When attempting to characterize the religious heritage of the United States, one must continually return to words such as "variety," "diversity," or "pluralism."  Prior to the arrival of colonists in North America, native peoples expressed their religious beliefs in a multitude of ways, thus representing a rich tapestry of traditions that continues in the modern day.  Many early European settlers traveled across the Atlantic in search of a place where piety could be freely exercised, and the First Amendment of the Constitution guaranteed that this freedom would be protected.  With such a federal mandate in place, the United States has historically been fertile ground for religious innovations—some welcomed by society at-large and some criticized and suppressed.  This course seeks to examine what one scholar termed "the wild and often wooly landscape of American religion."  Four short months will not allow us to survey even a fraction of the available traditions within this landscape.  While any attempt to be comprehensive would undoubtedly fall short, it is my hope that by looking at portions of the American religious scene, students will develop an appreciation for one of the most diverse aspects of American life and note the many ways that religion informs and is informed by other socio-cultural institutions.  Although this is a course focused upon American religious history, we will not necessarily progress in a chronological fashion.  Instead, the semester will employ a thematic approach with emphasis placed on social and cultural approaches to the topics at-hand.