Liberation, Theology, Pentecostalism, and other Christianities in the Americas and Africa
RELI 279
Fall 2005
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
LAST 306 |
Liberation theology, with its advocacy of a "preferential option for the poor," offers those concerned with human rights a moral compass for future action. For liberation theology, "the poverty of the poor is not a call to generous relief action, but a demand that we go and build a different social order (Guiterrez 1983)." Indeed, liberation theology has been a powerful influence in many human rights movements in the Americas, from the Sandinista revolution to social movements in grassroots Brazil. In contrast, for evangelical Christianity, the largest-growing religious movement in the Americas today, there is little imperative to contribute to the common good. Rather, the common good is a by-product of the righteous lives of believers, as they enact the outward signs of personal salvation. This course examines both religious thought and ethnographic writings on various Christianities of the Americas, with particular attention to the ways religious thinkers and religious communities grapple with and resolve questions of the common good, human rights and structural inequality. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Speaking, Speaking, Writing, Writing |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CBST-MN)(CIVI-MN)(LAST)(RELI-MN)(RELI)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Gutierrez, A THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION
Vasquez, THE BRAZILIAN POPULAR CHURCH
Balmer, MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY
Jenkins, GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY
Bornstein, THE SPIRIT OF DEVELOPMENT
Vasquez, GLOBALIZING THE SACRED
Corten and Marshall-Fratani, BETWEEN BABEL AND PENTECOST
Peterson et al, CHRISTIANITY, SOCIAL CHANGE, AND GLOBALIZATION IN THE AMERICAS
Kintz, MEDIA, CULTURE AND THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly Response papers, active participation in discussion, and a final 15-20 page research paper are the course requirements. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills a "Religion in Society" department requirement. |
| Instructor(s): McAlister,Elizabeth Times: .....F. 01:10PM-04:00PM; Location: PAC422; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 18 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: -3 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 2 |
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