The Many and The One: Religion, Pluralism, and American History

FAIN: ES-50297-09

Trustees of Indiana University, Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN 46202-3288)
Philip Kevin Goff (Project Director: March 2009 to June 2011)

A three-week school teacher summer institute for twenty-five participants on the role of religion in American history and life.

The purpose of this NEH Summer Institute for high school teachers is to give instructors the tools to integrate the story and importance of religious institutions and diverse religious individuals into their courses on American history and literature. As Justice Clark wrote in the landmark 1963 Supreme Court decision that ended devotional Bible reading in public schools, "It might well be said that one's education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization." The Court went on to encourage the historical and literary study of religion in secular programs of education in order to help produce a truly educated citizenry. The program will focus on existing units in curricula and embed therein the role of religious individuals and institutions so religion can be more readily taught and understood without devolving into sectarian discussion.