Religious Elements in Trump's Presidency 4219-SB075
The aim of this seminar is to examine the religious elements of Donald Trump’s presidency as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Even the first term of Donald Trump’s presidency (2016–2020) sparked a flood of commentary, particularly regarding the role of religion and religious voters. In the context of the 20th and 21st centuries, the U.S. presidency has undergone radical changes, which have also been reflected in public debate. What has astonished commentators the most since the beginning of Trump’s presidency is the significant role played by religious fundamentalists—both Evangelical and Catholic—in both his victory and his exercise of power. The face of the former is Paula White-Cain, and of the latter, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, now retired, who is a close friend of President Trump. Also surprising is the magnitude of this support, exceeding 80 percent among evangelical Christians, and perhaps even more astonishing is the fact that Catholics—Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—have secured top positions in the Trump administration.
President Trump has also appointed three conservative Catholics to the Supreme Court—Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and John Roberts—and previously, conservative Catholics Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were also appointed to the Court. Commentators also point to the role played in these nominations by Leonard Leo, who is associated with Opus Dei: the longtime vice president of the Federalist Society, who played a key role in the selection of conservative justices during Donald’s presidency.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Student - has in-depth and detailed knowledge (including terminology, theory and methodology) of modern philosophy in general and in religious elements in Trump's Presidency in particular; can search for, analyze, evaluate and use information from different sources of Catholic tradition and be open to different cultural heritage.
a) knowledge
Upon completing this course a student has an introductory theoretical knowledge of the problem of religious elements in Trump's Presidency, knows basic terminology connected with the history of presidency, has an in-depth knowledge of the place and meaning of different schools and methods connected with the study of presidency, knows advanced methods and research tools used to describe this phenomenon, recognized the dynamics and consequences of changes in understanding of the past, understands the phenomenon of structuring the Catholicism, knows the religious elements in Trump's Presidency understands the role of the national history in American culture, recognized the dynamics and consequences of changes in understanding of the past and is aware of the comprehensive nature of the Catholicism not only in America but also in the world.
b) skills
Upon completing this course a student is able to research and analyze different theories, has advanced interdisciplinary analysis skills and is able to use those skills to prepare an academic article or presentation, identifies and recognizes relations between different theories and political choices, formulates research hypotheses and evidences them basing on knowledge, formulates his or her own judgments concerning religious elements in Trump's Presidency and the way how it is understood in the United States, critically analyzes and interprets various proposition concerning presidency, formulates critical arguments on topics related to the way how the presidency is understood, has an ability to prepare a debate concerning the history and the way how it is interpreted employing theoretical skills
c) social competences
Upon completing this course a student is able to cooperate and work in a group, performing and preparing the debate, is able to properly plan and undertake research, understand the importance of solid research for a citizen of a democratic country, understands and appreciates the role of collaboration for successful participation in the life in the Unites States, understands the importance of social activity and critical in the USA, demonstrates respect for different opinions and understanding of democratic debate and actively participates in it, understands the need for continuous learning in the area of history und culture, completes and improves his or her knowledge of contemporary life and social development.
Assessment criteria
Each lesson unit is a separate whole, although they are closely related to each other. Participants are expected not only to read the assigned material, but also to actively and critically participate in the classes. The assessment will cover class participation, the ability to critically analyze the proposed texts, and creativity in suggesting additional materials.
Final presentation 80%
Class attendance and participation 20%
Bibliography
John Fea, BELIEVE ME. The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump, 2018.
Philipp S. Gorski, Samuel Perry, The Flag and the Cross, 2022.
John Hagee, Financial Armagedon, 2008.
Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 2020.
Martha C. Nussbaum, The Monarchy of Fear, 2018
Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshipper, 2019
Magda Teter, Christian Supremacy. Reckoning with the Roots of Antisemitism and Racism, 2023.
Peter Wehner, The Death of Politics. How to Heal Our Frayed Republic After Trump 2019.
Andrew L. Whitehead, Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 2020.