AMST 3110 Religion and Insurrection
On January 6, 2021, a violent mob of over 2,000 supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol during a joint session of Congress assembled to certify Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. While engaging in this deadly attack, the insurrectionists expressed prayers and dawned symbols of Christian nationalism. Meanwhile, lawmakers targeted by the riot and counterprotesters expressed their faith by calling for unity and peace. This course draws upon award-winning reporting by the Religion News Service to study religion's completing roles in the deadly attack on the United States Capitol.
High school, college, adult
Civic Education for a Common Good
We apply the U.S. Department of Education’s Consensus Statements about Constitutional Approaches for Teaching about Religion
▸ Our approach to religion is academic, not devotional;
▸ We strive for student awareness of religions, but do not press for student acceptance of any religion;
▸ We sponsor the study about religion, not the practice of religion;
▸ We expose students to a diversity of religious views, but may not impose any particular view;
▸ We educate about all religions, we do not promote or denigrate any religion;
▸ We inform students about religious beliefs and practices, it does not seek to conform students to any particular belief or practice.
We apply the American Academy of Religion’s “Religious Literacy Guidelines”
▸ “Religious Literacy Guidelines for College Students.” American Academy of Religion, 2019.
▸ “Teaching About Religion: AAR Guidelines for K-12 Public Schools.” American Academy of Religion, April 2010.
We apply the National Council for the Social Studies C3 Frameworks for Religious Studies
▸ College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, “Religious Studies Companion Document for the C3 Framework.” Silver Spring, MD: National Council for the Social Studies, 2017.
