Religion at the American Univ: From Protestant Bastian to Secular Enterprise - A History

Catalog description

In *Religion at the American University* we will seek to understand the—sometimes confusing— place of religion in the 21st century university through an historical lens. · To understand the radically changed place of religion in the American college and university from the religious core of the colonial and early national university to today’s secular institution. · To understand tensions from the past that are reflected in 21st century higher education such as the perceived tension between religion and science (think battles over evolution) or struggles over the teaching of values vs. a more value-free approach to data. · To understand historical reasons for 21st century skepticism about the role of people of faith as chaplains or administrators or teachers. In pursuing this issue we will ask: Can religious faith and objectivity co-exist? Is there such a thing as objectivity? · To ask “where did the idea of a college chaplain or a religious life leader come from?” We know that in the clergy dominated colleges of the colonial era, the notion of a designated chaplain made no sense? When did this change? Why?