Allitt moves from through Puritan New England , the Great Awakenings , Mormonism , African American religious traditions , Catholic and Jewish immigration , fundamentalism vs. modernism , up to late 20th-century developments (mega-churches, religious right, New Age movements). No major tradition is ignored.
As an insightful observer of American culture, Allitt brings a nuanced, often unexpected perspective to religious history, treating it not just as theology, but as a driving force in social and political life. TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History
As America industrialized and integrated new scientific ideas like Darwinian evolution, the religious landscape fractured along new lines. Allitt details the dramatic of the 1920s, epitomized by the famous Scopes "Monkey" Trial. The course then tracks how these groups evolved: Allitt moves from through Puritan New England ,
Since its release, this course has maintained a 4.5+ star rating on most platforms. Reviewers consistently praise Allitt’s delivery (he is “addictively listenable”) and the comprehensiveness of the syllabus. Unlike newer courses that focus exclusively on the 20th century, Allitt spends appropriate time on the colonial and 19th-century foundations, arguing that you cannot understand Jerry Falwell without understanding Jonathan Edwards. As an insightful observer of American culture, Allitt
: The course includes fascinating case studies like the Oneida Community (Christian perfectionism with complex marriage) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), examining both mainstream reactions and internal dynamics.
: He uniquely explores religion through the senses—the design of sacred spaces, the smell of incense, and even the "taste" of religion, famously suggesting the casserole may be the most "Protestant" of all dishes. The Conflict of Ideas