THEO2701: War and Faith in Great Britain and the United States c. 1690-1990

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• To enable students to understand the interaction of religion, national identity, politics, and armed conflict.
• To engage students in an informed and critical study of the role of religion in the wars of Great Britain and the United States
• To examine the role of armed conflict as a driver of religious change, and of religion as a driver for armed conflict.
• To develop analytical skills and expression in oral and written form.

• This module explores the place of religion in British and American national identity in the eighteenth century and its role in the conflicts of this era, especially the American War of Independence. It considers the role of religion in mid-nineteenth century conflicts with special reference to the Indian Uprising and American Civil War. It appraises the role of religion in both societies in the First and Second World Wars and concludes with a study of its role during the forty years of the Cold War.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• A broad and critical understanding of the character and development of religion in British and American society.
• Knowledge of the interaction of religion and armed conflict in these societies and its significance across this period.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Skills in understanding the significance and trajectory of a major historical theme across a broad time frame.
• Skills in critically evaluating the religious content of national identity and national mythmaking.
• Skills in critically appraising pertinent historiography.

Key Skills:

• Skills in structuring and presenting evidence-based arguments in concise form, both oral and written.
• Skills in independent research and reflection.
• Skills in reasoned group discussion and debate.

• The first half of each weekly, two-hour session will consist of a lecture introducing the subject for that week, the key historical debates, and the relevant historiography. This will enhance subject knowledge and provide an interpretative framework for the two summative assessments.
• The second half will consist of seminar discussions which will enable students to develop and articulate their own understandings of the subject for that week and its significance for their assessments and for the module as a whole.
• The essay plan, to be submitted at the end of Week 3, will enable students to map out the material and arguments for their first summative essay and to receive feedback thereon.

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