Religions in America

In this unit, we’re starting with a look at two cities where religious pluralism gains a toehold in the era of massive European immigration. On Wed 10/10 we glanced at Chicago in the 1890s, site of the Columbian Exposition of 1893 and the World Parliament of Religions. On Fri 10/12 we will look at Worcester around the same time period and consider the essential debates that such immigration caused in American cities like Worcester – and the effect of those arrivals on the religious landscape of our city.

Throughout this unit, you’ll be writing and preparing to post your analysis of a local religious organization or congregation on the Digital Worcester archive, and that will hopefully give us a better sense of the religious landscape of the early 21st century in our locality.

For Fri 10/12 – please READ and BRING Diana Eck’s article “In the Name of Religions” (posted to Blackboard in Unit 3) as well as adding to, or prepping for, our 4th Friday Forum.