Ttc - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History [2026]

The Rise of Pluralism: The 19th and 20th centuries saw a massive influx of immigrants, bringing Catholicism, Judaism, and eventually Eastern religions into the American mainstream. Allitt highlights the challenges and triumphs of these groups as they sought to maintain their traditions in a predominantly Protestant society.

: The course includes fascinating case studies like the Oneida Community (Christian perfectionism with complex marriage) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), examining both mainstream reactions and internal dynamics.

As America industrialized and integrated new scientific ideas like Darwinian evolution, the religious landscape fractured along new lines. Allitt details the dramatic of the 1920s, epitomized by the famous Scopes "Monkey" Trial. The course then tracks how these groups evolved: TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History

Demonstrating the American desire to link faith with health, prophecy, and modern living.

Allitt provides a nuanced look at the of New England. Rather than caricaturing them as dour and joyless, he explains their complex covenant theology, their desire to build a "City upon a Hill," and the internal fractures that led to dissenters like Roger Williams (who founded Rhode Island on the principle of religious liberty) and Anne Hutchinson. 2. The Great Awakenings and the Atlantic World The Rise of Pluralism: The 19th and 20th

: From the waves of Irish and Italian immigration to the mid-20th-century election of John F. Kennedy, the course explores anti-Catholic prejudice and the internal adaptation of the Church to American society.

Founded by Joseph Smith.

American Religious History: Exploring the Narrative with Professor Patrick N. Allitt

The central question that anchors the entire series is deceptively simple: Prof. Allitt argues that the answer lies not in the specifics of any single denomination, but in the nation’s dynamic history. Because the U.S. never had an established, state-sponsored church, a vibrant "open market" of religions emerged. Competing Protestant denominations, followed by waves of Catholic, Jewish, and eventually Muslim and Buddhist immigrants, created a spiritual ferment that spurred innovation, revival, and an enduring personal commitment to faith. Allitt provides a nuanced look at the of New England

Allitt treats every movement—from mainstream Protestantism to fringe cults—with scholarly fairness.

Allitt is a . He treats all traditions with respectful detachment—neither promoting nor debunking beliefs. He’s especially fair to controversial groups like Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Scientists, explaining their appeal in their historical context.