HONS Trump Syllabus
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College of Charleston Department of Religious Studies Fall 2020 HONS 225: “The Religion of Donald Trump” Tues&Thurs 10:50-12:05 Live on Zoom and, when possible, in Ed Center 113 Instructor: Dr. Elijah Siegler Email: [email protected] Office Hours: By appointment at https://cofc.zoom.us/j/9709059200, or if possible, at 4 Glebe St. #201 Was Donald Trump chosen by God? Or is he a “cult” leader? Why did 81% of white evanGelicals vote for him in 2016, despite him beinG biblically illiterate? What is Trump’s own reliGious backGround and how does that connect him to broader currents in American culture? How does the religious worldview of Trump’s VP, Attorney-General, and Secretary of State drive U.S. policy? How can studyinG American reliGious history and classical theories of reliGion help us understand Trump? This interdisciplinary, discussion-based class will help us find out. This course will fulfill the following Honors “ExplorinG Complexity and Diversity” Colloquia SLOs: 1. Demonstrate the ability to create and communicate analytic arGuments supported by evidence 2. Evaluate complex issues usinG an interdisciplinary perspective 3. Analyze and synthesize information within and/or across disciplines There is one required book: Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump by John Fea. The paperback currently sells on Amazon for $13.99, and on Kindle for $7.35. Either is fine. The rest of the required readinGs is on OAKS. Course Requirements: 5 quizzes, all on OAKS x 1% = 5% Religio-Political AutobioGraphy, due Sept 1 = 5% Oral Presentation (in pairs), due Thurs Sept 24 = 10% Take Home Midterm Essay, due Thurs Oct 15 = 15% Current Events AssiGnment, floatinG deadline = 10% Book Review AssiGnment, floatinG deadline = 15% Take Home Final Exam Essay, due Thurs Dec 10= 20% Participation (Zoom and in-class discussion, postinG on OAKS) = 20% 1 All work must be oriGinal and all sources correctly cited. The university’s Honor Code will be strictly enforced. Students can find a complete version of the Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook, available online. GradinG Scale: A: 93-100; A-: 90-92; B+: 87-89; B: 83-86; B-: 80-82; C+: 77-79; C: 73-76; C-: 70-72; D+: 67-69; D: 63-66; D-: 61-62 F: 60 or below. SCHEDULE OF CLASSES (This schedule is subject to change. Always check OAKS for the up-to-date version.) Tues 8/25: What is this class about? (Live on Zoom) Read: Interview with Christopher Moloney Watch: In God We Trump (85 mins) Thurs 8/27: Telling the Story Read: “Christianity Will Have Power;” “False Idol” Tues 9/1: How do we talk about religion and politics? (Live on Zoom) Read: see Autobiography AssiGnment Guidelines Due: Religio-Political AutobioGraphy Thurs 9/3: The 81% question (Live on Zoom) Read: Fea Introduction and Ch. 1; “A We Like Any Other” Tues 9/8: Evangelicalism, Culture, and Gender (Live on Zoom) Read: Jesus and John Wayne, excerpts (PDF on OAKS); Curtis Ch. 3 (PDF on OAKS) Thurs 9/10: The Religious Voter (Live on Zoom) Special Guest: Dr. Gibbs Knotts Read: First In the South, excerpts (PDF on OAKS); “White EvanGelical Approval;” “Will Trump’s Weakness…” Recommended: “Intention to Vote” Tues 9/15: How did the Religious Right Gain Political Power? (Live on Zoom) Read: Fea Ch. 2 and 3 ; Interview with Sarah Posner; “Trump’s Attack on Biden” Thurs 9/17: Is America a Christian Nation? (Live on Zoom) Read: Fea Ch. 4 and 5 and Conclusion Tues 9/22: What is Trump’s Religious background? (in class J!) Read: Norman Vincent Peale; The Faith of Donald Trump; Trump’s Spiritual Adviser Thurs 9/24: Oral Presentations in pairs (in class) 2 Tues 9/29: Finish Oral Presentations/ Prophecies (in class) Read: “New Film”; Watch: The Trump Prophecy free on Amazon Prime (1hr 50 min; you can fast forward) Thurs 10/1: Demons & Spiritual Warfare (in class) Read: “VotinG the KinGdom” (PDF on OAKS); “Demon Sperm;” “Doomsday Prophet” Tues 10/6: Trump as Wolf King (in class) Read: Interview with Sharlet; Watch: Netflix documentary The Family Thurs 10/8: The Religious Nature of Trump’s Rallies (in class) Read: “American Preacher;” “He is the Gospel” Tues 10/13: Midterm Catch-Up and Review (in class) Thurs 10/15: No Class; Take Home Midterm Exam Due Tues 10/20: Pre-millennialism and Christian Zionism (in class) Read: “Embrace of Premillennialism;” “Jerusalem Embassy;” “Bible Prophecy” (watch 7-min film); “Christian Zionism” Wed 10/22: Trump and the jews (Live on Zoom) Special Guest: Dr. josh Shanes Read: “Divided Judaism;” “Kristallnacht;” “Disloyalty;” Recommended: “Stoking anti-Semitism” Tues 10/27: Applying Theories of Religion (in class;) Read: Manseau; “Church of Trump;” Siegler; Taylor Thurs 10/29: Trump and Islam (Live on Zoom) Special Guest: Dr. Shyam Sriram Read: TBA Tues 11/3: No Class- VOTE! Thurs 11/5: Is the QAnon Conspiracy a Religion? (in class) Read: “NothinG Can Stop What is CominG” “Church of qAnon” 3 Tues 11/10: Discussing the election (in class) Thurs 11/12: Magic! (in class) Read: Asprem; EGizi (both PDFs on OAKS) Tues 11/17: Is Trump a Cult Leader? (in class) Read: Interview with Steven Hassan; “What Cult Rhetoric Reveals” Recommended: Hedges Thurs 11/19: What Is “Religious Freedom?” (in class) Read : Curtis Introduction and Ch. 4 (PDF on OAKs); Reinbold Tues 11/24: Finish book Review Presentations (in class) Thanksgiving Break Mon 12/1: Civil/Uncivil Religion (Live on Zoom) Special Guest: Dr. Finbarr Curtis Read: Curtis Ch. 5, Ch. 6 and Ch. 7 (PDF on OAKs) Wed 12/3: Final Discussion: Into the Future (Live on Zoom) Take Home Open book Final Exam Essay, due Thurs Dec 10 &&& FIVE TIPS FOR DOING WELL IN AN ONLINE CLASS 1) Compete Course Assignments on Time Stay on top of the course assiGnments and do not procrastinate. It is on you to make sure that you don't get behind, especially in a class where the format is constantly chanGinG. 2) Log in Frequently to OAKS and check your email! OAKS, includinG Gradebook, will be used for this course throuGhout the semester to provide the syllabus and class materials and Grades for each assiGnment, which will be regularly posted. Readings will be found at the Content Tab; Discussions Thread will be found under the Communication Tab; Office hours and mandatory live Zoom discussions will be found on the Zoom tab; quizzes and the AssiGnment Drop Box will be found under the Grades tab. So you need to access OAKS several times a week; remember that I can see when you loG onto OAKS and monitor your proGress! Also, check your CofC email frequently because I will often send you updates and advice that way. Keep up with the course schedule, and be aware that the most current copy of the course schedule will be on OAKS. In other words, check OAKS rather than downloadinG copies of the syllabus, as it may have chanGed. 4 3) Write Excellent Posts on the Discussion Threads: Discussion boards can be found on OAKS (Select the Communication Tab, then Discussions). After you have reviewed the materials for the Unit, and watched the film, you will respond to my prompt. Look and listen carefully for the instructions each time as they may differ, but I will always be askinG you to post a thouGhtful response/analysis and to respond to others’ posts in some way. *Bear in mind that discussion posts are primarily intended to foster discussion amonG the students. I will chime in now and then, but for the most part, the posts will be student to student. What is an “excellent” post? It’s not just the number of posts that is important. You must respond with thouGhtful, detailed, and reflective posts. What is considered an “excellent” (deservinG of an A Grade) post? In a nutshell, your post will be several sentences, will refer to the content of the course, will exhibit critical thinkinG, etc. Of special importance is to support your analysis with specific evidence. Go to the reading or lecture to support the claims you make. WritinG quality is also very important. Edit your post in Word before postinG it. TurninG the question around, what is a “poor” post? Posts that simply aGree or say, “good point.” Posts that don’t contribute anything new, or that do not refer to course content. Posts that are not respectful or make personal attacks also are not acceptable. It is fine to respectfully disagree with a post—and provide your evidence for your position. I will try to give you feedback on the quality of your posts—I can’t necessarily comment on each of your specific posts for every topic, but you should read all my replies to all students as well as the comments from other students to learn more. It is important to read your email daily because some feedback from me may come this way. 4) Observe Proper “Netiquette” in your Discussion Posts: A) Pay Attention to Your Words! ThouGhtful, critical, and even arGumentative lanGuaGe is fine! BUT, remember that there is no place in our classroom community for abusive, offensive, aGGressive or otherwise violent speech. Remember that you are not an anonymous commenter, but rather that you are part of a classroom community. B) Remember that no one can hear your tone! Because we are not communicatinG with voices and without the benefit of seeing one another’s face, we need to pay attention to the actual text that comprises our words. Remember, for example, that ALL CAPS is the equivalent of yellinG.