 25 Religions of Native America
Aug 27 The Evolution of European Religion
Aug 30 The Evolution of European Religion, cont.
Sep 1 The Reformation
Sep 3 Calvinism; and Rise of English Puritanism
Sep 6 Labor Day--No class
Sep 8 No class
Sep 10 Quiz: Greer, Mohawk Saint
Sep 13 Rise of English Puritanism
Sep 15 Puritan New England
Sep 17 Puritan New England, cont.
Sep 20 Quiz: Hutchison, Religious Pluralism in America
Sep 22 EXAMINATION #1
Sep 24 Troubles in New England; and The Great Awakening
Sep 27 The Great Awakening; and Establishment and Diversity
Sep 29 Establishment and Diversity
Oct 1 Establishment and Diversity
Oct 4 Quiz: Harper, The End of Days
Oct 6 Enlightenment and Religion and Religion and Revolution
Oct 8 Religion in the New Nation
Oct 11 The Second Great Awakening
Oct 13 EXAMINATION #2
Oct 15 The Second Great Awakening in the North
Oct 18 Quiz: Carter, Union Made
Oct 20 The Second Great Awakening in the North, cont.
Oct 22 Mormonism, Seventh-Day Adventism, and Spiritualism
Oct 25 Unitarianism and Transcendentalism and Religion and the Civil War
Oct 27 Religion and the Civil War
Oct 29 Science and Protestantism
Nov 1 Quiz: Larson, Edward J. Summer for the Gods
Nov 3 Science and Protestantism and Catholicism in the nineteenth century
Nov 5 EXAMINATION #3
Nov 8 Catholicism in the nineteenth century, cont.
Nov 10 Liberal Protestantism and the Social Gospel
Nov 12 Pentecostalism
Nov 15 Quiz: Stephens, The Devil's Music
Nov 17 Fundamentalism and Religion between the World Wars
Nov 19 Jews in America
Nov 22 The Churches in the Fifties and Sixties
Nov 24-26 Thanksgiving Break--No class
Nov 29 The Churches in the Fifties and Sixties
Book review due
Nov 30 All Make-Up Exams and Quizzes, All Day
Dec 1 Sixties and Seventies: Transformation of Popular Religion; Conservative Turn
Dec 7 — Tuesday — 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.