The Pluralism Project Part III

Religious Minority Research Project

This assignment will ask you to explore and analyze the religious landscape of America through exploring one religious minority group carefully. Specifically you will be addressing the question of What does it mean to be Religious in America (from the perspective of this minority group).

Requirements:

Your research should consist of at least three distinct parts.

History: origin (particularly as it relates to America. Either how it came to America or it’s birth and growth in America), hierarchy/organization, demographics (in America).
Beliefs & Practices: key beliefs, ethics, rituals, holidays, festivals & their influence & impact on American culture (how they might challenge the way we think in America about what religion is and/or should be)
Acculturation: Have they had to defend their faith in light of cultural acceptance? What is the group’s response to diversity and pluralism? Have they struggled or been challenged? What contributions have they made?

Content: Should be based on original research including written sources, official websites and experiential observation. Every effort should be made to attend a meeting or worship service of the religion you have chosen. If you have chosen one that does not exist in Utah, outreach should be made to contact a church elsewhere and interview someone.

The content should show analysis (answering questions of how and why) and engagement with the material.

Mechanics:

Format: All papers should be typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, in 12-point Times New Roman font or 10 point Ariel.
Length: 4-6 pages of content
Submission: Students are responsible for submitting their papers on the assigned date. Late assignment without a legitimate excuse will lower your grade. Submission should be on Canvas only.
Revision: If your paper does not meet these guidelines, you will be asked to revise and rewrite it. Any student who is unsure about these guidelines should make an appointment to see me. Alternatively, if you are unhappy with your grade you may revise for an improved grade.

Possible options for religions you can research are listed below. Technically, any religion would count as a religious minority in America EXCEPT for any with the following terms in its title: Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Evangelical, Protestant. Please note, some of these groups we will be discussing in class. If you choose one we discuss in class it will be up to you to give me something different and original than what we covered together.

Apostolic United Brethren (polygamy group)
Assembly of God
Buddhism (a specific Buddhist Community like BCA or Soka Gakkai)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Church of the Nazarene, Holiness Movement
Church of Christ, Science
Community of Christ
Eckankar
Four Square Gospel
Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS)
Greek Orthodox
Hare Krishna
Hinduism
Islam (Sunni, Sufi or Shi’a)
Jehovah’s Witness
Native American Church
Quaker
Rosicrucian
Russian Orthodox
Scientology
Seventh-Day Adventist
Soka Gakkai (Buddhism)
Summum
Unitarian Universalist
Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification)
Unity
Wicca (or other Neo-Pagan communities)