Dr. Mark Stoll
Office: Humanities 454
Office hours:
Monday, Wednesday 11:00–12:30; and by appointment
Mark.Stoll@ttu.edu
“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 has been influenced by) society, ideas, economics, politics, gender relations, and many other factors throughout our history. Through lecture, readings, and discussion, students will explore the fascinating and sometimes strange world of religion in America.
Allan Greer, Mohawk Saint: Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits
Steven Waldman, Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America
Paul Johnson and Sean Wilentz, The Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and Salvation in Nineteenth-Century America
Lerone A. Martin, Preaching on Wax: The Phonograph and the Shaping of Modern African American Religion
Randall Herbert Balmer, Passion Plays: How Religion Shaped Sports in North America
Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
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 my 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. Cite sources for quotations by putting the page number(s) in parentheses after the quotation marks and before any punctuation, thusly: (p. 57).
Grammar and punctuation must be correct. For links to online writing advice, see https://www.depts.ttu.edu/provost/uwc/writingresources.php. 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. No footnotes or bibliography are needed.
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 my Website. There is a full bibliography here http://www.markstoll.net/Bibliographies/US/Religious.htm and an abridged one here http://www.markstoll.net/HIST3328/2022/Short_bib.htm.Students may select a book not on the bibliography if I approve it. The book review will have three sections:
Late Papers: I accept late papers but
deduct 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.
I 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.
ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASSROOM
Because electronic devices distract both the student and other students around them, all electronic devices must be turned off during class time. That includes cell phones or laptops. Students using cell phones in class will be asked to leave and will be counted absent for the day. Laptops may be used only if the instructor gives permission, but students must use the computer for class-related activities only, such as note-taking. This means no e-mail, social media, Internet surfing, video watching, or other non-academic activities. If, during an exam, a student is seen using any electronic device, the exam will be collected immediately and receive a failing grade.
Texas Tech Policies Concerning Academic Honesty, Special Accommodations for Students with Disabilities, Student Absences for Observance of Religious Holy Days, and Accommodations for Pregnant Students:
These statements can be found at this URL: <https://www.depts.ttu.edu/tlpdc/RequiredSyllabusStatements.php>
AI Policy:
The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT) is not permitted in this course; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Texas Tech’s Academic Integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
§ The Department of History adheres to Texas Tech University’s statement and related policies on issues of academic integrity <https://www.depts.ttu.edu/tlpdc/PlagiarismStatement.pdf>.
§ 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. © 2025 Mark R. Stoll. All rights reserved.
Aug 25 Introduction: What is religion?
Aug 27 Religions of Native America
Aug 29 The Evolution of European Religion
Sep 1 Labor Day--No class
Sep 3 The Evolution of European Religion, cont.
Sep 5 The Reformation
Sep 8 Quiz: Greer, Mohawk Saint
Sep 10 Rise of English Puritanism
Sep 12 Puritan New England
Sep 15 Puritan New England, cont.
Sep 17 Troubles in New England
Sep 19 EXAMINATION #1
Sep 22 The Great Awakening
Sep 24 Quiz: Waldman, Founding Faith
Sep 26 Establishment and Diversity
Sep 29 Enlightenment and Religion
Oct 1 Religion and Revolution
Oct 3 Religion in the New Nation
Oct 6 Quiz: Johnson and Wilentz, The Kingdom of Matthias
Oct 8 The Second Great Awakening
Oct 10 The Second Great Awakening in the North
Oct 13 The Second Great Awakening in the North, cont.
Oct 15 EXAMINATION #2
Oct 17 Mormonism
Oct 20 Quiz: Martin, Preaching on Wax
Oct 22 Unitarianism and Transcendentalism
Oct 24 Religion and the Civil War
Oct 27 Religion and the Civil War, cont.
Oct 29 Science and Protestantism
Oct 31 Catholicism in the nineteenth century
Nov 3 Quiz: Balmer, Passion Plays
Nov 5 Catholicism in the nineteenth century, cont.
Nov 7 EXAMINATION #3
Nov 10 Catholicism in the nineteenth century, cont.
Nov 12 Liberal Protestantism
Nov 14 The Social Gospel
Nov 17 Quiz: Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne
Nov 19 Fundamentalism
Nov 21 Religion between the World Wars
Nov 24 Jews in America
Nov 26-30 Thanksgiving Break--No class
Dec 1 The Churches in the Fifties and Sixties
Book review due
Dec 2 All Make-Up Exams and Quizzes, All Day
Dec 3 Sixties and Seventies: Transformation of Popular Religion
Dec 11 — Tuesday — 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.