Day 10 (July 2):  Religion and Region

a)Morning Session - Religious and Cultural Regions in the U.S. 

The focus will be upon regional religious styles as found in the South, the Mid-West, New England, and the West Coast, despite trends toward cultural homogenization. The history and trends for each region including the character of its religious pluralism, piety, and expression in public life will be discussed. The session is crucial to the theme of the institute, that is, to show that the dynamics of pluralism and public presence varies across regions. Lecture, visual presentation of regional religious memberships, and discussion.

Speaker:  Academic Director

Assigned Readings:

Rhys Williams, "American Religion," Reader

Selected readings from the Routledge Historical Atlas of Religion in America

b)Afternoon Session - Showing of the film, "The Apostle," Kerr Hall

This film depicts the Pentecostal movement in the United States, its theology, behavioral styles, and psychology. Pentecostalism as a modern movement developed largely on the West Coast in early twentieth-century. But as an expressive faith stressing bodily movement it quickly spread to the American South. The connections between this movement and southern life will be discussed plus ways in which Pentecostal styles have changed over time.

Discussant:  Dr. Richard Hecht, UCSB Religious Studies

Assigned Reading:

Edith L. Blumhofer, "Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity," Reader

Martha Finch-Jewell, "Body," Reader