SOC 060 PZ -Religion in the U.S.

Institution: Pitzer

Description: Religion in the U.S. : Power and Politics In the United States, religion continues to be a powerful social force shaping social inequalities, patterns of inclusion and exclusion of historically marginalized minorities, policy, advocacy, and political dynamics. In the current climate of rising political polarization, religion plays a critical role in shaping and reinforcing social and political cleavages on a variety of issues. Recent controversies surrounding abortion, gun control, LGBTQ+ rights, and COVID health protocols spurred vitriolic debates in U.S. civic spaces. Sociologists have pointed to the often-neglected role of religion in shaping public opinion, political decision-making, and forms of civic participation related to these issues. As a result, the â€œwall of separationâ€ between religion and state appears to be not as insurmountable as the founding founders might have imagined it to be. Importantly, the focus of sociologists interested in the relationship between religion, politics, and power continues to be on Christian traditions. The recent growing attention to white Christian nationalism is an example of this trend. This course offers a different perspective by engaging students in an analysis of how both Christian and non-Christian traditions, particularly Islam and Muslim civic practices, influence (or are influenced by) the relationship between religion, power, and politics in the contemporary U.S. context.

Prerequisite(s): See the current course schedule for registration restrictions.

For up-to-date information on current course offerings and details, please refer to the Pitzer class schedule on MyCampus2 Portal .