American Religious History

This is a survey of how American religious traditions both came to America and developed on American soil. From our Puritan ancestors to modern traditions forming out of the American experience, religion has been a vital and forceful guide to our culture and traditions. Every town in America has a place of worship and every place of worship has a history. This course will cover from 1492 to the Civil War. A course in a later term will cover from the Civil War to the present.

Suggested Readings:

Martin Marty, Pilgrims in Their Own Land, ISBN 978-0140082685; Edwin S. Gaustad and Leigh Schmidt, The Religious History of America, ISBN 978-0060630560; or any other history of American religion.

Theodore Stainman is a retired Air Force Chaplain and Graduate of the Hebrew Union College. He taught this course for several years while living in Denver, Colorado.