HIS209LChristianityinAmerica.BethelUniversity,St.Paul,MN,Spring2015.RubenRivera,PhD.

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HIS209L: CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA: OUT OF ONE, MANY

Instructor:RubenRivera,PhD
BethelUniversity,Spring2015
Days/Time:MWF1:502:40PM
Classroom:CLC109
Office:CC427E
OfficeHours:Byappointment
Tel:6516386810/Email:rrivera@bethel.edu/POBox:38
TeachingAssistants: FletcherWarren
fletcherwarren@bethel.edu
MauriceDoCarmo

mad43296@bethel.edu

andyour[Abrahams]descendantsshallbelikethedustoftheearth,andyoushallspreadabroadto
thewestandtotheeastandtothenorthandtothesouth;andbyyouandyourdescendantsshall allthe
familiesoftheearthbeblessed.(Genesis28:14;cf.,12:3;17:4)
Ihaveothersheep,thatarenotofthisfold;Imustbringthemalso,andtheywilllistentomyvoice.So
thereshallbeoneflock,andoneshepherd.(Jesus:John10:16)
[Father],Iwillremainintheworldnolonger,butthey[Jesusdisciples]areintheworld,andIam
comingtoyou.HolyFather,protectthembythepowerofyournamethenameyouhavegivenmeso
thattheymaybeone,evenasweareone.(Jesus:John17:11)
Myprayerisnotforthemalone.Iprayalsoforthosewhobelieveinmethroughtheirmessage,that
theymayallbeone,justasyouFatherareinmeandIaminyou.Maytheyalsobeinus,sothatthe
worldmaybelievethatyouhavesentme.TheglorythatyouhavegivenmeIhavegiventothem,thatthey
maybeoneevenasweareone:Iinthemandyouinme.Maytheybebroughttocompleteunity,sothat
theworldmayknowthatyouhavesentmeandhavelovedthemevenasyouhavelovedme.
(Jesus:John17:2023)
WearenolongerJewsorGreeksorslavesorfreeorevenmerelymenorwomen,butweareallthe
sameweareChristians;weareoneinChristJesus.(Galatians3:28).
And[God]hasmadeofonebloodallnationsofpeopletodwellonallthefaceoftheearth,andhas
determinedthetimesbeforeappointed,andtheboundsoftheirhabitation.ThattheyshouldseekGod,in
thehopethattheymightfeelafterhimandfindhim.Yetheisnotfarfromeachoneofus,forInhimwe
liveandmoveandhaveourbeing;asevensomeofyour[Greek]poetshavesaid,Forweareindeedhis
offspring.(Acts17:2628KJV)
Worthyareyou[Jesus]totakethescrollandopenitsseals,foryouwereslainandbyyourbloodyou
ransomedpeopleforGodfromeverytribeandtongueandpeopleandnation.(Revelations5:9)
AfterthisIlooked[intoheaven],andbehold,agreatmultitudewhichnoonecouldnumber,fromevery
nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,
clothedinwhiterobes,withpalmbranchesintheirhands,andcryingoutwithaloudvoice,Salvation
belongstoourGodwhositsuponthethrone,andtotheLamb!(Revelations7:910).
CatalogDescription:StudyofChristianityasavitalfactorinNorthAmericanhistoryandlife.Develops
anunderstandingoftheEuropeanReformations,theEnlightenmentandothermoderndevelopmentsas
factorsinteractingwithChristianityinNorthAmericanculture,government,economics,andothersocial
features from colonial times to the present. Exploration of Christian responses to such issues as

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democracy, revivalism, imperialism, slavery, modernism, new sciences, secularism, industrialization,

materialism,Communism,civilrights,pluralism,war,globalization,technologyandtheinternet.
Prerequisite:GES130ChristianityandWesternCulture,oritsequivalent,unlesswaivedbyprofessor.
Recommended:BIB101IntroductiontotheBible.
GoalsandObjectives:Becauseofthesurveynatureofthecourse(fivecenturiesofChristianitiesand
derivationsinAmerica),somethematicstructuremustexistasaskeletonuponwhichtohangdetails.
Thecoursegoals/objectivesrevolvearoundthefollowingmaintheme: ChristianityinAmerica:Outof
One,Many.ObviouslyaplayontheU.S.motto, Epluribus,Unum (OutofMany[peoples],One
[nation]),thecoursetitlereflects:
The endless plurality of Christian expressions (the Many) that emerged from the time of the
earliestdisciplesofJesusChrist(theOneororiginofwhatbecameChristianity).
IntherelativelyfreeairofNorthAmerica (dependingonwhoyouwere),a vastdiversityof
religiousvoiceshasflourishedseeminglywithoutlimitandwithoutendinsight.
Thecourseisthendesignedtoallowustoseesomethingofthemanyvoicesastheyrelatetocentral
eventsandissuesinAmericanhistory,aswellassomecommonthemes.
RequiredTexts(purchasetheseimmediatelyatthebookstore):
NancyKoester,FortressIntroductiontotheHistoryofChristianityintheUnitedStates(Mpls,Fortress,
Press,2007).ThisisaprintondemandbookthatmustbepreorderedfromtheBethelbookstore.
PatrickAllitt,ed.,MajorProblemsinAmericanReligiousHistory,2ded.(Boston:WadsworthCengage
Learning,2013).
ReadingsdownloadedonthecourseMoodlewebsite.
CourseRequirements:

Percentage
ReadingJournalAllitt&Koestertextandvariousarticles
40
Exams
2@25%each
50
Participation(attendanceisassumed)

10

Total
100
BETHELUNIVERSITYACADEMICPOLICIES
Grading:ReadcarefullythestatementsinthecurrentBethelUniversityCatalogontheGradingSystem
usedinthisclass,aswellasthestatementonAcademicHonestyanddefinitionsofAcademicDishonesty
towhichallstudentsareaccountable.TheycanalsobefoundonBethelBLinkwebpage,"Student
Academics"tab,then"MyBethelCourses,"then"BethelAcademicPolicies."
Thegradescaleusedinthiscourseisattachedtothissyllabus.
Plagiarism/Cheating:Usingsomeoneelsesideas,workorwordingandpretendingitsyourown,or
failingtociteyoursource(s)andgivethemcredit. Pleasedonotdishonoryourprofessor,university,
family,faithandyourselvesbyengagingincheatingandplagiarismofanykind.
SpecialNeeds:Contacttheinstructorassoonaspossibleifanyneedsrequirespecialaccommodation.
ContactDisabilityServicesathttp://www.bethel.edu/offices/disability/
AletterfromtheDisabilityServicesofficeisneededtoobtainaccommodations.
AcademicEnrichment&SupportCenter:http://cas.bethel.edu/dept/aescHC324,neartheBUlibrary
AESCexistsforanyonewhoneedshelpwithstudyskills,tutoring,writing,etc.Greatresource.

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SupportforMultilingualStudents:Multilingualstudentswouldlikeacademicsupportwithwritten
papers,examsandthelikecontactheAESCathttp://cas.bethel.edu/dept/aesc/Multilingual
CareerCenter/WhatCanIDoWithMyMajor?
http://www.bethel.edu/careerservices/careerplanning/careerlinks/index
NOLATEHOMEWORK:Homeworkiscriticalforclassdiscussion.Ifyoudon'thaveitonthedayit's
due,youmissedthepointofthehomework.Ifyouhaveproblems,seemebeforeanassignmentdeadlines
arrive.Also,Isimplycannotkeepupwhenindividualstudentsturninassignmentsatdifferenttimes,etc.
Extra credit work is rare but occasionally I may make an extra credit assignment available to all
students.Icantdoindividualextracredit.
Doallworkoncomputerandsaveallyourwork.Keepdigitalandpapercopiesofallhomework,
papers,exams.Thisisimportantforyourownstudypurposes,andifaquestionaboutgradingariseslater.
Appeals Procedure: Any concerns you have about the course, your grades, or instructor should be
handledinthefollowingmanner.(1)Communicateyourconcernclearlytotheinstructorasafirststep.
(2) If you are not satisfied with the instructor's resolution of your concern, talk to the department
chairperson.(3)Ifyouarestillnotsatisfied,thenyoushouldmakeanappointmenttocommunicateyour
concernstotheOfficeofAcademicAffairs.Ifthisprocedureisnotfollowed,therightsandfreedomof
boththeinstructorandstudentarepotentiallyviolated. ComplaintProceduresarefoundinthecurrent
AcademicCatalog:http://www.bethel.edu/undergrad/academics/catalog/
CLASSROOMCOURTESY
Studentbehaviorinclasscanpromoteorhinderthelearningexperience.Notethefollowing:
Livingbytheroyallaw(ReadMt21:3640;25:3146;Mk12:2834;Lk10:2537;Jas2:813).As
Christiansweknowthattreatingothersthewaywewanttobetreatedismoreimportantthanmerely
claimingtitletothenameChristian.Wecanbehonestandopenindiscussion,andevenendupin
disagreement,butletusdosoinalisteningtounderstandandrespectfulmanner.
Tardiness and leaving early disrupts devotional time and class activity; you also miss inclass
discussion/activitythatcannotbemadeup.Ifyourscheduledoesnotallowyoutostayfortheentire
class,youshouldnothaveenrolledinit.
Talking out of turn. If you have ever tried to share something while others ignored you and
chatteredaway,youknowhowdisruptiveanddisrespectfulthiscanbe.
Useofcomputers areonlyfornotetakingorotheractivityrelatedtoTHISclass.Doyouremail,
facebook,gaming,orotheractivitiesoutsideoftheclassroom.
ASSIGNMENTS
ClassPreparation&Participation: You cannot be silent in this class and expect to
earn a top grade.Discussionsbasedonreading,lectures,films,andassignmentsareimportant.
Students are expected to complete the assigned material in preparation for class. Besides absences,
tardinessorlackofpreparationandparticipationcansubstantiallylowerthegrade.Seemeifaserious
problemarises.

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Responses to readings. (1) All homework must be typed on computer and printed. (2) Written
responsestoclassreadingsarecriticalforlearningandclassdiscussion.(3)Neverwriteinoutlineformor
lists.Writeincompletesentencessothatanyonewhohasnothadthisclasscanunderstandsufficiently.If
youwriteinabbreviatedaform,evenyoumaynotbeabletorecallalltherelevantinformation.(4)
AlwaystypeyournameandPOatthetoprightcornerofthefirstpage.(5)Foreachreading,includethe
bookandchapternumberandtitlefortheKoestertext.ForAllitttextseebelow.

SpecificquestionsontheKoestertext willbepostedintheMoodlecoursewebsite.Typeout
briefbutcompleteanswerstothegivenquestionsandhandinforagradeonduedates.

ReadingJournalonAllitttext(2dEd) andonlinereadings: For each assignedreading

(document,essay,etc.)dothefollowing:
o Include chapternumberintheAllitttextalongwiththetitleofeachreading.Foronline
readings,includeauthornameandtitle.ThisisimportantsoIdontgethomeworkmixedup.
o Foreachreading:typeabouta1/2pageresponseusingthefollowingformat.
o Foreachreading:summarizethemainpointorthesisofthereadinginnomorethan1/3of
pagemaxandbackitupwithkeyexamplesand/orquotationsfromthereading.
o Inabouttwosentences(aftereach1/3pagesummary)includeabriefcomment,reflectionor
questiononakeyaspectofthatreadingthatyoufeelismostimportantfordiscussion.
o Theaccuratesummaryfollowedbyyourpersonalreflectionorpointyouwouldliketopursue
indiscussionshouldtotalnomorethanabout1/2apage.
2Exams(Midterm&Final):
MultipleFormatsmayappear.Youwillchoosetheanswerwhichisthemosttrueforthequestions.
Indicateyouranswerby:eitherfillingintheblank/shortanswer,orcirclingtheletterofthecorrect
answer,orcirclingTrueorFalse,dependingonthestyleofquestion.
Essays.Anexammaybeinessayformatinsteadoforinadditiontothemultipleformatabove.
COURSESCHEDULE
I reserve the right to make changes to the course schedule as time and circumstances warrant: to
supplementwithaquizoradditionallectureifitappearsthatstudentsarenotreadingtheliterature,are
comingtoclassunprepared,orotherwisehavingdifficultywiththematerial;tocondenseoreliminatean
itemtoallowstudentsmoretimetoassimilatethematerial.
Asterisked*itemsarereadingsfoundonthecourseMoodlewebsite.
INTRODUCTION:RELIGIOUSPLURALISM;HISTORIOGRAPHY
(Week1)
M2/2 Syllabus&PolicyMatters
ReligiousPluralism:Issues&Responses
Due:Buyallbooks;read&knowallrequirementsinsyllabus&handouts
W2/4 ReligiousPluralismcont.
HistoriographyofAmericanChristianity
Due:Koester,Preface(Question1),Chp1pp13(Q1).
F2/6 Historiographycont.
GOD&THECOLONIES:COLONIALISMTHROUGHREVOLUTION
(Week2)"America'sReligion":themesofunity&diversity

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M2/9 Due:Allittchp1(Schaff;AnnBraude;Finke&Stark)
W2/11 Due:Koester,Chp1,pp39(Q2&3)
F2/13 NewWorldNaturalReligion/OldWorldNationalReligion
Due:Allittchp2(Docs4Williams,6Tecaughrentangego;Essay:Richter)
(Week3)TheNewEnglandWayPuritanism
M2/16 Due:KoesterChp1,pp1526(Q4&5)
W2/18 Due:Due:Allittchp3(Doc1Winthrop,2Bradford,3Mather;Essay:Miller)
F2/20 Puritanismcont.