A summer seminar for PhDs or advanced ABDs studying American religion, war, or present "conflicts" in the middle east, as well as those whose work deals with millennialism in American history; the meaning of "manifest destiny," and the role of religion in diplomatic history.

This seminar focuses on the interaction of inherited Old World ideas and cultures (primarily religious) in a New World (to the Europeans) environment, with particular attention to the subject of war. In the new American setting, ideas would shape environments and environments would shape ideas in a complex waltz of alternating leads and followings so that what evolved over a three century period would be an experiment in nation-building whose legacy can only be described as unique and, for better and worse, world transforming. Seminar participants will study primary and secondary source materials that discuss the religious meaning of America and, in particular, the religious meanings of Americans at war.

Application deadline is January 15, 2010
For more information and application requirements, visit www.calvin.edu/scs