God and Government (full credit)

SUMMER CLASS 2023

Instructor:  George Luke

Dates: July 3-August 25 (8 weeks)

Mtg. Days:  M, T, W, Th (4 days/week)

Mtg. Time (Pacific Time):  10:00-11:50 PM (approx. 2 hours)

Credits: 1 credit 

Minimum Students needed for the class to make: 5

Class Description: What is the relationship between God and government? How do we understand our own history as a nation, or as a religious people? Using Mark Noll's America's God as our primary text, we'll explore the relationship we've had with God as a people from Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln, with an exploration of various primary texts like the Treaty of Paris, the Declaration, the Constitution, state charters and some debates, and the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers. During this class, you'll write 3 major papers, one with an analysis of the 13 original states' charters and their position on religion, one thinking about principles at play within the federalist and antifederalist papers, and a synthesis paper taking a position on the historic role of God in our Government.

Required Materials:

• Mark Noll's America's God,
• The Federalist Papers,
• The Antifederalist Papers

Recommended Texts To Supplement Course:

• Stephen Wolfe's The Case for Christian Nationalism,
• The Civil War as a Theological Crisis