STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTES (SUSI) FOR GLOBAL STUDENT LEADERS

Program Guide

COHORT 2021 VIRUAL

Pre-Program Required Readings:

• Read The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

• Introduction to Religious Traditions

• The 10 Dialogue Principles - Leonard Swidler

• U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence
  

Required Reading List:

• Pew Study: Religious landscape in America

• Read Leadership Development - a resource by the Dialogue Institute

• Look through the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

• Watch Negative and Positive Responses to Religious Diversity

• Listen to Interfaith on the Menu: The Shared Value of Food

Resources Related to Site Visits and Sessions:

10/7 Krueger Lecture: Read: William Penn’s Charter of Privileges (1701) - the document that guaranteed religious and political freedom in Pennsylvania. Video (25 minutes) In Penn’s Shadow - a dramatization of Penn’s establishment of a colony dedicated to religious freedom.

10/9 Mother Bethel Church Visit: Video (7 minutes) Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom - founding pastor of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church.

10/9 Democracy Discussion: Video (9 minutes) How do U.S. Elections Work? - an overview of U.S. elections with a focus on the 2020 election.

10/10 Student Roundtable: Global Challenges to Pluralism and Democracy - view the event flyer HERE. The Temple University global studies undergraduate students will be looking forward to hearing global perspectives on challenges faced in diverse democracies. Here are some guiding questions that may help you finish your short presentations: How healthy is the state of democracy in your home country? What is the biggest threat to to democracy in your home country? How do well do cultural and religious minorities do in your country? Do they face discrimination, danger, marginalization? RESOURCES: View a map of ratings on the health of democracies around world HERE and the full democracy health index can be viewed HERE. Where does your country line up? View the DI resource library on democracy HERE. You can view the State Department’s Religious Freedom reports HERE.

10/11 Site Visit: Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations - a slideshow overview of city programs to fight discrimination and improve community relations between groups.

Optional Readings:

Intro to Christianity in the U.S. 

• A Worldwide Tradition - Harvard University Pluralism Project

• “Introduction to Christianity” by Andrew Henry

• Christianity in the United States: Key Questions

• The Growth of Eastern Orthodoxy

• “African-American Christianity” - Harvard University Pluralism Project (PDF HERE)

• Explore this multimedia timeline of Black Gospel Music

Intro to Judaism in the U.S.

• God, Torah, and Israel - Harvard University’s Pluralism Project (PDF HERE)

• “Introduction to Jewish Traditions” by Andrew Henry

• Judaism in the United States: Key Questions

• Interfaith Cooperation in Judaism Interfaith Youth Core Podcast

• “How to Say the Shabbat Blessings” - Reform Judaism

• Judaism, Pluralism & Public Reason - Jonathan A. Jacobs

Intro to Islam in the U.S.

• Islamic Practices - Harvard University Pluralism Project

• Islam in the United States: Key Questions

• “Female Muslim Refugee Breaks Barriers as Minnesota State Representative” 

• On Black American Muslim Contributions to the Fabric of Our Society

• Introduction from Growing Up Muslim: Muslim College Students in America

Intro to Buddhism in the US

• “Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism” by Khan Academy

• Buddhism in the United States: Key Questions

• The Path of Awakening - Harvard University Pluralism Project

• The United States of Jhāna: Varieties of Modern Buddhism in America

Intro to Hinduism in the US

• Introduction to Hinduism by the Dialogue Institute

• Hinduism Powerpoint

Intro to Native American Religions in the US

• Tribal Nations Map

• Why Native Hawaiians Protesting Giant Telescope on Mauna Kea Aren't Going Anywhere (10:24)