The Great Courses series, American Religious History , taught by Professor Patrick N. Allitt
of Emory University, provides a comprehensive overview of how faith has shaped the American experience from the colonial era to the present. Course Overview
This course explores the evolution of American religious life, moving beyond a simple "Pilgrims and Puritans" narrative to examine the diverse movements that defined the nation. Professor Allitt is known for his engaging, witty, and objective storytelling, making complex theological shifts accessible to a broad audience. Key Themes & Topics The Colonial Foundations:
Exploration of the Puritans in New England, the Quakers in Pennsylvania, and the Anglican influence in the South. The Great Awakenings:
Analysis of the religious revivals that swept the colonies and the young nation, emphasizing the rise of evangelicalism. Religion and the State:
The development of the concept of "separation of church and state" and the unique American approach to religious freedom. Social Reform Movements:
How religious convictions fueled major social changes, including Abolitionism Civil Rights Movement Modern Pluralism:
The growth of Catholicism, Judaism, and newer religious movements (like Mormonism and Pentecostalism), as well as the rise of secularism in the 20th and 21st centuries. About Professor Patrick N. Allitt
Patrick Allitt is the Cahoon Family Professor of American History at Emory University. His expertise lies in American intellectual and religious history, and he has authored several books, including Religion in America Since 1945: A History Where to Watch/Listen The Great Courses Plus (Wondrium): Available for streaming with a subscription. Often available as an audiobook. Public Libraries: Many libraries offer this series via digital services like Looking for more specific details? Let me know: (e.g., the 19th-century revivals)? from the course? Are you interested in other courses by Professor Allitt? TTC - Edu Est's Site
Philosophy and Intellectual History, American Mind, Allen C. Guelzo. C17, History – Modern / Religion, American Religious History, Yola Website Builder Patrick Allitt - The Great Courses Journeys
Professor Patrick N. Allitt’s course, American Religious History, produced by The Teaching Company (now The Great Courses), explores the immense vitality and diversity of religion in the United States from European contact to the late 20th century. Course Overview Format: 24 lectures (30 minutes each).
Perspective: As a British historian, Dr. Allitt offers a unique "outsider's perspective" on American traditions.
Scope: The course traces religious history chronologically and topically, starting from the Pilgrims and moving through the founding of the country into the modern era. Key Themes and Topics
Beyond the Pews: Examines how religion interacts with intellectual, social, economic, and political life, such as its role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Sensory Experience: Explores religion through design (churches, mosques), sounds (hymns), and even tastes (such as the Protestant casserole).
Major Religions: Covers a broad spectrum, including Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews, Mormons, and Muslims.
Social Conflicts: Analyzes religion's influence on critical issues like war, feminism, ecology, and public policy. About Professor Patrick N. Allitt TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History
Dr. Allitt is the Cahoon Family Professor of American History at Emory University. He is an expert in American religious, intellectual, and environmental history and has created over 10 lecture series for The Great Courses. The Great Courses: American Religious History
The Transformative Power of American Religious History: Insights from Prof. Patrick N. Allitt
The Teaching Company (TTC) has been a stalwart provider of high-quality educational content for decades, offering a vast array of courses on diverse subjects. Among its impressive catalog, one course stands out for its thought-provoking exploration of a crucial aspect of American history: "American Religious History" taught by the renowned Prof. Patrick N. Allitt. This 12-lecture course is a comprehensive and engaging journey through the complex and fascinating story of religion in America, from the earliest colonial period to the present day.
A Distinguished Scholar and Educator
Prof. Patrick N. Allitt is a British-American historian and scholar with a distinguished career in academia. Currently, he is a Professor of History at Boston University, where he has taught for over two decades. Allitt's expertise lies in American history, particularly in the areas of religion, politics, and culture. He has written several books on these topics, including "The American Left: A Very Short Introduction" and "God in the Dock: A Personal Journey." His extensive knowledge and passion for the subject matter make him an exceptional guide through the complex landscape of American religious history.
The Course: American Religious History
In "American Religious History," Prof. Allitt takes learners on a captivating journey through the evolution of religion in America, spanning over four centuries. The course consists of 12 engaging lectures, each approximately 30 minutes long, allowing students to absorb and reflect on the material at their own pace. Through Allitt's masterful storytelling and insightful analysis, students gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between faith, culture, and politics that has shaped American society.
The course is divided into three main sections, each focusing on a distinct period in American history:
Key Themes and Takeaways
Throughout the course, Prof. Allitt skillfully weaves together several key themes, including:
Why This Course Matters
"American Religious History" is more than just a historical survey; it's a lens through which to understand many of the pressing issues facing America today. As Prof. Allitt skillfully demonstrates, the complex and often contentious relationships between faith, politics, and culture have been a defining feature of American society from its inception.
By taking this course, learners will gain:
Conclusion
TTC's "American Religious History" course, taught by Prof. Patrick N. Allitt, is an engaging and comprehensive exploration of a vital aspect of American history. Through Allitt's masterful teaching and insightful analysis, learners embark on a fascinating journey through the complex and often surprising story of faith in America. Whether you're a history buff, a scholar of religion, or simply someone interested in understanding the complexities of American society, this course offers a wealth of knowledge, insights, and perspectives that will enrich your understanding of this fascinating topic.
In American Religious History , Professor Patrick N. Allitt of Emory University delivers a 24-lecture exploration of how faith has shaped American social, political, and intellectual life. The course is highly regarded for its balance, moving beyond simple theology to examine religion as a "sensory experience"—from the smell of incense to the cultural significance of the church casserole. Course Structure & Scope The Great Courses series, American Religious History ,
The series follows a roughly chronological path, beginning with the first European contacts and early Puritanism, extending through the late 20th century. American Religious History | The Great Courses Shop
American Religious History, taught by Prof. Patrick N. Allitt for The Great Courses (TTC), is a 24-lecture survey that explores the immense vitality and diversity of religious life in the United States from European contact to the late 20th century. Course Overview
Presented by Patrick Allitt, a Cahoon Family Professor of American History at Emory University, this series argues that the best way to understand America's unique religious landscape is through its historical evolution. Unlike other industrialized nations that saw religious decline, the U.S. maintained a vigorous and pluralistic religious culture.
Format: 24 lectures, approximately 30 minutes each (12 hours total).
Perspective: Prof. Allitt, originally from Britain, provides an "outsider's" analytical lens on American traditions.
Scope: Covers major denominations (Evangelical, liberal Protestant, Catholic, Jewish) and less formal movements, as well as Mormon, Muslim, African-American, and Asian influences. Key Themes and Subjects
The course investigates religion "beyond the pews," examining how faith intersects with intellectual, social, and political life.
Religious Pluralism and Vitality: Analyzing why the U.S. fosters such a vast variety of beliefs and styles of worship.
Religion and Social Movements: How religion shaped—and was shaped by—the Civil Rights Movement (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr.’s biblical appeals), Cold War tensions, the Vietnam War, and feminism.
Political Polarization: Allitt traces the shift from denominational divisions to political ones, where religious Americans are now often divided by their stances on modern secularism and social issues.
Sensory and Material Religion: Lectures touch on "sensory" history—the design of sacred spaces, the sounds of hymns, and even the cultural significance of food, such as the "Protestant casserole".
The American Revolution: Revisiting how religious history has reinterpreted events like the Revolution, moving beyond purely secular or economic explanations. Related Works by Prof. Allitt
To dive deeper into specific eras mentioned in the lectures, you might explore his other publications: American Religious History | The Great Courses Shop
Faith, Freedom, and the American Experience: Exploring Patrick Allitt’s "American Religious History" In his 24-lecture series for The Great Courses , Professor Patrick N. Allitt
of Emory University tackles a profound paradox: how can a nation with a strictly secular legal foundation remain one of the most religiously vital and diverse on Earth?. This course, titled American Religious History
, offers more than just a timeline of denominations; it explores how faith has shaped American identity "beyond the pews," influencing everything from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement The Sensory World of Faith Colonial Era and the Early Republic (1600s-1820s) :
Allitt distinguishes his approach by treating religion as a lived, sensory experience rather than just a collection of abstract doctrines. Throughout the series, he invites learners to "see" history through: Architecture: The symbolic design of churches, synagogues, and mosques The resonant hymns of the Great Awakenings and the chants of new immigrant traditions. Touch and Taste:
Personal artifacts and even culinary traditions—famously noting why the "casserole" might be the most quintessential Protestant dish Key Themes and Moments
The course follows a chronological path from colonial contact to the late 20th century, highlighting pivotal shifts in American thought: The Puritan Vision: John Winthrop’s
"City on a Hill" and the early struggle for religious conformity. The Enlightenment & Founding:
How Deist founders balanced personal skepticism with the need for a virtuous, religious citizenry Victorian Challenges: The 19th-century intellectual shockwaves caused by evolution and geology
, which forced religious leaders to rethink the authority of the Bible. Modern Pluralism: The 20th-century rise of evangelicalism, feminism, and Asian religions in the U.S.. Why Listen? Reviewers often praise Allitt for his academic objectivity and engaging storytelling. While he identifies as non-religious
, his lectures are described as deeply respectful of the "vitality and diversity" of American belief. The Great Courses: American Religious History
"American Religious History" by Professor Patrick N. Allitt, produced by The Great Courses, is a 24-lecture survey covering the evolution of American religious life from the colonial era to the 21st century. The course highlights the interplay between religious diversity, politics, and culture, featuring topics such as the Great Awakening, slavery, and modern secularism. For more details, visit The Great Courses American Religious History by Patrick Allitt (Compact Disc)
In The Teaching Company’s "American Religious History" course, Professor Patrick N. Allitt surveys the impact of faith on American society from the colonial era to the late 20th century. The lectures, often delivered from a distinct "outsider" perspective, examine religion's role in American intellectual and political life, including the influence of mass immigration and the rise of 19th-century scientific challenges. For more details, visit Audible. The Great Courses: American Religious History
The final section covers the astonishing rise of the "megachurch" (think Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and the Crystal Cathedral). Allitt also covers the expansion of non-Western religions: the influx of Buddhism and Hinduism after the 1965 Immigration Act, the rise of Islam among African Americans (the Nation of Islam under Elijah Muhammad), and the New Age movement of the 1970s.
The course ends with the Reagan era and the politicization of the religious right. Allitt concludes with a sobering look at the contemporary landscape—the decline of mainline Protestantism, the rise of the "nones" (religiously unaffiliated), and the persistent vitality of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity.
You can find “TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History” through several legitimate channels:
One of Allitt’s most compelling early arguments is that America was not founded as a monolith, but as a messy collection of religious experiments.
While high school history textbooks often lump the colonists together, Allitt meticulously dissects the theological differences between the Puritans of New England, the Anglicans of Virginia, and the Quakers of Pennsylvania. He paints a picture of a "haven for hell-raisers"—a place where religious dissenters who couldn't fit into the rigid structures of European society came to build their own versions of utopia.
Allitt argues that this fragmentation laid the groundwork for American federalism. The necessity of different sects learning to live side-by-side (often uneasily) forced the evolution of the separation of church and state—a concept born not out of atheism, but out of a desire to protect the purity of religious sects from government interference.
Professor Patrick N. Allitt’s work in American religious history blends clear narrative, critical analysis, and a keen sense of how religion shaped U.S. public life. Below is a concise blog-style post suitable for students, general readers, or course pages that introduces Allitt’s approach and highlights key themes useful for anyone studying American religious history.