POLS 375: Religion and Politics
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SYLLABUS
Religion and Politics Course Syllabus
ASSIGNMENTS:
Term Paper Details and Requirements ASSIGNED READINGS
Origins of Religion and Politics
Definitions of Politics and Religion Evolutionary Origins of PoliticsWhat is the proposed evolutionary basis of competition between groups? What is the proposed evolutionary basis of competition within groups? Evolutionary Origins of Morality What is the proposed evolutionary basis of morality? Evolutionary Origins of ReligionWhat is the proposed evolutionary basis of religious belief and religious practices? Can there be "politics without religion"? And, can there be a stable, sustainable political regime without religion? Unconventional Partners?
The Noble Lie from Plato's Republic. What role should religion play in supporting the state, according to Plato? Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. How does religion support civil government in the United States? How and why does this differ from Europe? The secularization thesis?
The Secularization Thesis Does scientific progress reduce religiousness? A Rational choice?
A Rational Choice? Are religious believers "consumers" of religious "choices" in a religious "marketplace"? "Culture War"?
Pat Buchanan's famous "Culture War" speech at the 1992 Republic National Convention. Analysis of the "culture war" in the 2004 presidential election Analysis of the "culture war" in the upcoming election. Is the "Culture War" a myth? More discussion whether the "Culture War" is a Myth History of Western Religion and Politics: Jesus up to the U.S. Founding
New Testament Jesus, Paul, and Peter on the State Early Christians Earliest Christian Writers on the State Eusebius Speech in Praise of Constantine, by Eusebius Augustine The City of God, by Augustine of Hippo Aquinas Summa Theologica, by Thomas Aquinas LutherTo the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, by Martin Luther CalvinInstitutes of the Christian Religion, by John Calvin Hobbes Summary of Hobbes' views on religion in Leviathan Filmer Patriarcha, by Robert Filmer Locke (part I)Two Treatises on Government, and Notes on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans Locke (part II) Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration on Toleration, by John Locke
Religion and the U.S. Founding
The Founder's Own Private Religious Views
Adams Letter Jefferson Letter John Witherspoon The Founder's Views of Private Religious Belief in Others
Washington's Farewell Address The Founder's Views of Governmental/National Religious Accountability
The Civil Religion What is the "civil religion"? City on a Hill by John Winthrop National Fast Day proclamation by the Continental Congress Thanksgiving Proclamation by George Washington. Thanksgiving Proclamation by James Madison Second Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln Inaugural Address by John Kennedy Pledge of Allegiance The evolution of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance The Founder's Views of the Religious Basis of Law The Founder's Views of Involvement Between Government and Religion
Religious Ministers
The Bloody Tenet of Persecution; Letter to the Town of Providence by Roger Williams The Great Case of Liberty of Conscience; and Frame of Government of Pennsylvania by William Penn An Appeal to the Public for Religions Liberty by Isaac Backus Letters to Richard Price and Edward Stiles by Benjamin Franklin The Two Sons of Oil by Reverend Samuel Wylie Observations on the Two Sons of Oil by William Findley Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. How did all the American religious ministers he spoke with view the relationship between church and state? Non-Minister Founders
The Rights of the Colonists by Samuel Adams Common Sense, and Rights of Man by Thomas Paine Memorial and Remonstrance by James Madison Petition to Virginia Assembly Against the bill to use taxmoney to pay for religious teachers Madison Notes and Letters Other key statements by Madison on Religious Liberty Virginia Bill for Religious Freedom by Thomas Jefferson Jefferson Letters Other key statements by Jefferson on Religious Liberty Washington Statements Letters and a speech by George Washington A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States of America by John Adams Hamilton Alexander Hamilton's view of religious liberties in the U.S. U.S. Declaration of Independence Notice carefully how Jefferson borrows heavily from Locke's social contract theory. State Constitutions Religion in the first state constitutions after American Independence U.S. Constitution Notice the only reference to religion in the entire document is Articl VI's prohibition on religious tests as a condition of office. North Carolina Debates Discussion in the North Carolina Convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution Virginia and Massachusetts DebatesDiscussion in the Virginia and Massachusetts Conventions to ratify the U.S. Constitution Anti-federalist statement by Patrick Henry U.S. Bill of Rights First Ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution--look at the First Amendment. 1797 Treaty of Tripoli Clearest historical statement that exists whether the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation. The Two Sons of Oil by Reverend Samuel Wylie Observations on the Two Sons of Oil by William Findley Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. How did all the American religious ministers he spoke with view the relationship between church and state? Part B: U.S. History since the Founding
Religion and Law
Freedom of Religion
Development of the Religion Clauses Early and final drafts of the Religion Clauses. Reynolds v. United States Wisconsin v. Yoder Employment Division v. Smith Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hiealeah Wisconsin v. Miller Supreme Court of Wisconsin RFRA and RLPA Congressional attempts to overturn Employment Division v. Smith
City of Boerne v. Florida Establishment of Religion
Government Participation in Religious Exercises Prayer in public schools
County of Allegheny v. ACLU Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe Guidelines for Religion in Public Schools from the U.S. Department of Education Government Display of Religious Statements or Insignia
Van Orden v. Perry McCreary County v. ACLU Government Financial Aid to Religious Individuals or Orgnizations Everson v. Board of Education Zelman v. Simmons-Harris
Government Taking Sides in Church Disputes Presbyterian Church v. Hull Church (1969) Jones v. Wolf (1979)
Congressional Anti-Discrimination Statutes
Title II (Public Accomodations) Title III (Public Facilities and Education) Title VII (Employment Discrimination and Accommodation) Welsh v. U.S. Nichols v. Snow TWA v. Hardison Ansona Board of Education v. Philbrook Peterson v. Hewlett-Packard Title VII (Fair Lending: Equal Credit Opportunity Act) Title VIII (Fair Housing Act) Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act Public Opinion and Voting Behavior
Pew Forum Survey Baylor University Survey
Religious Groups and Activism
Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
Evangelical Protestants Evangelical Manifesto
Institutional Politics
Presidential Religious Rhetoric Article on Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright Youtube video analyzing Obama and Wright The Religious Role of the President President Bush and Religious Rhetoric President Bush Speech to National Religious Broadcasters Presdient Bush Welcomes the Pope
Public Policies Impacted by Religious Politics
Abortion
Religious attitudes towards Abortion Pope Paul VI Papal Bull on Abortion
Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Basics Stem Cell Info from the National Institutes of Health Brief Overview of Stem Cell Political Issues Stem Cell Politics "Snowflake" Children
Cloning
Arguments for cloning Arguments against cloning
Death Penalty
Pew Form Poll on Religion and Death Penalty Religion, Race, and the Death Penalty Changing Debate on Death Penalty Death Penalty for Child Rape?
Euthanasia
Overview of Euthanasia Principle of Double Effect The Karen Ann Quinlan case Court cases on the right to die Oregon's Death with Dignity Act The Terry Shiavo case
Teaching of Scientific Theories
Relationship between Science and Religion Falsifiability The Trial and Abjuration of Galileo" Overview of Evolution versus Creationism Scopes Monkey Trial The Wedge Document Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Board Louisiana Academic Freedom Act (proposed) Religious Attitudes and Public Views about Science Science, Evolution, and Creationism From the National Academy of Sciences The Flat Earth Society
Sexual Orientation
Romer v. Evans Lawrence v. Texas Baker v. State federal Defense of Marriage Act Social Welfare (Social Justice)
Social Ministry in Affluent Churches Churches and Political Engagement Church-Based Community Activism The Environment
Is God Green? (PBS documentary) Religion and Attitudes towards the Environment Denominational Subcultures and Environmentalism Alternative Spirituality and Environmentalism Evangelical Environmental Network Cornwall Alliance (favors free market approaches to environmental issues) Evangelical Environmental Network (favors environmental protection and preservation) (Just) War
Overview of Just War Theory Detailed explanation of Just War Theory Conservative Christian View of Just War Theory Summary of Augustine's Just War Theory City of God by Augustine (section on war) On the Law of War and Peace by Hugo Grotius United Nations Charter According to Article 51, when may a nation rightly go to war? U.N. General Assembly Resolution 3314 What is the definition of "aggression"? "War on Terror" U.S.-Israeli Relations Miscellaneous
The "Most Dangerous Ideas" in Religion