REL 468:  Sociology of Religion

Professor Jeanette Reedy Solano

USC, Fall 2000

 

Course Hours:  T, TH:  11:00-12:20

Office Hours:   T, TH:  10-10:45 a.m. & by appt.

 

Course Description:

How do social scientists approach the study of religion?  What methods, biases, tools, and strategies are involved?  Is there such a thing as an “objective, scientific” approach to a subject as volatile, personal, and complex as religion?  We will begin to respond to these basic queries by turning to both classical and contemporary sociologists of religion.  We will then focus on the fascinating evolution of spirituality in North America, aided by sociologist of religion Wuthnow.  Moving from the general to the specific, we will focus on the history of the Holiness-Pentecostal tradition and explore local Angeleno Pentecostalism.  Finally, we will consider how religion is mediated to the masses through the media.  Our methodology will include fortifying ourselves with theory, critiquing it and applying it in the field as we examine Pentecostal churches in L.A.  The class dynamic will be a mixture of both lecture and discussion.  The aim of this course is to evaluate and familiarize ourselves with social scientific approaches to the study of religion.  After completing this class, not only will media coverage of the Pope be read with a trained eye, but you will emerge with a thorough understanding of social scientific approaches to the study of religion.

 

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TEXTS WHICH WILL GUIDE OUR EXPLORATION (Required Course Books):

 

Covington,  Dennis,                   Salvation on Sand Mountain:  Snake Handling and

Redemption  in Southern Appalachia

 

McCutcheon, Russell T. ed.    The Insider/Outsider Problem in the Study of Religion:

            A Reader

 

Silk, Mark,                               Unsecular Media:  Making News of Religion in America

 

Synan, Vinson,                         The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition:  Charismatic

Movements in the Twentieth Century

 

Wuthnow, Robert,                 After Heaven:  Spirituality in America since the 1950’s

 

Recommended:

Erikson, Victoria Lee,  Where Silence Speaks:  Feminism, Social Theory, and Religion

Gallop, George Jr. & D. Michael Lindsay,  Surveying the Religious Landscape:  Trends

                                                                    in U.S. Beliefs

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATIVE CRITERIA

 

Grading:         Participation/Attendance:                               10%                   

                        E-Discussion Groups:                                    15%

                        Discussion Group Facilitation:                      5%

                        Mid-term exam:                                             20%

                        Field Research & Class Presentation:          25%

                        Research Paper:                                            25%

 

Each percentage is worth the equivalent number of points (for a total of 100).  Grades will follow the standard breakdown:  90-100: A; 80-90: B;  70-80: C;  60-70: D; below 60...well you don’t want to go there!  If all fall short,  a grading curve will apply.  The +/- system applies.  A few points can make a big difference.  Your grade will be based upon the following:  vital engagement in the class (25%), an examination (20%), collaborative research (25%), and writing/research skills (25%).

 

Discussion Participation/Attendance:  You are expected to have read materials thoroughly prior to class meetings and be prepared to engage in every discussion. The small size of this 400 level course allows us to engage in seminar-style discussions. Attendance, however mundane, counts!  In a class this intimate your presence will be missed (and duly noted).  After 3 absences, a point will be deducted for each class missed.

 

E-Discussion Groups:  This quality of our sessions depend on you staying up-to-date on the readings.  To insure our classroom interaction is fruitful, you will form groups of 3-4 persons and engage in cyber-dialogue about each week’s readings.  You should share your reactions to the readings as well as critically dissect them together.  A one-page summary of your group’s discussion should be emailed to me (solano@usc.edu) by 9 P.M. each Monday night.

 

Discussion Group Facilitation:  On one occasion during the term you will be responsible for critically responding to the assigned reading in a 4 page (double-spaced) reflection paper (which should conclude with  a list of discussion questions).  You will also be expected to help facilitate our group’s discussion for that day.  Each of these papers-facilitations will be worth 5 points (5% of your grade).  Please see handout for details.  You may sign up to lead a second session for extra credit.

 

Mid-term: The mid-term is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10th and will cover material through Week 7.  It will be a combination of short answers and one long essay question.

 

Class Projects/Presentations: You will have the opportunity to apply the theory you’ve been learning to a real-life context as you venture off-campus as budding sociologists of religion.  Select a local religious phenomenon or religious community.  Using the tools of the trade you will examine your subject, conduct interviews, compile data, formulate hypotheses, and present your research to the class.  L.A. is your oyster....  One representative from each group should meet with me by Week 8 to clear your project parameters and method.

 

Research Paper:  This 15-20 page (double-spaced) research paper should reflect the culmination of your work in this course.  The topic should grapple with and apply the theories we discussed as well as profile a specific religious phenomena or community in the area.  You may build on data gathered while pursuing your group project; however, each student’s paper must be unique.  These papers should include excerpts from interviews, statistics, and your own original field research. You must meet with me with by week 9 to discuss your paper.  Please bring a written thesis statement and preliminary outline to this meeting.  This paper is due on 12/12 in lieu of a final exam.  Late papers will be downgraded a full letter grade for each day they are late.

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

 

Wk 1 (8/29)   Introduction to Sociology of Religion

 

I. METHODOLOGICAL DILEMMAS

(8/31)   The Scientific Study of Religion

            McCutcheon, Part I introduction, Essays by Miner, Wach, Eliade

 

Wk 2  (9/5)      Borrowing from Thy Neighbor Anthropologist

                        McCutcheon, Essays by Geertz, Shaw, Firth

          

(9/7)     The Outsider’s Retort:  Reductionism Defended

            McCutcheon, Essays by Segal and Pals

 

Wk 3:  (9/12)  Reflexivity and the Role of the Researcher

                        McCutcheon,  Essays by Hufford & Jackson

           

(9/14)   Covington, Salvation on Sand Mountain, Chpts. 1-5

 

Wk 4:  (9/19)  McCutcheon, Essays by O’Flaherty, Brown, & Wolf

                        

(9/21)   Covington, Salvation on Sand Mountain, Chpts. 7-11

 

II.   SOCIOLOGY of RELIGION and SPIRITUALITY IN THE U.S.

 

Wk 5:  (9/26) Wuthnow,  “From Dwelling to Seeking” & “In the House of the Lord”  

 

            (9/28)   Wuthnow,  “The New Spiritual Freedom” & “Desire for Discipline”

 

Wk 6:  (10/3) Wuthnow,  “Angel Awakenings” & “Spirituality of the Inner Self”

 

            (10/5)   Wuthnow,  “The Practice of Spirituality”

 

Wk 7:  (10/10) Mid-term

 

III.  FOCUS ON PENTECOSTALISM

(10/12)  Roots:  Synan, Preface & 1: “The Double Cure (1766-1866)”

Wk 8:  (10/17) The Angeleno Connection I:

  Synan, 5:“The American Jerusalem-Azusa Street”

              ***  Field trip to Historic Angeleno Pentecostal Sites (Angelus Temple)

 

             (10/19)Of Stigmas & Stereotypes:  Synan, 10: “The Pentecostals in Society(1901-01)”

 

Wk 9:  (10/24) Pentecostalism on the Big Screen:  Robert Duval’s  The Apostle -Pt. 1

                         Synan, 8:  “Criticism and Controversy (1906-1920)”

 

            (10/26)  Film:  The Apostle, Pt. 2

                         Synan, 11:  “The Neo-Pentecostal Movement”

 

Wk 10:(10/31) Pentecostalism Today

 Synan, 13:  “The Charismatic Explosion”          video  

                       

             (11/2)  African American Pentecostalism:  Focus on Church of God in Christ

                         Synan, 9:  “The African-American Pentecostals”

 

Wk 11: (11/7) Latino Pentecostalism I:  L.A.B.I.

            ***Special Guest:  Dr. Canales, President of Latin American Bible Institute

                        Synan, 14:  “Centennial Reflections”

 

             (11/9)   Latino Pentecostalism II:  Local perspective-Storefront churches                                                 Select Articles &  Photo exhibit

                          Special guest:  Prof. Martin Krieger

 

Wk 12:(11/14)   Sociological Religious Research Report:  Group  I

             (11/16)   Sociological Religious Research Report:  Group II

 

Wk 13: (11/21)  No class, revel in your week off!

              (11/23)  Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy your turkey!  Work on your papers.....

 

IV.  THE DIVINE IN BLACK AND WHITE:  HOW THE MEDIA DEPICTS RELIGION

Wk 14:  (11/28) The Phantom of Secularism and the Myth of Objective Journalism

    Silk,  Chpts.  1, 2, 3

 

              (11/30)  The Spiritual Beat

    Special Guest:  Margaret Ramirez, LA Times religion reporter

                            Silk,  Chpts. 4, 5, 6

 

Wk 15: (12/5)    Covering the Controversial:  False Prophecy and Crying Statues

                            Silk,  Chpts.  8, 10

             

              (12/7)    Unsecular Media

                Silk,  Chpts. 11,12

Wk 16:  (12/12)  RESEARCH PAPERS DUE  by 2 p.m. (no final exam)