RELIGIONS IN AMERICA

FIB, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Lecturer: Prof. Drs. Ratno Lukito, MA., PhD.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course basically describes the phenomenon of religion in the
Western society. As described in its title, the focus of the study will
however be concentrated on the issue of religions living in the secular
society of the United States of America (USA) as well as their
relationship with the ideology of modern state embraced therein. The
sociopolitical and cultural aspects are therefore treated only to the
extent that they materially pertain to the fundamental understanding
of the role and position of religious teachings in the country. Hence,
the topics to be discussed will evolve mostly on the issue of the
encounters between religions and Western civilization, which now
remains to be the dilemma in the USA.
BASIC REQUIREMENT:
The subject is designed specifically for the students at postgraduate
level, who may or may not have experience studying the phenomenon
of religions in the West. Therefore, there is no specific requirement
related to comprehending the subject of study, except for the need of
the students capability of English reading comprehension as a basic
requirement to take a part in the class discussion.
OBJECTIVES:
The main objective of the study is to comprehend the more accurate
picture of religions in the Western society of the United States of
America. By taking this course, it is hoped that the students will be
able to understand the religious traditions living in the secular society
of the West, in general, and the USA, in particular. Such a
comprehension is important in order for the students having an ability
to analyze the role, function and position of religious institutions in
the modern society of the USA, one example of the Western secular
society in the world. As this subject is designed specifically for
graduate students, the study of religions in the USA will also be
related to improving the students ability to relate the subject with the
practical issues of religions in modern state in general. In so doing, an
attempt will be made also to simplify as much as is reasonable the

most important ingredients of the issues of the religion-state

relationship.
TOPICS AND READINGS:
1. Session I: Introduction of the Course; Defining the Terms:
Religion and Western Civilization.
Reading:
Ratno Lukito, Defining Religion, power point presentation.
William Scott Green, What do We Mean by Religion and Western
Civilization? in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious Foundation of
Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 3-24.
2. Session II: Religions in the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Readings:
Jacob Neusner, Judaism in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious
Foundation of Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 27-70.
3. Session III: Religions in the West (2)
Readings:
Bruce Chilton, Christianity: What It Is and How It Defines Western
Civilization, in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious Foundation of
Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 71-104.
Th. Emil Homerin, Islam: What It Is and How It Has Interacted
with Western Civilization, in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious
Foundation of Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 105-155.
4. Session IV: Religion and Religious Studies in the US
Reading:
Religion and Religious Studies in America, power point
presentation.
Jay Mechling, Religious Studies, in John Carlos Rowe, ed., A
Concise Companion to American Studies (West Sussex, UK.:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2010), pp. 92-123.
5. Session V: Islam and Western Ideology
Readings:
Fauzi M. Najjar, Islam and Modern Democracy, The Review of
Politics, Vol. 20, No. 2 (1958), pp. 164-180.
Bassam Tibi, Islam and Modern European Ideologies,
International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Vol. 18 (1986), pp.
15-29.
2

Jonathan Fox, Two Civilizations and Ethnic Conflict: Islam and the
West, Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 38, No. 4 (2001), pp. 459472.
6. Session VI: Religion-State Relation in America
Readings:
Bryan S. Turner, State, Religion and Minority Status: A Review
Article, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 27, No. 2
(1985), pp. 304-311.
Richard J. Hoskins, The Original Separation of Church and State
in America, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1984), pp.
221-239.
Thomas J. Curry, Church and State in Seventeenth and Eighteenth
Century America, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 7, No. 2
(1989), pp. 261-273.
7. Session VII: Religious Freedom
Readings:
Ira C. Lupu, Where Rights Begin: The Problem of Burdens on the
Free Exercise of Religion, Harvard Law Review, Vol. 102, No. 5
(1989), pp. 933-990.
Robert A. Destro, The Structure of the Religious Liberty
Guarantee, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 11, No. 1 (19941995), pp. 355-409.
Thomas C. Berg, Religious Liberty in America at the End of the
Century, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 16, No. 2 (2001), pp.
187-247.
8. Session VIII: Accommodating Religion I
Readings:
Samina Quddos, Accommodating Religion in Public School: Must,
May or Never?, Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 6 (2001),
pp. 67-99.
H. Patrick Glenn, Where Heavens Meet: The Compelling of
Religious Divorces, American Journal of Comparative Law, Vol. 28
(1980), pp. 1-38.
9. Session IX: Accommodating Religion II
Readings:
James (Jimmy) Edwards Jones, How Effective has the United
States System of Justice been in Accommodating Islam? Journal of
Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 5 (2000), pp. 1-10.
Ghada G. Qaisi, Religious Marriage Contracts: Judicial
Enforcement of Mahr Agreement in American Courts, Journal of
Law and Religion, Vol. 15, No. 1/2 (2000-2001), pp. 67-81.

Richard Freeland, The Treatment of Muslims in American Courts,

Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Vol. 12, No. 4 (2001), pp.
449-463.
10. Session X: Religion, Law and Politics I
Readings:
Daniel O. Conkle, Different Religions, Different Politics:
Evaluating the Role of Religious Traditions in American Politics and
Law, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 10, No. 1 (1993-1994), pp.
1-32.
Harold J. Berman, Conscience and Law: The Lutheran
Reformation and the Western Legal Tradition, Journal of Law and
Religion, Vol. 5, No. 1 (1987), pp. 177-202.
11. Session XI: Religion, Law and Politics II
Readings:
Robert A. Destro, The Religious Foundation of Civil Rights Law
and the Study of Law and Religion in an Interdisciplinary
Framework, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 5, No. 1 (1987), pp.
39-52.
Bernard J. Meislin, Parallels between Talmudic and New York
Usury Laws, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 9,
No. 1 (1966), pp. 84-100.
Irshad Abdal-Haqq, The Legal Definition of Islam: An Examination
of
Judicial,
Legislative,
Mainstream
and
Nontraditional
Interpretations, Journal of Islamic Law, Vol. 1 (1996), pp. 107-129,
157-172.
12. Session XII: Current Issues: Religion and Terrorism
Readings:
David C. Rapoport, Fear and Trembling: Terrorism in Three
Religious Tradition, The American Political Science Review, Vol.
78, No. 3 (1984), pp. 658-677.
Yassin El-Ayouty, International Terrorism under the Law, ILSA
Journal of International and Comparative Law, Vo. 5 (1999), pp.
485-499.
Hisham Aidi, Jihadis in the Hood: Race, Urban Islam and the War
on Terror, Middle East Report, No. 224 (Autumn, 2002), pp. 36-43.
13. Session XIII: Current Issues: Muslims, Terrorism and Citizenship
Readings:
Mohamed Nimer, Muslims in America after 9-11, Journal of
Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 7 (2002), pp. 1-35.
Scot Alexander, Inalienable Rights? Muslims in the US since
September 11 Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 7 (2002),
pp. 103-128.
4

Louise Cainkar, Special Registration: A Fervor for Muslims,

Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 7 (2002), pp. 73-101.
14. Session XIV: Wrapping Up, Conclusion and Evaluation
EVALUATION:
The students taking this course will be evaluated at the end of the
term based on their performance both in the class discussion,
presentation and final examination (either in the form of paper or
take-home exam). Thus, the general evaluation will comprise of three
aspects of grading with each has different percentage as follows: class
participation 20% (In the class participation, the students write a
think page or log based on the readings that will be discussed),
presentation 20% and final examination 60%.
REQUIRED READINGS:
Bassam Tibi, Islam and Modern European Ideologies,
International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Vol. 18 (1986), pp.
15-29.
Bernard J. Meislin, Parallels between Talmudic and New York
Usury Laws, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 9, No.
1 (1966), pp. 84-100.
Bruce Chilton, Christianity: What It Is and How It Defines
Western Civilization, in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious Foundation of
Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 71-104.
Bryan S. Turner, State, Religion and Minority Status: A Review
Article, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 27, No. 2
(1985), pp. 304-311.
Daniel O. Conkle, Different Religions, Different Politics:
Evaluating the Role of Religious Traditions in American Politics and
Law, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 10, No. 1 (1993-1994), pp. 132.
David C. Rapoport, Fear and Trembling: Terrorism in Three
Religious Tradition, The American Political Science Review, Vol. 78,
No. 3 (1984), pp. 658-677.
Fauzi M. Najjar, Islam and Modern Democracy, The Review of
Politics, Vol. 20, No. 2 (1958), pp. 164-180.
Ghada G. Qaisi, Religious Marriage Contracts: Judicial
Enforcement of Mahr Agreement in American Courts, Journal of
Law and Religion, Vol. 15, No. 1/2 (2000-2001), pp. 67-81.
H. Patrick Glenn, Where Heavens Meet: The Compelling of
Religious Divorces, American Journal of Comparative Law, Vol. 28
(1980), pp. 1-38.
5

Harold J. Berman, Conscience and Law: The Lutheran

Reformation and the Western Legal Tradition, Journal of Law and
Religion, Vol. 5, No. 1 (1987), pp. 177-202.
Hisham Aidi, Jihadis in the Hood: Race, Urban Islam and the
War on Terror, Middle East Report, No. 224 (Autumn, 2002), pp. 3643.
Ira C. Lupu, Where Rights Begin: The Problem of Burdens on
the Free Exercise of Religion, Harvard Law Review, Vol. 102, No. 5
(1989), pp. 933-990.
Irshad Abdal-Haqq, The Legal Definition of Islam: An
Examination of Judicial, Legislative, Mainstream and Nontraditional
Interpretations, Journal of Islamic Law, Vol. 1 (1996), pp. 107-129,
157-172.
Jacob Neusner, Judaism in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious
Foundation of Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 27-70.
James (Jimmy) Edwards Jones, How Effective has the United
States System of Justice been in Accommodating Islam? Journal of
Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 5 (2000), pp. 1-10.
Jay Mechling, Religious Studies, in John Carlos Rowe, ed., A
Concise Companion to American Studies (West Sussex, UK.: Blackwell
Publishing Ltd., 2010), pp. 92-123.
Jonathan Fox, Two Civilizations and Ethnic Conflict: Islam and
the West, Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 38, No. 4 (2001), pp. 459472.
Louise Cainkar, Special Registration: A Fervor for Muslims,
Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 7 (2002), pp. 73-101.
Mohamed Nimer, Muslims in America after 9-11, Journal of
Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 7 (2002), pp. 1-35.
Richard Freeland, The Treatment of Muslims in American
Courts, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Vol. 12, No. 4 (2001),
pp. 449-463.
Richard J. Hoskins, The Original Separation of Church and
State in America, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1984),
pp. 221-239.
Robert A. Destro, The Religious Foundation of Civil Rights
Law and the Study of Law and Religion in an Interdisciplinary
Framework, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 5, No. 1 (1987), pp. 3952.
Robert A. Destro, The Structure of the Religious Liberty
Guarantee, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 11, No. 1 (1994-1995),
pp. 355-409.
Samina Quddos, Accommodating Religion in Public School:
Must, May or Never?, Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 6
(2001), pp. 67-99.

Scot Alexander, Inalienable Rights? Muslims in the US since

September 11 Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 7 (2002), pp.
103-128.
Th. Emil Homerin, Islam: What It Is and How It Has Interacted
with Western Civilization, in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious
Foundation of Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 105-155.
Thomas C. Berg, Religious Liberty in America at the End of the
Century, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 16, No. 2 (2001), pp. 187247.
Thomas J. Curry, Church and State in Seventeenth and
Eighteenth Century America, Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 7, No.
2 (1989), pp. 261-273.
Traditions in American Politics and Law, Journal of Law and
Religion, Vol. 10, No. 1 (1993-1994), pp. 1-32.
William Scott Green, What do We Mean by Religion and
Western Civilization? in Jacob Neusner, ed., Religious Foundation of
Western Civilization: Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2006), pp. 3-24.
Yassin El-Ayouty, International Terrorism under the Law, ILSA
Journal of International and Comparative Law, Vo. 5 (1999), pp. 485499.