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Canyon College

online church in america course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: The Church in America


Course Title: DV450 - The Church in America
Department: Bachelor of Divinity
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Gerald M. FitzGerald, BD, MDiv, DMin, PhD TH (Candidate), E-Mail Vita
Prerequisites: History of Christianity or an equivalent course.


PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

In our History of Christianity course, we explored the history of Christianity from its birth in the land of Palestine to its expansion across the European, Asian and African continents. Our task in this course will be to examine Christianity as it makes its way to America and to discern to what degree, if any, it changed as it reached the shores of democracy. When we use the term "America," we mean it as it is commonly used to refer to the United States. This is in no wise a derogation of the other nations which make up the North American continent.

By the conclusion of our journey through the readings and discussions of this course, students should have an understanding of some of the fundamental concepts and issues which have shaped Christianity in the United States of America and which continue to stir our minds and our hearts, our very souls even, as we continue to try to live out our calling as Christians in this land which many have called "paradise."

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Canyon College is a non- sectarian, non-denominational school committed to the study of God in all the richness and diversity of God's revelations to humanity and an exploration of what those revelations mean to the everyday lives of finite human beings. Canyon College does not advocate any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than the reality of God and does not require that its students and faculty subscribe to any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than a willingness to be challenged and a commitment to an investigation into truth and the pursuit of academic honesty and excellence.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

Students should strive to use inclusive language in their writings. By inclusive language is meant language that is not gender specific and which attempts to include as many people as possible. For instance, instead of writing that "God wills that every man obeys His will," inclusive language would suggest that we write, "God wills that everyone obeys God's will."

REQUIREMENTS
  1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Bookstore
  1. Hudson, Winthrop S. And John Corrigan, "Religion in America," seventh edition, soft-cover, Prentice Hall, 2003, ISBN: 0130923893 (“Hudson”)
  2. Lincoln, C. Eric and Lawrence H. Mamiya, "The Black Church in the African Experience," soft-cover, Duke Univ. Press, 1990, ISBN: 0822310732 (“Lincoln”)
  1. Conferences. Students may schedule up to two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. Students may ask questions of the professor at any time by sending an E-mail to the address at the link above or by posting them to the bulletin board.
  2. Exams. There will be a midterm exam and a comprehensive final examination. The exams will cover the assigned readings and the conferences and should be taken during the weeks indicated in the syllabus.
  3. Papers. There will be a short paper of no more than two single-spaced pages or 1,250 words, due at the end of each week's readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Those who do not feel comfortable with e-mailing the papers can contact the professor for a mailing address. All papers should conform to the technical requirements of Kate L. Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations," sixth edition, soft-cover, The Univ. Of Chicago Press, 1937, 1996. Students should include a word count with the heading of their papers.
  1. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:
Papers 30%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 40%
  1. Grading Scale.
90-100% A - Excellent
80-89% B - Above Average
70-79% C - Average
60-69% D - Below Average
59% or below F - Failing Grade

A = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material and initiates thoughtful questions. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas.

B = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Is an active listener and participant in chats, message boards, e-mails and conferences. Speaks and writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality.

C = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. accomplishes only the minimum requirements, and displays little or no initiative. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts.

D = Quality and quantity of work are below average and barely acceptable.

F = Quality and quantity of work are unacceptable.
WEEK 1

Read the Introduction and Part I of Hudson & Corrigan.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is a denomination? What is a sect? What is the difference between the two?
  2. Explain in your own words what the Great Awakening was. Who were the key players?
  3. Who is Jonathan Edwards? Use your Internet search engine and locate as many sites as you can find about him on the Internet. Use the remainder of your paper to talk about Jonathan Edwards and what influence he had on religion in America.
WEEK 2

Read Part II of Hudson & Corrigan.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What was the Second Awakening? Who were its chief players?
  2. Discuss the role of women in the religious landscape of America.
  3. Who were the Millerites? What contribution, if any, did this movement make to the emerging church in America?
WEEK 3

Read Part III of Hudson & Corrigan.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What was the response of the congregations in America to the Native Americans?
  2. What was the response of the congregations in America to the issue of slavery?
  3. What challenges did the booming economy of America present to Christian congregations? How did they respond?
PLEASE TAKE THE MIDTERM EXAM BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

WEEK 4

Read Part IV of Hudson & Corrigan and the Epilogue..

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is Pluralism? What challenges does it present to religion in America?
  2. What is spiritualism? What is New Age Religion?
  3. Discuss the religious revival of the fifties. What were the issues? Who were the key players?
WEEK 5

Read chapters 1-6 of Lincoln and Mamiya.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is meant by "The Black Church?"
  2. It is often said that, "Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America." Discuss this week's readings in view of that statement. Are "Black Churches" contributing to that period of segregation or are they victims of it?
  3. Identify five leaders in the early development of black churches in America.
WEEK 6

Read chapters 9-13 of Lincoln and Mamiya.

Discussion Questions: NONE for this week. Please complete the Final Exam by the end of this week.