POLS279

RELIGION AND POLITICS

POLS 279 CRN 332 Spring, 2010
Mondays 6-8:30 SCHU 214 Professor Paul Conway

Course objectives: A primary objective is to encourage a thoughtful, comparative approach to governmental policies that encourage or discourage the practice of religion in this country and elsewhere. Likewise we will look at how religious groups attempt to influence governments and public opinion within countries as well as internationally. Students will recognize the universality and diversity of religious practices throughout the world and how some of the major religions are influenced by political, economic and cultural conditions where they function. The course will encourage critical thinking about politics and religion. Attention will be given to the language of political and religious communication as well as encourage a search for helpful comparisons or analogies of religions, political systems and their interactions. A good dictionary is highly recommended. Political scientists are expected to strive for objectivity but all of us - as enthusiastic learners - must admit that we begin with some preconceptions and value preferences. We should consider the study of religion and politics with respect for religion in general and humility as well as curiosity, being wary of people who sound like `know-it-alls’.
Requirements: Attend classes regularly, take notes, comment and ask questions. There will be three written assignments (generally 3-4 pages in length) and two tests (with objective and open-ended items).
Grades: The three assignment grades will be averaged and constitute 50% of the course grade; likewise the two test grades will be averaged and constitute 50%. The quality of one’s participation can improve the grade calculated by a factor of 10%. Incompletes are only authorized when illness or unavoidable circumstances prevent the completion of course requirements by the end of the semester. This is college policy.
PENDing grades will be assigned if three or more exams or assignments indicate that a student’s writing skills need to be improved in order to succeed at the college level and beyond.
Attendance is required. If you have to miss a class due to illness or family emergency please leave a message with the instructor and document the absence. Students who miss one quarter or more of scheduled classes may be withdrawn from the course involuntarily.

Make up test and late assignment policies Arrangements for make up tests and the submission of overdue assignments are the responsibility of the student and must be done within three days after one’s return following an excused absence.
Office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:25-12 and 3:30-4:30
Students are encouraged to drop by to discuss the readings, classes, the course requirements, your academic situation, or whatever is of interest or concern. If my scheduled hours are not convenient for you, I will be working in my office at many other times throughout the week; simply call (436-3923) or e-mail (conwaypg) to arrange a meeting that fits your schedule.
Academic dishonesty includes the unauthorized giving or receiving of information on examinations and the failure to clearly indicate one’s sources of information or published statements used in written assignments. Faculty are required by college policy to report all acts of academic dishonesty to the Dean of Student Development
Participation: I urge you to question, contribute, disagree and respond to one another, as well as to me. Any question is a good question. We all learn through a process of getting actively involved. So let’s do it.
Required readings will include a good number of reprints of articles that will be distributed in class and four required books. (reprints referred to as R on the outline below)

This course will examine politics in relation to Christianity; Islam and Judaism in the Mid East; Hinduism in India; and Buddhism and Confucianism in eastern Asia. The course will suggest some ways to better understand contemporary religious movements and political issues in Asia, Africa, and Latin America as well as the United States.

We might begin with some questions about religion and politics:
Are science and religion compatible? Is it possible to be objective about religion? What is politics? What activities are assumed to be political? And what is religion? How do these two basic, essential, indispensable human functions relate and interact in societies throughout the world? Where do political and religious institutions promote tolerance and cooperation? How can we explain those arrangements that are relatively successful? And where do political and religious institutions promote and perpetuate intolerance and conflict? What is a secular government? Is it desirable or necessary to separate church and state in democratic political systems? Is it possible? How do the major religious faiths in this world differ in their political orientations? What is fundamentalism and why is it a concern in every region of the world and with every major religious movement? How can we explain the growth of violent, religious radicalism over the last half century?

Religion and Politics books and readings

John Esposito Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam (New York: Oxford, 2003) (referred to as UW below)

Isaac Kramnick and R. Lawrence Moore, The Godless Constitution New York, Norton 2006 (referred to as GC below)

Malise Ruthven, FUNDAMENTALISM: A very short introduction (Oxford, 2008)

OUTLINE OF TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Date Topic Assignment

January

25 Nuts and bolts about this course: What is politics? What is a political system? How are political groups organized? What is religion? Are religious belief systems similar to political ideologies? How are religious groups organized? Can we study religious institutions as political systems? (Why not?) How do governments deal with religious groups and how do religious groups relate to the state? How do religions begin and how are they legitimized within a political system?

What do you know about world religions now? http://pewforum.org/newassets/protheroquiz.pdf
The source of this quiz and data about religion in general
Stephen Prothero http://pewforum.org/events/?EventID=162
The Pew Foundation http://pewforum.org/religion-america/
Religion in America –survey research http://pewforum.org/world-affairs/countries/?CountryID=222

February

1 Assignment (A-1) in two parts - Do a. and b. below:
a. What do you believe? Does your religious belief correspond to your religious background or affiliation?
For next Monday's class take this test and submit your reactions to the test on a single page. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

b. Think piece – What do you believe about legitimate religions? How can we differentiate 'cults' from legitimate religions? Use the readings on “Scientology” and “Summum” and google any additional information you feel you may need to answer the following questions on 3 pages: Is Scientology a religion or a cult? Is Summum a religion or a cult? (Explain) What is the difference between a religion and a cult? How does the U.S. government define religions that are legally entitled to tax exempt status? How should it do so? (Sidebar on "cults" http://www.churchofreality.org/wisdom/cults/ )

Selected news media reports on scientology and summum

http://www.lisamcpherson.org/lisanyt.htm

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/essays/irs.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18764756

http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/6/2/the_supreme_court_grapples_with_the_primordial_ooze_of_the_summum_case/

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Review of assignment # 1 Political socialization: religion as inherited ID or choice? Religion in Rwanda

T Background FYI Longman, Church Politics and the Genocide in Rwanda

Journal of Religion in Africa, Vol. 31, Fasc. 2, Religion and War in the 1990s

(May, 2001), pp. 163-186 http://www.jstor.org/stable/1581515 http://rwanda.oneonta.edu or

http://rwandablog.wordpress.com/

8 The political history of Christianity: Several decisions that led to dogma in organized Christianity???

e.g. The first Vatican Council of 1870

http://www.search.com/reference/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton

15 Christianity in the U.S. Read Godless Constitution 177 pp.

http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=123732983&m=123732970

March

1 Catholicism in the U.S. and globally

8 (A-2) Protestantism in secular America: Case study on the Mormons http://www.pbs.org/mormons/

Looking back at scientology: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/us/07scientology.html?th&emc=th

15 TEST

"Fundamentalism" Bring Ruthven's "Fundamentalism" to class

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102005062

22 Islam Read Unholy War and bring to class

29 Finish Unholy War by Esposito
Sidebar on protest http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4693628.stm
April

12 Recent politics, religion and the media: Crisis in the papacy?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/opinion/12douthat.html?th&emc=th

http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/04/09/01
Islam in world politics: Professor Fida Mohammad, guest

19 Judaism: Professor Steve Gilbert, guest

26 Hinduism and religion in southern Asia

May

3 (A-3) Religion in east Asia: Buddhism, Falun Gong

and politics in China

Skeptics Dictionary on Falun Gong http://www.skepdic.com/falungong.html

10 Overview of religion and politics

Nicholas Kristof on the Catholic Church http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/opinion/02kristof.html?scp=2&sq=nicholas%20Kristof%20catholic%20church&st=cse

17 (finals week; second test)

POLS 279

Third Assignment Prof Paul Conway

Comparing the conditions and political relationships of

Muslims in two countries

The purpose of this assignment is to encourage critical thinking about how the practice of the religion of Islam in two countries is influenced by politics, cultural and other variables.

In most countries it is possible to identify some similarities and differences in how Muslims live and interact with other Muslims and non-Muslims. A comparative approach to the subject should lead to some good questions and some hypotheses or educated guesses that can lead to explanations.

Guidelines:

1. Select two of the countries (listed below) where Muslims are an important part of the population. Be sure to inform the instructor or sign up on a list that the instructor will bring to class or leave on his office door in 14 F SCHU with the names of the countries that you plan to examine and compare.

Pakistan India

Egypt Sudan

Nigeria Syria

Indonesia Turkey

Iran Iraq

Afghanistan Saudi Arabia Israel

2. Using on-line and off-line sources in the library read about the conditions and relationships of Muslims in both countries. Use several off line sources as well as on line sources. Citations must be provided for the data you present.On four to five pages write a cursory analysis.

Consider the following questions:

3. What is the dominant religion in that society? What is the relationship between the state and religion within that country?Are the countries secular or religious (Is sharia relevant?) How do Muslims relate to one another? (Consider different associations of Muslims that may be religious or political distinctions – For example, Sunni, Shi’ia, Sufi, Wahhabi; politically militant groups such as Al-Qaeda) How do Muslims relate to non-Muslim groups which may or may not be minority groups in the countries? How do experts (and how do you) explain the conditions for Muslims and their relationships with other Muslim groups and non-Muslim groups in the two countries? What are the similarities and differences in the two countries? Consider variables such as political culture, economics, history, interest groups and other political factors.

This assignment is due on May 3rd.

Be sure to do your own work, use your own words, and document thoroughly.

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The ancient story of Abraham at the roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/abraham/index.shtml
NPR Interview - reading the Bible: Background to Christianity and Judaism in political history

What is Christianity?

Scholarship on Jesus: From Jesus to Christ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/watch/

Christianity - faith in life after death http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/raisinglazarus.htm

What did Jesus really say? The “Jesus Seminar” is one scholarly think tank of significant interest:
http://virtualreligion.net/forum

Sketching some politics and decisions that shaped the development of Christianity
Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism
Politics: The doctrine of the Trinity from the Council of Nicea (Turkey) 325 c.e.
http://www.gotquestions.org/council-of-Nicea.html
Augustine and Just War Doctrine; The Crusades
Protest, reformation and counter-reformation
The Gutenberg printing press (1455) preceded
Luther’s effort to reform the Catholic church (95 theses posted in 1517)

Galileo’s challenge to orthodoxy http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/galileo.html

"I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way, against the holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or certainty of corruption by full authority. There is no worse heresy than the fact that the office sanctifies the holder of it. - John Galberg (Lord) Acton in 1870 re. Vatican I

Religion in America    Is America a Christian nation? Is the US a secular state?
The Puritan influence in America's political history; the intent of the 'founding fathers'                                                                                                                                   GC 11-66; 179-206
            One historical perspective is http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4631001
A relatively recent survey by the Pew Institute suggests that over 78% of the US population of over 300 million people are Christians http://religions.pewforum.org/reports
The proliferation of diverse approaches to Christianity within the US and elsewhere. The U.S. Census Bureau includes data from three non-government studies in its 2006 Statistical Abstract of the United States.¹ According to one of these studies, the 2001 American Religious Identification Study (ARIS), 76.7% of the 2001 U.S. adult population of 208 million is Christian. This includes Protestants from numerous traditions (49.8%), Roman Catholics (24.5%) and those who belong to other self-identified Christian traditions, including Mormons (1.3%), Jehovah's Witnesses (0.6%), Eastern Orthodox (0.6%) and others (0.2%).

The Godless Constitution

Roger Williams and the argument for church-state separation

English roots to the secular state

GWBush and the wall of separation

GC 67-177
Jefferson as ‘infidel’
American Baptists and Jefferson
Sunday Mail and the Christian Amendment
Religious politics and moral dilemmas

Coming to grips with science and Darwin's theory of evolution
Excerpt from “Inherit the Wind” (The politics of interpreting Genesis literally)
Darwin’s theory and the “fundamentalist” response in the USA http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/scopes.htm
Problems with literal interpretations (con’t) – e.g., in Genesis: two stories of creation?
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=5174963&m=5174968

Politics within the Catholic Church

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton

The Roman Catholic Church organization, leadership and policies:
http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/rcatholi.htm

The leadership and legacy of John Paul II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/pope/etc/bio.html

Politics and decisions within the Vatican under Pope Benedict http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/world/europe/26pope.html?ref=world

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/nyregion/10indulgence.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&ref=us

The process of determining sainthood as political?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/octoberweb-only/10-20-52.0.html?start=2
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/octoberweb-only/10-20-52.0.html
the process??? http://www.explorefaith.org/news/05_24_05.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/opinion/02Martin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
controversy and politics? http://www.angelfire.com/ky/dodone/Become.html

The communications bias in bureaucracy – bad news is squelched

http://www.voiceofthefaithful.org/ (very active/2010)
http://www.votf.org/Who_We_Are/story.html
Voices of the Faithful 12/6/08 http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=51671

Opus Dei http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_Dei

http://www.opusdei.org/

criticisms and controversy within the church: http://rcf.org/ http://www.mond.at/opus.dei/

http://www.acts1711.com/cathsplint.htm

(Dissent and politics within the Catholic Church - report from South Africa)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=503219
For another insightful essay on political conflict within the Catholic Church see Gary Wills on
"The Passion of Christ" in The New York Review of Books (April 8, 2004) p 69-74.

Catholics and Protestants in the US and globally review GC 179-206
Violent manifestations of Christianity: Lutherans, Catholics, others. . . Reconstruction Theology & the Christian Identity movement; pre and post millenialism

Virulent antisemitism and racism in American extremist groups http://www.aryan-nations.org/

Judaism, Zionism, and Israel (Possible guest speaker: Dr. Steve Gilbert, Psychology)

Judaism and Jews as a people Herman Wolk essay (handout)
The origins of the state of Israel and the Palestinian refugee problem? (Atlantic Monthly April 2004 essay)
"Zionism" as a political movement during the 20th century
(handouts and online readings) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/opinion/10gorenberg.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/opinion/10gorenberg.html?pagewanted=2
Extremism in the ultra-orthodox subculture of Israeli Jews http://www.masada2000.org/kahane.html
From the holy land (West Bank) today - a story of olive trees
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5166204
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87870417

                   Christian Zionism/// US&Israel
                    http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/czionism.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90509127
                    NPR report on AIPAC
                    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4660751
                    also Benjamin Schwarz essay   http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200404/noteworthy

Two peoples, one land and two religions: Israel and Palestinian nationalism http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/israel/view/

Hinduism in India What kind of political system does India have and what are some of
the religious activities and conflicts that are important?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4980938
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4981013

Hinduism and Sikhism in South Asia RG 287-366; Juergensmeyer 84-101

Sikh appeal in US military http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103119167

India's first family and Congress Party http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103070161

green rev turns brown in India http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103119167

4/15 India elections http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103119158

Buddhism in South and SE Asia Buddhism in Thailand, Japan and China

Religion in CHINA (continued)
Some background on Falun gong can be found at:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/falungong1.htm
http://www.skepdic.com/falungong.html

East Asia Confucianism, Tibetan Buddhism, Communism?

Some media sources that we may find useful or interesting

Useful and highly recommended books that will occasionally be mentioned include the following:
Gabriel Almond and R. Scott Appleby and Emmanuel Sivan Strong Religion: The Rise of Fundamentalisms Around the World (Chicago: University of Chicago, 2003)
Steve Bruce, Politics and Religion (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2003)
Jeff Haynes, Religion in Global Politics (London: Longman, 1998)
Jessica Stern, Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill (New York: HarperCollins, 2003)
N.J. Demerath III, Crossing the Gods: World Religions and Worldly Politics
New Brunswick: Rutgers 2003
Kevin Phillips, American Theocracy: Radical Religion, Oil and Borrowed Money in the 21^st Century (New York: Penguin, 2006)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5290373 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5398604
One Catholic’s view of Christian-Jewish fundamentalist influence on US policies
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives/101102/101102a.htm

Thoughtful radio interviews that deal with religion and politics:

Debating America's Christian character: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4631001

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2004/12/09_marty/
polygamy and religion in the US http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4629743
religious schools & culture wars in US: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4632072

One statement regarding atheism: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5015557

Religous(esp.Christian) beliefs about the end of the world
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=End+times&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1&linktext=end%20times

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2005/01/20_moralvalues/
Multimedia, wide-ranging rants, essays, and blogs:
http://www.beliefnet.com/

Background on the question: "Why is the Mideast so important to the USA?" Israel? Oil? Something else? All of the above?
One thoughtful essay is Retort, "Blood for Oil? in the London Review of Books 27/8,
21 April 2005. pp 12-16.
Jeff Sarlet "Inside America's Most powerful Megachurch" and Chris Hedges, "Feeling the Hate With the National Religious Broadcasters" in Harper's 310/1860 May, 2005 pp 41-60

A very interesting and often useful but not authoritative source of information about religions is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion)

Again, a very useful exercize is What do you believe? http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

Exam questions?

China: Is (or was) Marxism a religion?
China’s national policies in relation to religious groups?

Back to the US and the cultural/religious conflicts related to sex and abortion
Questions raised in Russell Shorto’s 5/7/06 NYTMag essay on cultural conflict in the US

How does the “morning-after” pill differ from the “emergency contraception” pill?

Is ‘emergency’ birth control the same as abortion? Definitions of when human life begins determine the answer
- Is the debate and the intense political opposition to abortion really about sex as well?

a. Judaism, b. Hinduism, c. Islam,

d. Christianity, e. Sikhism, f. Jainism, g. Buddhism h. Shinto i. Falun Gong

Which of the religious faiths above is widely perceived as:

____ 1. somewhat atheistic

____ 2. somewhat polytheistic

____ 3. monotheistic

____ 4. severely ascetic

____ 5. associated with caste discrimination

____ 6. embracing the concept of reincarnation

____ 7. requiring men to grow beards and wear turbans

Briefly explain the significance of the following:

8. Mohandas (or Mahatma) Gandhi

9. Jawaharlal Nehru

10. Mohammed Ali Jinnah

11. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale

12. Pervez Musharef

13. Buddhism in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia

14. What is the international status of Taiwan and why is it important?

15A. Why is India important in world affairs?

What kind of political system exists in India today?

Secular or religious? Federal or unitary? Parliamentary or presidential?

Democratic or authoritarian? Socialist or capitalist?

15B. Why is Pakistan important in world affairs?

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POLS 279 Some review items

There will be somewhat brief essay questions which will count for more points than “objective items”

A. When and why did many (albeit a minority of) Muslims embrace the idea of a global jihad in the 20^th century? Which individuals and what events were most important in bringing about the widespread religious conflict in the world today that the Bush administration calls “(the) war on terror”?

B. In relation to a political science or social science course on religion, what does the term fundamentalism mean and why is it often deliberately or inadvertently misleading? Is the notion of literal interpretation of sacred scriptures the most valid distinction between those who are fundamentalist and those who are not? Relate to the essay on the “Promised Land” and Judaism, along with other examples.

C. Kramnick and Moore deal with the question of how United States should be described in terms of religion: Considering their argument and your own understanding of US political history, how do you think the US should be described. Is the US a religious nation? A Christian nation? A religious state? A secular state? What events and people helped to shape the US constitution and the political system we now have? (e.g. where does the “wall of separation” metaphor come from?) Why are concepts such as political correctness and religious correctness relevant important in the Kramnick and Moore book?

D. How do cults differ from legitimate religions? Is scientology a legitimate religion? Why is scientology so controversial?

There will be open ended identification/definition items with emphasis on their religious and political significance:

(such as)

Covenant and chosen people

The ten commandments

The Talmud and Torah

The biblical gospels

The five pillars or obligations of Islam

Wahhabism

Muslim Brotherhood

Opus Dei

Liberation Theology

Calvinism

Meir Kahane

Sayyid Qutb (coo’thub)

Millenialism and post-millenialism

Key terms/definitions:

Proselytize

Apostate

hadith

chador

Fatwa

Hijab

Islamist

Madrasa

ulama

Zakat/tithe

true-false items

A. In the book of Genesis (of the Hebrew/Christian Bible) there are two somewhat different stories of how the world was created.

B. The Koran begins with the story of Adam and Eve and includes the story of Moses and the 10 commandments.

C. The Koran has more descriptive text about the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, than the Christian Bible does.

D. British Israelism in the 19^th century claimed that Jesus was an Aryan, not a Semite.

E. Timothy McVeigh’s favorite book that he read repeatedly was called the Turner Diaries.

There will be fill-in items such as

a. The three most important holy cities for Muslims are ___________, ____________ , and ______________ .

b. The three countries with the largest Muslim populations are ___________, _____________, and ____________ .

c. Muslims who were very important in perpetuating Islam in central asia during the period of Soviet rule and are still said to be mystical, sometimes pacifist, sometimes somewhat secular are called _________

d. The branch of Islam that is said to emphasize martyrdom and Mohammad as a demi-god is ______________

e. The organization called Hamas has a _________ Muslim orientation

f. and it is based in the territory/country of __________ .

g. Hamas gets much of its internal support because ______________

h. and it receives external support from (the country of) _________

i. The Arab country with the largest number of Muslims is

j. Fundamentalist or politicized Muslim movements are generally called _______

k.The largest population among the countries in the Persian Gulf region is in

l. The only non-Arab country in the Persian Gulf region is ______

There will be multiple choice items such as:

A. The Koran states that violence

a. is acceptable if it is in defense of Islam

b. against civilians is wrong

c. to take one’s own life deliberately is wrong

d. all of the above

e. none of the above

The radical antiabortionist Michael Bray (described in Juergensmeyer) is a

a. Catholic b. Calvinist c. Lutheran

d. Methodist e. none of the above

2. The Puritans in America were followers of the protestant leader known as

a. John Calvin b. Martin Luther c. John Huss

d. none of the above

3. The descendants of the early Puritans in America are now associated with all of the following groups except

a. (Dutch) Reformed b. Presbyterian c. Congregationalist

d. Methodist

4. According to Juergensmeyer and others, the earliest Christians and Church leaders were

a. capitalists b. communists c. crusaders d. pacifists

5. In the 1980’s and 1990’s the largest concentration of Christian Identity groups was in

(the state of) a. South Carolina b. California c. Idaho d. Indiana

6. Post millenialists such as Pat Robertson and other leaders of the Christian Coalition oppose the separation of church and state and believe that a Christian kingdom must be established ____________ the return of Jesus to earth.

a. before b. after c. at the same time as

7. Post millenialist, fundamentalist Christians as generally tend to _________ a “peace process” between Israeli’s and Palestinians based upon a withdrawal of most settlements in the West Bank as well as Gaza.

a. support

b. oppose

c. ignore

8. Which of the following individuals has called the prophet Mohammed a “terrorist”?

a. Ariel Sharon

b. Yitzak Rabin

c. Jerry Falwell

d. George W. Bush

Interpreting scripture (one example: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/monanism.html

Israel's internal political conflicts (Ultra-Orthodox fundamentalism)
Palestinian resistance and extremism

Israeli and American fundamentalists collaborate (video)

Islam and its global appeal (Five obligations; Sharia; the Sunni-Shiia schism)

The concept of jihad (Dr Fida Mohammed)

    Wahhabism
Islam in Central and South Asia
      (sidebars: The impact of the new pope on American politics          http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4618049 and
posthumous baptisms; proselytizing; apostacy; fatwas)

Third Assignment

TASK: A Think Piece Essay comparing religions and political conditions

e.g. a. The relations between Muslims and (Christians, Jews, Jains, Sikhs, etc?) in a particular state

b. The way Muslims and people in another religion imagine and describe the end of the world, heaven, and or hell?

c. Comparisons of how Muslims and people in another religion think about and deal with sex, law, war, proselytizing, apostasy, suicide, etc???

d. Comparisons of the how Muslims and Christians view the historical role(s) of Jesus and Mohammed as political leaders?

e. Comparing religious minorities and discrimination against Copts and Ba’hai’s in Egypt

f. Comparing religious minorities and discrimination against Ba’hai’s and Jews in Iran

g. Comparing religious minorities: Catholic Moronites in Lebanon and Christians in Syria

h. Simple Folkways: Comparing and contrasting the practices of American

Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites

Historical and contemporary political struggles within the Roman Catholic Church:

i. the role of women in the Church

j. The selection of saints within the Church: what kind of politics and why?

k. Conflict between the Church hierarchy and “Voices of the Laity”

l. the background and contemporary debates on the celibacy requirement for priests

m. the rise and political influence of Opus Dei

n. Comparing popes – Pius IX and John Paul XXIII

o. Global population growth and religious opposition to family planning programs, contraceptives, and government population control policies.

Use this, for example: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103022290

p. Political discrimination against Tibet’s Buddhists and Falon Gong in China

q. Comparing conditions of Christian minorities in Indonesia, India and China.

r. Comparing the conditions of Shi’ia minorities in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

s. Historical peoples of the “covenant” (Jews, Puritians, Afrikaners, others?)

t. Government policies toward native indigenous (Indian or aborigine) groups in the US, Australia, Canada, Central America, South America, New Zealand. (Select 2 or more countries)

u. Rev Moon, the Unification Church and the politics of the “Moonies” in Korea and the USA

v. Shintoism in Japan and Confucianism in China
w. Muslims in Iraq and Saudi Arabia
x. Foreign fighters (Holy Warriors) Chechnya and Iraq

y. Slavery in the post-modern world: The influence and response of religious organizations. (e. g. Sudan, traditional African cultures, sex trafficking, MidEast cultures)

The most important decision will be deciding on a topic that is interesting and manageable, given the limits of time and space.

The length of the essay should be no longer than six pages.

Students should inform the instructor what topic they decide to research (A list will be posted on the door of 410 Fitzelle).

The essay should be based upon a variety of sources (at least six must be cited)

You should express your own thoughts and questions on the subject that you research.

The due date for this assignment is April 28.

As you proceed, if you have any questions or need suggestions, phone 3923 or email conwaypg@oneonta.edu

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POLS 279 Spring, 2009

Assignment 2

Think piece essay: A cursory analytic comparison of two sects or denominations within a major faith group

Instructions:

Select two sects or denominations within Christianity, Judaism, or Islam that you are interested in comparing. Think carefully about what comparisons would be of interest to you. (for example Sunni vs Shia, or Sufi Muslims; or, Jehovah’s Witnesses vs Seventh Day Adventists, or Christian Scientists; or, Orthodox vs Hassidim or Ultra Orthodox Jews .)

Then, consider the countries where the groups are based and select one country.

Then, using sources available on the internet, investigate how the groups relate politically to one another and the government in that particular country.

Finally, after reading and thinking about the best sources that were available, (a.)describe the major differences between the groups, (b.) how well they are doing in practicing and promoting their beliefs, and (c.) explain why they are more or less successful in the country you considered.

The essay you submit should clearly identify the sources and web-links.

The essay should be no longer than four pages.

If you have any questions about this assignment or need suggestions in deciding on what groups or countries to examine, feel free to call or email me at 3923 or conwaypg@oneonta.edu

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