UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE – SPRING 2003
HISTORY 384 – BRITISH RELIGION IN AN AGE OF CHANGE
DR JAMES LACHLAN MACLEOD
OUTLINE
This
course looks at various aspects of the history of Britain from the perspective
of religion. Many social, intellectual and political themes can then be
examined, with religion as the unifying focus that holds the course together.
Britain between 1830 and 1918 was a very religious environment, but it was a
religious environment which faced many sources of potential crisis; this course
will therefore look in detail at such issues as the rise of belief in Darwinian
evolution and the impact that had on religious belief; the impact of
industrialization and urbanization; the relationship between Church and State,
a much closer one in this country than in the United States; the influence of
religion on Imperialism; the impact of scientific biblical criticism; the
impact of the First World War; and the different experiences of the different
countries within Britain. While a lot will be learned about nineteenth-century
religion, this class is far from being merely church history, and no
specialized knowledge is required; we will use religion as a base from which to
study many social, political and cultural aspects of Britain from 1830 to 1918,
and all that is required is a willingness to read, think and talk
The class is a seminar-based
one, with learning based on informed classroom discussion; this involves hard
work and considerable thought, but can also be a lot of fun. Your contribution
to the class's discussions throughout the semester will count as 20% of your
final grade.
TEXTBOOKS
The
recommended textbooks, which you are REQUIRED to buy, are:-
Gerald
Parsons, ed., Religion in Victorian
Britain, vol I (Traditions)
Gerald
Parsons, ed., Religion in Victorian
Britain, vol III (Sources)
Students
will, however, be expected to read much more besides if they wish to gain the
most from this course. There is an extensive British collection in the library.
In addition to text-book reading, students will be asked to read some original
texts and also to study carefully any handouts provided, in order to
participate in class-room discussion.
ASSESSMENT
1
in-class test = 20% of total marks
1
6-page paper = 20% of total marks
1 class
presentation by student = 20% of total marks
Seminar
Participation = 20% of total marks
Final
examination = 20% of total marks
Please note that attendance is carefully recorded and excessive absences will have a devastating impact on your grade in this class (see below).
WRITTEN WORK AND ATTENDANCE
In the grading of all written work, credit will be given
for well-constructed, clearly argued and accurately researched writing: errors
in spelling, punctuation and grammar will be penalized. Please note the ZERO TOLERANCE policy
with regards to plagiarism.
Students who for medical reasons (confirmed
by a medical certificate) are not able to sit the mid-term examination at the
appointed time will sit the final examination, which is comprehensive, and the
percentage score of the mid-term will be carried forward and added to the final
examination. Thus a student who misses
the mid-term will sit the final examination for 40% of his/her grade rather
than for 20% as for the rest of the class.
No other form of make-up examination will be permitted.
Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. There is
an attendance policy; students who exceed their permitted number of excused
absences will be penalized by one grade drop on each occasion they exceed their
maximum limit.
ONLY TWO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES ARE PERMITTED IN THIS CLASS.
Absence from class is permitted only in cases of extreme
sickness or ill-health. In the event of
such an occurrence, it is incumbent upon the student to see a qualified medical
authority and to obtain a certificate of certified absence within 24 hours of
the absent class. Apart from this form
of justified absence, no other absence is excused except where authorized by
the Chair of the Department of History.
Finally, a note of warning concerning punctuality. Any student who arrives later than ten
minutes for class will be deemed to be absent from that class, and the
absence will count as an unexcused absence.
Similarly, I expect work to be handed in by the set time and date. Unless a request for an extension has been
made and agreed, all overdue papers will be awarded an automatic "F".
OFFICE HOURS
I am available to meet with you during my regular office hours which for this semester are
Mon Wed Fri 9.00-10.00, Tu Th by appointment
For your own convenience, try to make an appointment in
case I am meeting another student.
GENERAL
Life is too short to be poker-faced. The class will be as
informal as possible, and I will do my best to make sure that you all have an
enjoyable and successful time.
Contacts
Dr James
Lachlan MacLeod
Office Olmsted
343
telephone 2599
email jm224
Website
access through History Dept homepage at
http://history.evansville.edu
CLASS PRESENTATIONS
This is a seminar-based course
and each student or group of students (2-4 per group, depending on class
numbers) is expected to prepare and deliver a presentation at one of the
meetings of the class. This is to take the form of a discussion of one of the
topics listed; the earlier you sign up the more choice you have as to when you
present; you must decide on a subject and a date by 25 January 2003.
Please note the following points carefully:
You will be graded with the following checklist: failure to fulfil any part will result in a deduction of points.
Before
the Presentation
Meet with partners to discuss project in detail
Meet with professor 2 days ahead of class
Provide professor with a bibliography
Provide professor with typed outline of the
whole presentation
Organization
Introduction is helpful and tells us what to
expect and focus on
Main points made clear
Presentation logically structured
Material pertinent to the subject (not rambling
nor excessive)
Presentation neither too long nor too short
Each participant contributes equally in terms of
content and time
Conclusion provides a clear and helpful summary
Content
Clear language; technical terms explained simply
Well researched – not taken directly from a
single textbook or website
Not read from a website printout
Good range of information included (not
too obvious nor too specialized)
Clear explanations of main points
Helpful case studies and/or examples used to
illustrate points
Appropriate attention paid to women, minorities
and the non-Western world
Communication Skills
Interesting and engaging manner
Appropriate expressions (avoiding, e.g.,
"um," "like," “back in the day”, and "stuff" and
cursing)
Did not read from notes excessively
Poise and posture – professional manner and
appearance
Helpful hand-outs, visual aids and/or multimedia
Questions and Discussion
Sufficient time left for questions and
discussion
Good questions posed to class to generate
discussion
Responsive attitude towards questions and
comments
Questions answered appropriately and completely
Good management of discussion
PRESENTATION TOPICS AND DATES
There is a risk with these topics that your presentation will be vague, unfocused and, frankly, boring for us all. In order to avoid that, please pay attention to the following instructions, as well as those listed in the syllabus.
Each presentation MUST be an attempt to deal with your figure’s early life and influences; his significant contributions to or impacts on British Religion; how he reflects the period; and his legacy.
Failure
to cover these four aspects will result in a poor grade for your presentation
|
TOPIC |
DATE |
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN |
Jan 29 |
|
CHARLES DARWIN |
Feb 5 |
|
HENRY EDWARD
MANNING |
Feb 12 |
|
DANTE GABRIEL
ROSSETTI WILLIAM HOLLMAN
HUNT |
Feb 19 |
|
THOMAS CHALMERS |
Feb 26 |
|
ROBERT RAINY |
Mar 3 |
|
JOHN WILLIAM
COLENSO |
Mar 19 |
|
WILLIAM ROBERTSON
SMITH |
Mar 26 |
|
DAVID LIVINGSTONE |
Mar 31 |
|
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE |
Apr 9 |
|
CHARLES HADDON
SPURGEON |
Apr 16 |
|
DWIGHT L MOODY IRA D SANKEY |
Apr 23 |
6-page
Term Papers
Due 2 April 2003
Your essay should be in the form of a research paper, and
must follow the MLA rules on citation, including a works cited page. Please
type, using Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced and with adequate
margins. Please number your pages. Your first page must state the question.
All
papers must be submitted electronically as well as on paper. All papers will be
subject to electronic plagiarism-detection analysis!
Please
note the following:
1. Your term paper and class presentation must not be on the same topic. If you are in any doubt about this please discuss it with me.
2. All papers must have at least six (6) sources, of which no more than three (3) can be websites.
3.
No more than three students can write on the
same question. You must tell me which question you intend to answer by the end
of the second week, ie Friday 25 January.
1. Discuss the view that Charles Darwin was the
most important figure in 19th century religious life.
2. Why did Essays and Reviews cause such a
commotion?
3. Discuss the impact of industrialisation and
urbanisation on religion in 19th century Britain.
4. Discuss the impact of science on 19th century
British religion.
5. Assess the impact of religion on the anti-slavery movement.
6. What was the Oxford Movement and what did it
achieve?
7. Why was there a Disruption in the Church of
Scotland in 1843?
8. From a religious perspective, was the 19th
century a good time for women?
9. In what ways did the position of Roman
Catholics or Jews or
non-Anglicans change between 1820 and 1920?
10. What was the relationship between British
religion and British imperialism?
11. Choose any artist or writer of the 19th
century and assess what his\her work reveals about British religion.
12. What was the impact of the First World War on
Religion?
13. Was the Victorian era
really a "time of crisis" for religion?
History 384 Calendar for Spring 2003
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Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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Jan 13 |
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Jan 20 |
MLK DAY |
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Deadline to pick topic |
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Jan 27 |
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Newman |
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Feb 03 |
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Darwin |
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Feb 10 |
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Manning |
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Feb 17 |
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Rossetti Hunt |
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Feb24 |
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Chalmers |
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Mar 3 |
Rainy |
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Midterm Exam |
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Mar 10 |
Spring Break |
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Mar 17 |
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Colenso
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Mar 24 |
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Smith |
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Mar 31 |
Livingstone |
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Paper Due |
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Apr 7 |
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Wilberforce |
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Apr 14 |
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Spurgeon |
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Easter |
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Apr 21 |
Easter |
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Moody+Sankey |
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Apr 28 |
Last Day of Classes |
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Reading Day |
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Final Exam 12.30 |
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May 5 |
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Homework
Click here for link to story in The Times
about modern English religion.
Click here for the
Thirty-nine
Articles of the Church of England; click here for a definition of the Eucharist;
click here for Newman’s
position on Article 28 [from Tract 90], on the Eucharist – this I hope
spells out the difference in his mind between ‘real presence’ and
‘transubstantiation’.
Click here for
Bible concordance.