Despite predictions that religion would fade away at the dawn of modernity, scholars have documented the remarkable persistence, and even growth, of religion around the world. As religion continues to change form, increasing religious diversity sometimes leads to heightened polarization in the public sphere. Sociologists Elaine Howard Ecklund, Ph.D., and Robert Thomson, Ph.D., examine the tensions and possibilities that occur when religion interfaces with the workplace, politics and science. We collectively investigate how religion shapes public views and public policy in these three important spheres. This class is designed to help you understand current debates about religion in public discourse, provide you with tools to engage in civil and informed dialogue about religion, and offer new perspectives on religion and public life in the United States and across the globe. The course incorporates lecture, as well as discussion and other approaches that invite you to engage actively with these issues.
