Religion And Politics In The United States

This course investigates the role of religion in American political life from the nation's founding to the present era. Church-state issues will be addressed from the perspectives of political theory and constitutional law. Cultural cleavages on such issues as prohibition, Sunday observance, the teaching of evolution, and, more recently, on abortion, school prayer, parochial school aid, civil liberties and the gay rights will be explored. The implications of religious divisions for the American political party and electoral systems will also be examined using historical and political science studies. This course is equivalent to HIS 3008 and REL 3008. Students will receive credit for only one of these courses. These courses may not substitute for each other in the F grade replacement policy.