Keith Roberts, Religion in Sociological Perspective, 4th ed.
Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity
One of the following books:
    1) Dean Kelley, Why Conservative Churches are Growing
    2) Donald Miller, Reinventing American Protestantism
    3) Rodney Stark and Roger Finke, Acts of Faith
    4) Peter Berger, The Sacred Canopy

Missed exams will be counted as zerosunless the student has obtained an excused absence from me before the exam. Acceptable reasons for missing an exam would include health problems, a death in the family, etc. Please note that arrangements must be made with me before the exam. Exams are scheduled well in advance so discretionary activity should be scheduled around these dates.

Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late assignments will be docked one grade if they are handed in within 24 hours (e.g., a 40 point paper would have 4 points deducted), two grades if they are handed in between 24 hours late and one week late, and three grades if they are handed in after one week.

Attendance and Participation. In a class of this nature, interaction and participation are important. If you do not follow through with your end of the bargain (i.e., attending class, participating in discussions, keeping up with the reading) it is unlikely our experience together will be completely successful.

Office Hours are Tuesday/Friday, 8:30-9:30, and Wednesday, 11:00-1:00. If the designated office hours do not fit your schedule you are encouraged to stop by my office at your convenience. An even more desirable option would be to call me in my office or at home to set up a more convenient time. Indeed, my "door is always open" (even if it is closed) and you need not feel limited by the posted office hours.

Grades have no absolute or objective quality. They represent a professor's evaluation of the student's performance. Academic performance concerns knowledge of the subject matter and the ability to communicate that knowledge. Assigned letter grades represent the following evaluations:
    A = Superior academic performance and demonstration of creative ability
    B = Outstanding academic performance
    C = Adequate academic performance
    D = Less than adequate academic performance
    F = Inadequate academic performance

Purpose. The purpose of the discussion group is to get you to interact and exchange ideas with your classmates. You can help each other understand and interpret the reading, and make friends in the process.

Task. Each discussion will be led by a discussion leader who will be responsible for writing out a series of discussion questions. At the end of the discussion these discussion questions will be handed in, along with a brief summary of the quality of the discussion and the names of the group members who were present for the discussion.

Purpose. The critique is an attempt to sharpen analytical skills and knowledge about religion in society.

Audience. Your paper should be directed toward a non-academic audience.

Task. A critique is a short, knowledgeable discussion of a book. A good critique should be well written, including clear organization and proper use of the English language (e.g., spelling, punctuation, and grammar). A good critique should also be interesting to read, and should make the reader want to read the book. How does the book contribute to your understanding of the topic? Where is the author “right on,” and where has he/she “missed?” A good critique offers critical observations and constructive criticism. A good critique is more than a chapter by chapter summary of the book’s content, although some summary of content may be necessary.

Approximate length: 5 pages. Typed, double-spaced.

Each book group will make a presentation of the book to the class. Your task is to communicate the important content of the book, and to get us excited about the possibility of reading the book. Try to be creative with your discussion and try to think of ways to get the class involved in your presentation. Your grade for this portion of the course will be based on the content of the presentation, and effective communication of that content.

The key to a good presentation is being organized and creative. Your task is to communicate the message of the book and to get the rest of us to think. A creative and engaging presentation will create enthusiasm for your book.