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Fred Glennon, Ph.D. (Courses)
Professor (RH 216)
Department of Religious Studies
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, New York 13214
(315) 445-4343

REL 314

Spring 2015    Reilly Hall 338    Mon., Wed. 2:30-3:45pm

 

Date/Class Topics

Questions and Reading Assignments

1/21

Introductions

Questions:  Why am I in this class?  What do I hope to learn from taking this class?  Who else is in this class and why?  Who is this professor?  What qualifies him to teach this class?  Can he help me meet my learning objectives?

Module 1

Learning Covenant

1/26

The Learning Covenant

Questions:  What is a "learning covenant"?  What contribution, if any, can it make to my learning in this class and beyond?

Module 2 

Historical Foundations:  The evolution of religion and state relationship

91/28

Questions:  What are the historical expressions of the relationship between the state and religion?  How did they develop?  What influence do those developments have today?

·         Plato, Laws, Book X (can be accessed on Canvas or here)

2/2

Questions:  What role did the development of Christianity as the established religion in the west play in these developments?

·         Augustine, City of God (excerpts on Canvas)

·         Pope Gelasius I On Spiritual and Temporal Power (on Canvas)

·         Pope Gregory VII, Dictatus Papae (on Canvas)

·         Luther, On Secular Authority (excerpts on Canvas)

Assessment Activity #2 (Learning Self Assessment) Due (See Canvas under Assessment Activities)

2/4

Questions:  How did the Renaissance and Enlightenment movements influence the understanding of church and state?

·         Machiavelli, The Discourses, The Prince (excerpts on Canvas)

·         Locke, “On the Difference between Civil and Ecclesiastical Power,” (on Canvas)

Module 3 

Constitutional Foundations and Boundary Issues:  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

2/9

 

Overview of Church-State Relations

Questions:  How has the United States drawn the line between the church and state, religion and politics?  Where does it fit on the spectrum between theocracy and the Erastian model?  What are the competing views and their rationales?  Have they been consistent over time?

 

·         Feldman, Divided by God, Introduction

 

 

Boundary Issues – Keeping Church and State Apart Appropriately

I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would “make no law respecting an establishment of religion...thus building a wall of separation between church and state.  Thomas Jefferson, January 1, 1802

2/11

 Public Funding of Religion: 

State Churches

Questions:  Why do some countries have state churches?  What were the principles and ideas that keep the United States from doing the same?

·         Feldman, Divided by God, chapter 1.

Assessment Activity #3 (Learning Covenant) Due (See Canvas under Assessment Activities)

2/16

 Public Funding of Religion: 

Schools

Questions:  To what extent should public tax money be used to support religious schools?  Books?  Transportation?  Vouchers?

·         Feldman, Divided by God, chapter 2.

·         Wexler, Holy Hullabaloos, chapter 6.

2/18

 Public Funding of Religion: 

Social Services

Questions:  What are the problems/dangers associated with funding religious social services for people in need?  For the government?  For the religious community?  For the recipients?

 

Read one or the other

·         Lynn, “Faith-Based Initiatives,” in Piety and Politics, 117-147 (on Canvas)

·         Glennon, “Blessed Be the Ties that Bind,” Journal of Church and State (on Canvas)

2/23

 Public Endorsement of Religion:

Evolution vs. Creationism Controversy

Questions:  Should public schools teach creationism or intelligent design along with the theory of evolution?  Does it really amount to an endorsement of religion?

·         Feldman, Divided by God, chapter 3 (Daffy Duck)

·         Feldman, Divided by God, chapter 4 (Porky Pig)

·         Wexler, Holy Hullabaloos, chapter 8 (everyone else)

2/25

 

Public Endorsement of Religion:

 

 School Prayer

Questions:  When is prayer in public school appropriate?  Should the school day begin with prayer, allowing those who object to remain outside the class until it is over?  What about invoking God’s blessing on athletic contests or commencement ceremonies? 

 

  • Wexler, Holy Hullabaloos, chapter 7.

3/2

 

Public Endorsement of Religion

 

Legislative Prayer, Chaplains, and the Military

 

Questions:  What is a “nonsectarian” prayer?  Should there be chaplains in the U.S. Senate or in the military supported by public tax dollars?  Is it appropriate for gun manufacturers to place Bible verses on the sights of gun barrels used in combat in Muslim countries?

 

  • Wexler, Holy Hullabaloos, chapter 5.
  • Sharlet, “Jesus Killed Mohammed,” Harper’s Magazine (online and on Canvas)

3/4

 

Public Endorsement of Religion:

 

Religious Displays

Questions:  At what point does a religious display on public property become a public endorsement of religion?  Does it mean that no religious symbols can be displayed?  Or does it mean that they should be displayed along with other non-religious symbols?

 

·         Wexler, Holy Hullabaloos, chapter 4.

 

Assessment Activity #4 (Mid-semester evaluation) Due (See Canvas under Assessment Activities)

3/9-13

Spring Break (no classes)

 

Module 4

Free Exercise Issues--Keeping State from Interfering with Religious Practice (of individuals and organizations)

3/16

 

Discrimination against Religious Practice

Questions:  Should a government entity be able to outlaw a religious practice they deem objectionable but does not create social unrest or harm to participants?

·         Wexler, Holy Hullabaloos, chapter 2

3/18

 

Undue Burdens on Religious Practice

Questions:  Is there any practical difference between a law that discriminates against a religion and a law that just happens to make practicing the religion impossible?

·         Wexler, Holy Hullabaloos, chapter 3.

3/23

 

Protecting Religious Minorities:  Legal Secularism

Questions:  How do we protect religious minorities from laws that have their basis in the beliefs or practices of the majority religion?

·         Feldman, Divided by God, chapter 5.

3/25

 

Protecting Religious Minorities: Equal Treatment

Questions:  Who are the “values evangelicals” and how have they been successful in winning court decisions?

·         Feldman, Divided by God, chapter 6.

3/30

 

Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations and Pulpit Politics

Questions:  Should religious communities who are exempt from taxation be allowed to endorse a particular political candidate?  Are voters guides generated by religious organizations a violation of IRS regulations that prohibit non-profit organizations from participating in political advocacy?

 

 

Module 5

 Religious Sentiment and the Formation and Execution of Public Policy

I could not be leading a religious life unless I identified myself with the whole of mankind, and that I could not do unless I took part in politics—Mohandas Gandhi

4/1

 

The Christian Right and the Mega Church

Questions:  Who is the Christian Right we hear so much about?  How did they come into being?  What influence have they had in American politics?  Do they still have that influence today?

·         Wald and Calhoun-Brown, Religion and Politics in the U.S., chapter 8 (on Canvas)

4/6

 

Easter Break (no class)

4/8

 

Abortion Policy

Questions: To what extent should religious views determine the reproductive freedom of women who do not share those views?

·         Hammond, Machacek, and Mazur, Religion on Trial: How Supreme Court Trends Threaten Freedom of Conscience in America, chapter 6 (on Canvas).

4/13

 

Gay Rights/Gay Marriage

Questions:  Who should decide public policy with regards to gay marriage or gay rights?  How does this discussion connect with discussions of the religion clauses in the First Amendment?

·         Jakobsen and Pelligrini, “The Free Exercise of Sex,” in Love the Sin, chapter 4 (on Canvas).

4/15

 

Health Care Issues:

End-of-Life and Assisted Suicide

Questions:  What role should religion play in influencing public policy over these issues?  What is the role of government in deciding these questions?

 

·         Case Study:  Terry Schiavo (on Canvas)

·         See also http://www.religioustolerance.org/schiavo.htm

4/20

 

Health Care Issues:

Conscience Clause for Medical Professionals

Questions:  Should medical professionals be allowed to refuse to perform medical procedures or provide medical information because her/his religious or ethical beliefs conflict with the procedure or information being requested?  When would it be appropriate?  When should it be outlawed?

 

  • Holly Lynch, “Conflicts of Conscience in Health Care” (on Canvas).

 

4/22

 

Religion and Public Life

Questions: How should politicians and citizens bring their religious views into political discussions?

 

·         Feldman, Divided by God, chapter 7.

4/27

Open

4/29

Open

5/4

Summary and Review