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The Cincinnati Bible Seminary of
Cincinnati Christian University
GHI 575 – United States Religious History (3 hours)
Rick Cherok, Ph.D. Spring 2013
Home: 244-8152; Office – 244-8198 Email:
Course Syllabus
DESCRIPTION: An examination of religion in the United States from the settling of the
continent to the present. Though other religious traditions may receive passing attention, the centrality of Christianity in the United States will be the primary focus of this class. Special attention will be given to colonial religion, religious liberty, revivalism, evangelism, theological trends, social and political influences on religion, and the significant figures of United States religious history.
OBJECTIVES: The student will . . .
¨ Become acquainted with the personalities and events that are important to Christianity in modern America.
¨ Learn the historical development of religion—primarily the church—in America.
¨ Understand the theological, social, and political influences that have shaped American religion.
¨ Improve analytical reading, writing, and research skills.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attendance – Consistent attendance is essential. Class absences are strongly discouraged. Excessive unexcused absences may result in a lower grade. For additional attendance requirements see the seminary catalog.
2. Take notes on all class lectures.
3. Read the course text: A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada by Mark Noll.
4. Read and prepare book reviews (see “Term Paper and Book Review Procedures”) for two required supplemental textbooks:
a. The Divine Dramatist – Harry Stout (Due: Feb. 11)
b. The Democratization of American Christianity – Nathan Hatch (Due: Mar. 11)
c. The Surprising Work of God – Garth M. Rosell (Due: Apr. 8)
5. Complete a Mid-Term Exam (Date: TBA) and a Final Exam (Date: TBA).
6. Write a 15-page research paper on an acceptable topic. (Due: Apr. 22)
» Topics: African-American Christianity, The Orthodox Church in America, American
Judaism, Twentieth-Century Mainline Protestantism, The Nation of Islam, Islam in
America, The American Spiritualist Movement, American Roman Catholicism,
American Hinduism, Native-American Religion, American Buddhism, American
Unbelief (Other “outsider” groups may be used with the Professor’s permission).
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to fulfill it”
— George Santayana
GRADING PROCEDURE: Letter grades will be determined in accordance with the percentages
listed in the seminary catalog. Final grades will be based on the following criteria:
a. Examinations 40% (20% each)
b. Research Paper 25%
c. Book Reviews 30% (10% each)
d. Class Attendance, Participation, & Preparedness 5%
Course Schedule
(The professor reserves the right to make any changes to the Course Schedule that he deems appropriate)
I. Introduction and Historiography Noll – Introduction
II. American Explorers and Puritanism Noll – 1, 2, 3
III. The Great Awakening Noll – 4
IV. Religion and the New Nation Noll – 5, 6
V. The Second Great Awakening and the Civil War Noll – 7, 9, 12
VI. The Urbanization and Western Expansion of Christianity Noll – 11, 15
VII. Fundamentalists, Evangelicals, and Pentecostals Noll – 14, 16
VIII. Religious Outsider Groups Noll – 8, 13
IX. A Current View of American Religion Noll – 17, 19, 20
“If you don’t know history, you don’t know anything. You’re a leaf that
Doesn’t know it’s part of a tree.” — Michael Crichton, Timeline
CLASS GUIDELINES:
1. Arrive in the classroom prior to the start of class and be prepared for class work. Excessive late arrivals to class will result in a lower class grade.
2. Actively and attentively participate in classroom activities and refrain from causing distractions to the class.
3. Turn cellular telephones to vibrate before the start of class.
4. Students who use computers during class for anything other than taking notes will automatically fail the course.
5. Do not leave trash, papers, or debris in the classroom (i.e., keep the classroom clean!).
6. Turn in all assignments at the appropriate due dates. In emergency situations the professor may grant a one-week assignment extension, but only upon student request. No assignments will be accepted after the extension period.
7. Contact the professor if you have problems, need additional clarification of information, require help with the course assignments, or seek some other form of assistance.
“I place history as first in order, because first in importance. The knowledge of facts is the most useful of all knowledge. Indeed, it is the only true knowledge. Theory without facts is but the ghost of knowledge. It is a spectre of a very equivocal character. A historian in any department, I mean one well acquainted with any class of facts, physical, intellectual, or moral, is an overmatch for every other man of equal talents, destitute of that species of knowledge, however splendid in imagination or brilliant in theory and speculation.” — Alexander Campbell (1845)
Term Paper and Book Review Procedures
1. LENGTH
A. Book Review – Two-to-three typed pages (double-spaced).
B. Term Paper – Fifteen typed pages (double-spaced).
2. FORMAT
A. Book Review – Must consist of the following three divisions:
(1) Publication Data – A bibliographic entry for the book under review. See example below:
Geary, Patrick J. Furta Sacra: Thefts of Relics in the Central Middle Ages. Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1978.
(2) Summary – An insightful overview of the book’s content.
(3) Evaluation – An analytical discussion of the book’s content. Things to look for:
(a) Thesis – A single sentence that defines the author’s primary argument (or purpose) for the book. Ask yourself why the author wrote this book.
(b) Strengths and Weaknesses – While reading the book, look for the author’s support for his thesis, research and documentation, contradictions, and weak arguments. Ask yourself what the author could do to strengthen this book. Observe the stylistic elements of the book and its significance to American Religious History.
B. Term Paper – A well-written research paper will provide a thorough analysis of a historical topic (keep in mind that this is a history class, not a theology class) and include the following:
(1) Thesis – A thesis statement that defines the primary argument (or purpose) of the paper.
(2) Body – An analysis of the relevant information under investigation in the paper.
(3) Conclusion – A brief overview of the finding associated with the research.
(4) Bibliography (which is given in addition to the assigned pages for the study) – A thorough listing of all scholarly sources of information that deal with the topic of study.
3. STYLE – Book Reviews and Term Papers must be written in proper English and in accordance with The Chicago Manual of Style. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors will substantially lower grades. It is suggested that you proofread your work at least twice before it is submitted.
A. Typing Format – Use one-inch margins, twelve-point type (Times New Roman or Courier New), page numbers, and new paragraph indents of between five and eight spaces.
B. Formal Writing – All writing assignments are considered formal scholarly writing. Avoid the following mistakes:
(1) Passive Voice (i.e., “Washington was elected by the people”).
(2) Personal Judgments (i.e., “It was boring,” “I did not like it,” “It felt…,” etc.).
(3) First-Person Commentary (i.e., “I find…,” “I think…,” “We see…,” etc.).
(4) Contractions (i.e., “don’t,” “can’t,” etc.) and Abbreviations (i.e., “2nd,” “thru,” etc.).
C. Documentation – All quotes and sources of information must be documented.
(1) Book Reviews – Use parenthetical references for documentation. Example: (Geary, 87).
(2) Term Papers – Use footnotes for documentation. See the example below for proper documentation of books[1] and journal articles.[2]
4. GRADES – Grading considerations will include content, grammar, and compliance with the rules
And guidelines provided above.
[1] Nathan O. Hatch, The Democratization of American Christianity (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1989), 139.
[2] Nathan O. Hatch, “The Christian Movement and the Demand for a Theology of the People,” Journal of American History 67 (December 1980): 545-67.