Study Questions

August 29:
Some background on American religions and American politics
Will include a brief discussion of premillennialism and postmillennialism
      Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 1
      Handouts
 

  1. Who are the Puritans?  Why did they come to the North American continent?
  2. Is there a paradox in the Puritans idea of “religious freedom?”  Religious freedom for whom?  Is religious freedom “freedom from religion,” “freedom of religion,” or “freedom for a specific religion – all other be exiled”?
  3. How do the Populists fit in our discussion of religion and politics?  Consider the case of William Jennings Bryan.  What is the proper role of government in religion and in society according to Bryan?
  4. Turning to Rausch, what is the proper political role of theologically conservative Protestants?  Carefully consider the example of Christ presented by J. Howard Pew.
  5. What is premillennialism and postmillennialism?  Adherents of which would participate more fully in politics?

September 5-7:
Is America a Secular Society?
    Wald, Chapter 1

  1. How religious are people in the United States compared to people in other countries?
  2. Why does this surprise many scholars – indeed, why are many scholars ignorant of the actual levels of religiosity in the United States (think secularization theory).
  3. What is the evidence that shows us the actual level of religiosity?  What particular activities do Americans do frequently?  Does this evidence seem persuasive?
  4. Please read page xiv in the preface of the Wald book.  What is the author’s background?  Is he a vocal supporter of the Christian Right?  A strident atheist?  Does he have a clear agenda that could influence his presentation in the book?
  5. How persuasive do you find the arguments of those who disagree with the author (see pp. 15-16)?  Why?
  6. Why have the modernists been wrong?  Why the United States?

September 10:
Points of Contact
    Wald, Chapter 2

  1. Note the structure of the chapter: incentives for people of faith to participate in politics, opportunities (given the US governmental structure) to participate in politics, resources that enable religious groups to participate, and limits on participation.
  2. What incentives motivate religions, denominations, and churches toward political action? Think about your own religious background.  For your own tradition, think of an example you can discuss in class using the concepts of creed, institutions, and social groups.  If you were not raised in a particular religious tradition, you may pick any one you choose.
  3. From what forms of government regulations are churches exempt and to which are churches subject?
  4. What tools exist for churches to educate their members about social and political issues?  Is this different from other groups in society?
  5. How does the American governmental structure provide multiple opportunities for religious participation in politics?  Which of these factors strike you as most important?
  6. How have governmental structures enabled or stifled the ability of religious groups in the US and in Canada to become active on the abortion issue?  Why does participation in the two countries look so different?
  7. What kind of unique resources do religious groups have in the American political arena?  In what ways are they in a better position than, say, other interest groups?
  8. What limitations exist on religious groups' participation in politics?  Which of these are self-imposed, and which are externally imposed?  How do you feel about these limitations?  Are they good or bad?  Should government enact more barriers to participation by religious groups in politics?

September 12-14:
Covenants and Depravity (?)
    Wald, Chapter 3
 

  1. What is a covenant?
  2. How is the notion of a covenant linked to inalienable rights? How is it linked to political rebellion?
  3. How does Puritan thought underlie our conception of the American Revolution?  How is it different from other conceptions of the Bible and political authority?
  4. Why would Tocqueville credit Puritanism with a "spirit of democracy?"  How does this relate to the Protestant Reformation?
  5. What is "total depravity?"  What is its spiritual significance?  What effect did the Puritan/Calvinist view of depravity have on the Constitution?  If you have a copy of the Federalist Papers, refer to Federalist 51.
  6. What is a civil religion?  Be prepared to discuss the content of the American civil religion, as you perceive it.  What are the Puritan roots of American civil religion?
  7. In what ways did a new intellectual force and the lure of economic advantage complement Puritan thought in shaping American thought?

September 17-21:
Did the Founders Create a Christian Nation, or Did They Know What They Created?
    Wald, Chapter 4

  1. What are the two general types of church-state problems on which Wald focuses?
  2. What are the theocracy and the Erastian models of church state relations?  To what degree do we find these in the United States?
  3. How do the views of separation and accommodation differ?  Which is truer to the views of the founders?
  4. Why did the founders reject religious tests?  What were they reacting to in the states and abroad?
  5. Why does Wald say that the founders were men of strong if unorthodox faith?  What does this mean?
  6. Why did the founders reject establishment?  What dangers did Adams and Jefferson see in religions?  Do you think establishment would be worse for the government or the church?  Good for both?
  7. To what degree did the founders believe that religion played an important role for the state?  Was there a role for providing government aid to religion in their eyes?
  8. What does the Sunday mail controversy show about the relationship between religious views and government policy?

September 24-26:
The Religious Marketplace in the United States
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 2

  1. Note the first full paragraph at the top of page 30:  "These figures help us to understand why doctrinally conservative churches continue to grow, while theologically liberal ones struggle to keep their flocks together."  What is the message conveyed in the statistics the authors present?  How would these account for the growth or collapse of denominations?
  2. Do you agree with the critics' argument that American religion is a mile wide but only an inch deep?  How could or should one assess this idea?  How does the behavior of people of faith differ from the average?
  3. What are the largest religious groups in America?  The smallest?  How unified are these groupings?  What is the political significance of religious pluralism?
  4. What defines an evangelical?  What are the most significant divisions within evangelicalism?  How do they differ in belief, practice, and politics?
  5. How are liberal Protestants different from evangelical Protestants?  What is the role of doctrine in a liberal Protestant church?  To what degree does theological liberalism correlate with political liberalism?  What are the most significant problems that face liberal Protestant clergy according to Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson?  Why did these problems arise?
  6. How unified are Catholics in their political beliefs?  Why has the Catholic church as an institution been politically suspect in the eyes of many American Protestants?  What is the NCCB?  Is it conservative, liberal, or what?  Why is it strategically placed for political action?  How has the mainstreaming of the church led to decline in some ways?
  7. Where do most Jews fit on the liberal-conservative scale?  What is the secularism issue?  What are the key political issues Jews tend to support?
  8. What do the authors mean by an ecumenism of orthodoxy?  Why is it developing now?
  9. If America is such a religious country, why does religion not play a bigger role in American politics?

September 28-October 1:
Religious Groups as Lobbyists
    Wald, pp. 124-139
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 3

For Wald:

  1. Why have boycotts become such a popular form of direct action in the last 30 years?  What current boycotts are in the news?  What issues other than abortion might incite violence in the name of religion?
  2. What kinds of “insider” and “outsider” strategies do churches and religious organizations use to further their interests by lobbying?
  3. What kinds of limitations prevent candidate endorsements by churches?  Would church endorsements sway many voters?  Why or why not?
  4. What is infiltration? Is it as sneaky as it sounds?
For Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson:
  1. 1. What is the difference between “insider” and “outsider” lobbying?  When might each be most advantageous?
  2. What factors contribute to group effectiveness in lobbying?
  3. When have liberal Protestants been most effective?  How would you characterize them today?
  4. What strengths of the Catholic lobby do Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson identify?  Which of the case studies best display these strengths?
  5. How would you characterize the Jewish presence in Washington?  Where does their political strength lie?
  6. What are the key evangelical organizations discussed in the chapter?  How have Christian Coalition related conservatives had an impact on local Republican parties?

October 3-5:
The Context of the Public Policy Conflict
    Wald, pp. 139-168

  1. Why was the religious community deeply divided over the Civil Rights Restoration Act?
  2. Why is Catholic political organization seemingly more unified than Jewish political organization?
  3. How representative of the rank and file members are religious lobbyists?
  4. To what degree does a legislator's religion shape his or her legislative behavior?  To what degree does personal religion shape judicial decision-making?  How firm is the data?
  5. In what ways did religion shape (or not shape) Jimmy Carter's Presidency?  Is Carter similar or different from his fellow Southern Baptists in the oval office?  What forms can the impact of religion on presidential behavior take?
  6. How do the religious values of a community affect public policies on topics like abortion and civil rights?  How can religious values shape the public's view toward the role of government itself?  How does this relate to the public's view toward official misconduct?
  7. Wald discusses sources of moralism in foreign policy.  To what degree do you think that a foreign policy can be based on morality?  Should realpolitik and secular interests dominate America's foreign policy?
  8. What are the costs and benefits of religious participation in government and politics?  Do not blow off this question; in many respects it is one of the most fundamental questions in the course, and one that we should discuss at length.

October 8-10:
Voting and Religion in American Politics
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 4

  1. What is the difference between a pietist and a ritualist, and how is this related to voting?
  2. What effect did Franklin Roosevelt's candidacy have on religious alignments?
  3. How have the demographic characteristics of Catholics changed over the last 40 years?  What effect has this had on Catholics as a voting bloc?  What party do Catholics tend to support?  How do ethnicity, age, and gender affect the Catholic vote?
  4. Note that Table 4.1 reports data only for White voters.  How did Clinton and Perot fare among various denominations in 1992 and 1996?  Note the movement of evangelicals between 1980 and 1996.
  5. Which party do evangelicals tend to support?  Are there major divisions?  How does Jimmy Carter fit into the pattern?  Is "evangelical" a synonym for the "Christian Right?"  Note that the discussion of favorite candidates in the 2000 presidential race was published before George W. Bush was making a big splash.
  6. In Table 4.4, what effect does regular church attendance have on the issue positions listed?  Does the impact differ significantly between groups?
  7. What three key changes in the Mainline Protestants provide the context for interpreting their traditional affiliation with the Republican Party?  Why do Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson conclude that the Mainline vote is "cross-pressured" between the parties?
  8. How can secularists be categorized politically?  Who are their natural political allies, and why?
  9. How do you explain the broad support of the Democratic Party by Jewish Americans?  Why did Carter receive less support from Jews than other Democratic candidates?  Why was Clinton so attractive to them?
  10. Why are religion and politics so closely linked in the African-American community?  In what ways is the correlation between religious flavor and political flavor different from White Americans?

October 12-15:
Political Elites
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 5

  1. How did Richard Nixon use Billy Graham? Is there a moral of the story for religious leaders who visit the White House?  Be prepared to discuss the spirituality of Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton.  How would you characterize their relationships with different religious groups?
  2. Which religious affiliations are over-represented and under-represented in Congress today?  Why?
  3. How has the religious representation in Congress changed since 1960?  In what ways do these changes reflect society?  Has the increase in Catholics meant an increase in Democrats?  Do the members of the legislative branch vote in religious blocs?  How do Democratic and Republican Catholics differ as groups in Congress?
  4. What was the central finding of the Benson and Williams study?  What does this say about the potential impact of religious lobbyists?
  5. To what degree do religious voices emerge in the press and think tank communities?  In what arenas do Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson suggest that religious voices are submerged?  Should one expect to hear more religiously charged debates at the national or state levels?  Why?

October 17-19:
Catholics
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, pp. 44-47 (and box on p. 48)
    Wald, pp. 267-293

  1. Who was Francis Cardinal Spellman, and why are his views instructive for understanding the development of Catholic political thought in the US?
  2. Why would Catholic leaders support military involvement in the middle of this century and oppose it later?
  3. Why would Catholics link Catholicism to Americanism, and why would Protestants question the Americanism of Catholics?
  4. What are the creedal roots of Catholic conservatism?
  5. What led to the transformation of Catholic political thought?  What were the effects of Vatican II, Vietnam, and of "The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response" on Catholic thought?
  6. How did the impact of the pastoral letter on nuclear war compare to the impact of the pastoral letter on economic issues?  Why?
  7. What doctrinal positions underlie the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion?  How did the church respond to Roe v. Wade?  At what level is the Catholic Church united and divided on the abortion issue?  How important is the abortion issue to the Catholic voter?
  8. Thinking about the debate surrounding Rep. Geraldine Ferraro's votes on abortion policy, what do you think the proper role of faith is for public officials?  What is Cuomo's argument, and how persuasive is it?
  9. What is the JustLife approach?

October 22-24:
Mainline Protestants
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, pp. 41-44
    Wald, pp. 293-301

  1. From the Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson reading: what is the "social gospel," and how would it shape the political positions of Mainline Protestant churches?  How compatible is it with Republican voting in the pews?  What issues did these churches pick up in the 1960s?  Note again the two critical long-term problems facing the leaders of the Mainline churches.
  2. To what does Wald attribute the high representation of Mainline Protestants in elected office?
  3. How do Mainline Protestants and Evangelical differ in their interpretation of social problems?  When has attention to the social gospel among Mainliners been high and when has it been low?  To what would you attribute the swings?
  4. Note the participation of some clergy in demonstrations and civil disobedience, while others stayed out of the protests.  Should clergy break laws they disagree with?  Are they in a different position than the laity?
  5. What led to the rise of the "new breed" of clergy?  What are the results?  What are the most significant problems these new clergy face?  What is the "retrenchment" that Wald discusses?

October 26-29:
Evangelicals and Fundamentalists
    Wald, Chapter 7
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, pp. 97-104

  1. According to Wald, in what issues were evangelicals keenly interested during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?  What societal factors led to a decline in evangelicalism after World War I?  What led to the public stereotype of evangelicals as narrow-minded bigots?  What led to the movement of Southern evangelicals from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party?
  2. What events led to the rise of the New Christian Right (NCR)?  What groups were involved?  Why did they connect with the Republican Party?  What is the "pro-family agenda?"
  3. In what ways were Ronald Reagan and George Bush likely recipients of evangelical endorsements?  In what ways were they unlikely recipients?
  4. How has the New Christian Right become more politically sophisticated?  How do the groups in the New Christian Right stack up against the groups who oppose them?  What are the items on the "Contract with the American Family?"
  5. What is social status theory, and how does it help us understand why the New Christian Right emerged when it did?  How did institutional changes in evangelical churches both increase the likelihood that those churches would be interested in politics as well as providing the organizational framework for entering into politics?  How do Christian broadcasters fit into this equation?  How do perceived assaults on evangelical values contribute to the mobilization?
  6. How representative of evangelicals is the New Christian Right?  To what degree do evangelicals agree with NCR leaders?  List some specific examples.  How well does the NCR represent the American public at large? Do you see any problems with the way Wald discusses the polling data?
  7. Within the general category of evangelicals, how do fundamentalists, charismatics, and mainstream evangelicals (NOT the same thing as "mainline" Protestants) differ?  On what do they agree?
  8. What is the Republican dilemma?  How is evangelical support for the Republicans both a blessing and a burden for Republicans?
  9. How have the activities of the New Christian Right changed public policy in the United States?

October 31-November 7:
Christian Right
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 6
    Review Wald, Chapter 7
    Various handouts

  1. What is the Christian Right?  Where did the movement come from?
  2. What are the fundamental “complaints” of the Christian Right?
  3. Do you agree with the Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson’s depiction of Charles Colson?
  4. What was the role of Roe v. Wade in mobilizing members of the Christian Right to political action?
  5. Are the Promise Keepers an organization involved in politics?  Should the Promise Keepers be involved in politics?
  6. How can we assess the success of the Christian Right?

November 9:
Religious Minorities
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 9

  1. What would drive some religious movements towards separatism?  How do they differ from those that seek mainstream status?  How are the Amish and the Hasidim similar and different?  Why do Native American religions have so little voice in politics?
  2. How does the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon differ from most other cults that Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson describe?
  3. Why is Islam becoming more mainstream as a religious movement in America?  Where do they fit in the liberal-conservative spectrum of American politics?  Should one expect them to gain significantly more influence in the near future, or to stay a marginal group?  Can a faithful Muslim advocate the separation of church and state?
  4. Why has the Mormon Church grown in political influence?  Are theological, sociological, or institutional explanations more likely?
  5. Why do the Jehovah’s Witnesses lack political clout?  In what arenas have they had a significant impact on American politics?
  6. Would you have been able to predict 100 years ago which of these organizations would become more political?

November 12:
Women
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 8

  1. Before you begin your reading, ask yourself which organizations represent women.  Write down the first organization that comes to mind.
  2. In what specific ways are women more religious than men?  Why do you think this is the case?  Is this true only of belief, or also of practice?  How does this differ by denomination?
  3. In what ways are women the heart of conservative religious organizations?  Why do Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson say they have had “a much harder time matching up” to the liberal religious women’s groups?  What advantages do liberal women's organizations enjoy over conservative women's organizations?
  4. What are the central political goals of feminist theologians?  How does the "redeemable" perspective differ from the "nonredeemable" perspective?  To what degree have women been integrated into the clergy and leadership of different religious denominations?
  5. Who is Mary Daly, and why is she a significant voice among religious feminists?  Why are some from the "nonredeemable" perspective attracted to Goddess worship?  Is this the same as witchcraft? How does this relate to ecofeminism?
  6. How do Catholic and Evangelical women differ on political issues relevant to women?  Which group seems more unified?
  7. How is one's position on abortion correlated with church attendance?  Can you offer an explanation?  How and why does marital status affect a woman's political stance?

November 14:
African Americans
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 7

  1. How do African Americans compare to other Americans in terms of religiosity?
  2. To which of the traditions we have discussed do most African Americans belong?  What evidence exists to place them within this group?  How do most African American churches differ from other churches in this tradition?
  3. Why do you think religion and politics are so closely inter-woven in the African-American community?
  4. What are the phases of African American religion in the United States?  How would you summarize the trend that has been developing?
  5. What role does Jesse Jackson play in African American politics?  Why?  How do his campaigns highlight the importance of local churches in the African American community?
  6. What proportion of African Americans are Muslims?  Why has this religion been so attractive in the 20th Century?  What has their impact been on politics?
  7. How has Islam in America changed during the last 40 years?

November 16:
Jews
    Wald, pp. 310-317
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, pp. 75-79

  1. Are Jews active in politics?  Why?  Do Jewish voters tend to be Democrats or Republicans?
  2. What is the role of the Jewish Defense League in Jewish communities?  What is the role of the organization in politics?  What is the role of American Jewish Committee?  How about the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith?
  3. How has the relationship between Jewish Americans and African-Americans affected the groups’ political cohesion in the Democratic Party?
  4. What is AIPAC?

November 19-21:
Religion and the Courts
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 10

  1. Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, argue, “Though historically most religious groups in the United States have ignored the courts, many are now deeply involved with the legal system.”  What factors caused the change?
  2. What does the First Amendment say about religion and churches?  What is the role of the Fourteenth Amendment in changing the interpretation of the First Amendment?  Discuss the importance of Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940)?
  3. What is the “separationist coalition?”  How has this coalition been challenged by groups affiliated with evangelical and fundamentalist denominations?
  4. Describe the activities of People for the American Way.  Compare the group’s activities with the Rutherford Institute.
  5. What contributes to the success or failure of religious organizations as they enter the courts?
  6. What the classic perspectives on church-state relations?  Consider “the separationist approach,” “neutrality,” “the accommodationist approach,” and “equal treatment.”

 
November 26-December 5:
Summary, Conclusion, and Review:  Where Do We (writ large) Go From Here?
    Fowler, Hertzke, and Olson, Chapter 12
    Wald, Chapter 9
  1. What are the “culture wars?”  Has anyone won?  If so, who?
  2. Review the secularization thesis.  How does it affect social scientists’ understanding of the influence of religion on American society?
  3. What is “civil religion?”
  4. What examples from current events can you find to explain the “unconventional partners thesis?”
  5. How does market theory apply to our understanding of religion and religious pluralism in the United States?
  6. Should religion be part of political life in the United States?  What evidence can you muster to defend your argument?