1. Survey of Religion in America ED 301 ED 301 –Phil Kaiser-Parlette –Kurt Rausch –Kevin Hill

2. Lesson forReligious Tolerance Intended for grades 10 - 12 Intended for grades 10 - 12

3. Objective: To inform students of the religious diversity of America To inform students of the religious diversity of America To help develop tolerance towards all religions To help develop tolerance towards all religions

4. Required Materials: Pen or pencil Pen or pencil Paper Paper An open mind An open mind Willingness to answer and ask questions Willingness to answer and ask questions

5. Major Religions of America: Christianity Christianity Judaism Judaism Islam Islam Non-religious Non-religious

6. Christianity Estimated 225 million U.S. population (76%) Estimated 225 million U.S. population (76%) Many different denominations (and sub- denominations) including: Many different denominations (and sub- denominations) including: –Catholicism –Protestant –Mormon

7. Christianity Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died for mankind’s sins and was resurrected. Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died for mankind’s sins and was resurrected. Primary origins from many sections of Europe Primary origins from many sections of Europe Place of worship called a church Place of worship called a church Holy book called the Bible Holy book called the Bible

8. Judaism Roughly 4 million U.S. residents Roughly 4 million U.S. residents World’s first major monotheistic religion World’s first major monotheistic religion Origins with Abraham, roughly around 1800 BC Origins with Abraham, roughly around 1800 BC Holy Book called the Torah Holy Book called the Torah Despite relatively small population, possess great influence over American foreign policy, specifically with regards to Israel Despite relatively small population, possess great influence over American foreign policy, specifically with regards to Israel Place of worship called the synagogue Place of worship called the synagogue

9. Islam Belief in Mohammad as the final Prophet Belief in Mohammad as the final Prophet Holy book called the Qur’an Holy book called the Qur’an Roughly 1.5 million U.S. residents Roughly 1.5 million U.S. residents Place of worship called a mosque Place of worship called a mosque

10. Other major religions in America Non-religious/Secular: 39 million Non-religious/Secular: 39 million –Agnosticism –Atheism –Deism –Humanism

11. Other major religions Buddhism Buddhism –1.5 million U.S. residents –Origins in southeast Asia

12. Other major religions Hinduism Hinduism –Roughly 1 million U.S. residents –Origins in India –Some holy books: Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita Upanishads Upanishads

13. Issues with Religion in America Constitution Constitution –1 st Amendment Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses: Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses: –“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof “

14. Supreme Court Cases Engle v. Vitale (1962) Engle v. Vitale (1962) –Mandatory prayer in school unconstitutional Lemon v. Kurtzman Lemon v. Kurtzman –Three criteria for determining degree of involvement of religion with schools Employment Division v. Smith Employment Division v. Smith

15. Religious Conflicts Protestants v. Catholics Protestants v. Catholics –Mistrust of Catholics through American history until relatively recently –Foreign conflicts such as Northern Ireland can touch home, taking the form of protests Post 9-11 Fear of Muslims Post 9-11 Fear of Muslims Tensions between Israel and Palestine affects U.S. foreign policy Tensions between Israel and Palestine affects U.S. foreign policy

16. Student Activities Listen to religious speakers from various religions Listen to religious speakers from various religions

17. Student Activities Do a comparison/contrast paper on the belief systems and practices of two religions Do a comparison/contrast paper on the belief systems and practices of two religions

18. Student Activities Visit different religious sites (i.e. Catholic and/or Protestant churches, Jewish synagogue, Islamic mosque, etc) Visit different religious sites (i.e. Catholic and/or Protestant churches, Jewish synagogue, Islamic mosque, etc)

19. Student Activities Try to participate in a religious holiday/event of which you are unfamiliar with Try to participate in a religious holiday/event of which you are unfamiliar with

20. Student Activities Do a report on the religious persecution (in America) of a particular religion or denomination Do a report on the religious persecution (in America) of a particular religion or denomination

21. Websites http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm –Official Vatican website http://www.isna.net/ http://www.isna.net/ http://www.isna.net/ –Website of Islamic group and their efforts to support education http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions –Population figures of religious groups in U.S.

22. Websites http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html –Brief information on a number of holy books http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm –Website detailing the free exercise clause and Supreme Court cases involving it

23. Sources of Information 1. http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions 1. http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html# religions 2. http://www.jewfaq.org/origins.htm 2. http://www.jewfaq.org/origins.htmhttp://www.jewfaq.org/origins.htm 3. http://www.llrx.com/features/christmas.ht m 3. http://www.llrx.com/features/christmas.ht m http://www.llrx.com/features/christmas.ht m http://www.llrx.com/features/christmas.ht m

24. Sources of Information 4. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm 4. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects /ftrials/conlaw/freeexercise.htm 5. http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html 5. http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHER REFERENCE/RELIGION/HolyBooks.html