TPCS IN BUDDHISM IN THE WEST (HRHS-5526)

U.S. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: ASIAN, BLACK, NATIVE, AND MUSLIM AMERICANS' EXPERIENCES. Many Americans presume religious freedom as a fundamental right available to all. The Bill of Rights explains that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…." Notably, freedom of religion comes first, before free speech. In my Department of Defense elementary school, I learned about the Puritans fleeing England so that they could practice their type of Protestantism freely. Nevertheless, this fundamental right is by no means conferred equally among groups in America. We will critically examine the cases of Asian American, Black American, Native American, and Muslim American groups that have been denied First Amendment rights in the 20th century. We will analyze this foundational and nationally-esteemed freedom and its limits, focusing on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, and their intersections. Definitions of religion, membership, and acceptable practice will form a foundation for our exploration of religious suspicion, intolerance, and violence at the hands of everyday people and government officials. We will also discuss the responsibility of religious leaders and communities in addressing these injustices. This course is taught by PhD student Angela Lintz-Small with a Newhall Award, under the supevision of Scott Mitchell. A concurrent hybrid option will be available. [Auditors with faculty permission]