Lived Religion in America: Institutions, Innovations, and Individuals

When most people in the United States think of religion, they think of beliefs. But beliefs are only a small part of religion in a country full of people of faith who also practice, mix, play, dispute, reform, consume, market, support, change,and leave their religions. In short, people don’t just believe religion; they live it. In this class, we will explore “lived religion” in America. Along the way, we will continuously raise a few key questions: Who lives lived religion? What are the advantages and disadvantages to thinking of religion this way? What are particularly American features of lived religion? What do we see about particular traditions through the lens of lived religion?

 

This syllabus was created for the Young Scholars in American Religion program.

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