Religious Literacy
Benjamin Marcus is a religious literacy specialist who works at the Religious Freedom Center, currently housed in the Newseum. The Newseum works with educators, religious and civic leaders, business leaders to increase public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment.
Presentation and Discussion
To view the lecture slides, click HERE.
Media
The context of religion in the U.S.
The Public Religion Research Institute - America's Changing Religious Identity (2016) - for the first time, white Christians are less than 50% of the population. White mainline, Catholic, and Evangelicals are in decline. Non-Christian religions are growing. Also, a large rise in religiously-unaffiliated, but most unaffiliated still believe in God.
What it means to be religious in the U.S. has changed. There is been a massive shift in attitudes towards same-sex marriage.
Why is it important to promote religious literacy?
There is still a rise in hate crimes against religious minorities. Hate crimes tend to rise during election years because politicians tend to target groups to mobilize their base.
What impact does religious literacy have on students? ODIHR.
What is the law about education in the U.S.?
What is religious literacy? How to teach about religion?
Don't just focus on facts about other religions. Teach people to understand how people talk about their religion and understand themselves as participants in a tradition. Many people are more motivated by practices and community rather than doctrines. If we only emphasize doctrines and beliefs when we talk about a religious tradition, we will vastly misunderstand.
Evaluation (making normative statements about religion) vs. Analysis (religious studies)
Religious Identity: 3 B Framework
Belief
Behavior
Belonging
Other resources requested by SUSI scholars:
Resources
Religious Literacy in American Education - Benjamin Marcus
Religious Studies Companion Document for the C3 Framework - Approved by the American Academy of Religion
A Teacher’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools - published by the First Amendment Center
“What does religious literacy look like in your context?” A Religious Studies Project podcast episode featuring scholars at 2019 American Academy of Religion conference.
