Sociology 3595: Special Topics--Sociology of Religion
Spring 2009
Subject to change: check web schedule if you miss class!!

 

Week One:    
Jan 21 "In the Field with Snake Handlers," Sullivan and Ellifson No reading assignment
Jan 23 Religion: definitions and points of approach in sociology
Video: "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: the True Bible Way Church"
CSK, chapter 1
Week Two:Jan 26

Video: "Mine Eyes: Willow Creek Community Church"
Eagle Brook, Twin Cities

CSK, chapter 2
Jan 28   Borg, chapter 1
Jan 30   Borg, chapters 2
Week Three: Feb 2 Judaism Borg, chapters 3-4
Feb 4

Video: "Genesis: The Test "

Borg, chapter 5
Feb 6   Borg, chapter 9
Week Four:Feb 9 Field research: getting started First "Speaking of Faith" groups/recommendations. Listen to one of the archived shows and 1-2 pages of summary/reactions to class
Feb 11 Speaking of Faith Borg, chapter 10
Feb 13 Moyers Interviews Jeremiah Wright, part I (begin videotape at 2.20) Borg, epilogue
Week Five: Feb 16 Video: "At the River I Stand" I've Been to the Mountaintop"
Feb 18 Social science and the history of Christianity Stark, preface and chapter 1
Feb 20   Study Guide I
Week Six:Feb 23 Exam One  
Feb 25 Video: "The Mormons" Stark, chapter 2
Feb 27 The Growth of Christianity in the Greco-Roman world
Stark, chapter 3
Week Seven: Mar 2   Stark, chapter 4
Mar 4   Stark, chapter 5
Mar 6 Video: "Mother of the Year" Stark, chapter 7
Week Eight: Mar 9    
Mar 11 Dick Green: Adam Smith on Religion Stark, chapter 9
Mar 13 Video: Bonhoeffer Stark, chapter 10
Week Nine: Mar 23
  CSK, chapter 4
Mar 25 Church/sect theory.  
Mar 27   CSK, chapter 5
Week Ten: Mar 30
Video: "Sister Aimee" CSK, chapter 8
April 1   Study Guide 2
April 3    
Week Eleven: April 6 Exam Two  
April 8 Video: "America and the Holocaust" CSK, chapter 6
April 10    
Week Twelve: April 13    
April 15 Speaking of Faith: Joan Chittester CSK, chapter 7
April 17 Video: "Sisters" Star Tribune: " 300 Afghan Women Find Their Voice"
Week Thirteen: April 20    
April 22   Armstrong, pp. 3-47
April 24   Armstrong, chapter 5
Week Fourteen: April 27   Generation Faithful: New York Times
The Bullets in My Inbox: NY Times
April 29   CSK, chapter 9
May 1 Presentation1. Video: Jared Diamond on the Evolution of Religion
Worksheet
The Religious Success Story
Week Fifteen: May 4 Presentations: Mission From Africa
May 6 Sept 11 and the Songs We Sing Presentations The Great Divide (China) Study Guide 3
May 8 Presentations: Papers on your field research are due

Final exam is scheduled for Monday, May 11, 8.00-9.55 a.m.