PLS 203
Religion and Politics in the U.S.
 Roger C. Lowery, Ph.D.

Wald
Chapter Outlines

1.     A Secular Society
         °  Religion in American Public Life
        °  For Goodness Sake
        °  Just How Secular Is Europe?

2.     Religion in the American Context
         °  Religion and the Founding Fathers
         °  Religion and the 110th Congress

3.     Religion and American Political Culture
        ◦  Centrist Public v. Polarized Government
        ◦  Is There a Culture War?
        ◦  The Culture War and the Coming Election

4A.  Religion & the State: No-Establishment Clause
        °  Religion in the Public Schools
        °  Religious Expression in NC Public Schools
        °  Religious Attitudes Interactive Questionnaire
        °  Evolution and the Law
        °  Reading the Polls on Evolution
        °  Politics and the Pulpit
         °  Holiday Displays

4B.  Religion & the State: Free-Exercise Clause
         °  O Centro   Case - Legal Background
         °  O Centro Espirita Case - Court Decision
        °  Conscientious Objection and the Law
         °  Pledge of Allegiance and the Law
         °  Free Exercise v. Civil Liberties
         °  Free Exercise Legal Background Paper

 


5.    Mobilizing Religious Interests
         °  Religious Identification - 4-category scale, 1948-
        °  Religious Identification - 7-category scale, 1960-1988
        °  Religious Identification - 8-category scale, 1990-1996
         °  Attitudes about the Accuracy of the Bible - 4 categories, 1964-1990
         °  Attitudes about the Accuracy of the Bible - 3 categories, 1990-
        °  Importance of Religious Guidance in Day-to-Day Living, 1980-
         °  Frequency of Church Attendance - 4 categories, 1952-1968
         °  Frequency of Church Attendance - 5 categories, 1970-
         °  Religion an Important Part of Life, 1980-

6.    Religion & Political Action
         °  Links to Religious Organizations
         °  Political Party Identification, 1952-
         °  Vote for U.S. House by Religion, 2006

7.  Religion & Public Opinion
        °  American Piety in the 21st Century
        °  Religion & Politics Poll Report, 24 August 2006
         °  Assisted Suicide
         °  Bioethics
         °  Death Penalty
         °  Faith-Based Initiatives
         °  Just War
         °  Human Rights
         °  Public Schools
         °  Right to Die
         °  Right to Die - Gonzales Decision
         °  School Vouchers
         °  War on Terrorism


8.    Political Mobilization of Evangelical Protestants
         °  Decline of the Christian Coalition
         °  The Rise of Pentecostal Christian Groups
         °  Pentecostal-charismatic Survey Report
         °  Pentecostalism

9.    Continuity and Change in the Religious Center
         °  American Catholic survey results

10.   Rel. & Politics of Ethnic & Religious Minorities
        ◦  How Muslims Compare
        ◦  U.S. Views toward Muslims & Islam
        ◦  U.S. Views toward Israel

11.   The Other Minorities:  Women & Gay People
        °  Abortion attitudes by state
        °  Morning-after Pill Controversy
        °  Gay Marriage

12.     Religion and American Political Life