Day 9 (July 1): Demography and Sociology of Religion in the U.S.

a)Morning Session - The New Pluralism

This session will examine demographic trends over the past half-century. Major trends include declines in mainline Protestantism; growth in evangelical, fundamentalist, and pentecostal Protestantism; expanding numbers of Catholics due largely to in-migration of Latino populations; growth in other religions, especially Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and numerous religious and spiritual movements including New Agers; and growth of the religiously non-affiliated sector. Socio-historical sources of these trends and reconfigurations will receive attention plus the importance of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of the U.S. Congress in 1965, which opened the way to massive entrance of "new immigrant" religions.  Video and discussion.

Video: "America's New Religious Landscape," to accompany assigned book

Discussant: Clark Roof         

Assigned Reading: 

Diana L. Eck, A New Religious America

Wade Clark Roof, Spiritual Marketplace

b)Afternoon Session - Culture Wars

Throughout the 1990s there was much rhetoric about culture wars, or the claims of ideologically opposed constituencies representing religion in public life. It was argued that the divide was religiously driven, a rift between religious traditionalists, on the one hand, and religious liberals in collaboration with so-called secular humanists, on the other. The session will assess this argument looking at recent data pertaining to controversies over abortion, gay rights, prayer in schools, and home schooling. Attention will be given to public rhetoric as advanced by religious groups, televangelists, and the sports and entertainment industries. The topic bears directly on the competition of religious languages in the public arena within a pluralist society.

Speakers:

Clark Roof, Melissa Wilcox, Richard Hecht

Reading Assignment:

Julie J. Ingersoll, "Televangelism," Reader

Alan Wolfe, One Nation, After All

Samuel G. Freedman, Jew vs. Jew