Ttc - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History
The final section covers the astonishing rise of the "megachurch" (think Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and the Crystal Cathedral). Allitt also covers the expansion of non-Western religions: the influx of Buddhism and Hinduism after the 1965 Immigration Act, the rise of Islam among African Americans (the Nation of Islam under Elijah Muhammad), and the New Age movement of the 1970s.
The course ends with the Reagan era and the politicization of the religious right. Allitt concludes with a sobering look at the contemporary landscape—the decline of mainline Protestantism, the rise of the "nones" (religiously unaffiliated), and the persistent vitality of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity.
The TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History course is meticulously structured chronologically, but with thematic detours that highlight major movements. Spanning from the pre-Columbian era to the late 20th century, the 36 half-hour lectures are grouped into logical phases of the American experiment. TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History
Here is a breakdown of the major sections of the course:
In the sprawling landscape of The Great Courses (TTC)—formerly known as The Teaching Company—few lecturers manage to balance rigorous academic scholarship with the storytelling verve of a novelist. Prof. Patrick N. Allitt, a British-born historian who has spent decades teaching at Emory University, achieves exactly that. Among his most celebrated lecture series is “American Religious History,” a comprehensive audio and video course that has become a cornerstone for lifelong learners, undergraduate students, and history buffs alike. The final section covers the astonishing rise of
If you have ever searched for the keyword “TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History,” you are likely looking for more than just a syllabus. You are looking for a guide through the chaotic, vibrant, and often contradictory spiritual landscape of the United States. This article unpacks why this specific course matters, what it covers, and why Allitt’s unique perspective transforms a potentially dry academic subject into a thrilling narrative about national identity.
The mid-19th century saw a tidal wave of German and Irish Catholic immigration. Allitt documents the vicious "nativist" backlash—the Know-Nothing Party, the burning of convents, and the anti-Catholic screeds that dominated popular literature. He argues that this conflict forced Protestants to define what they were against (Rome) before they could define what they were for. As the 20th century dawned, Darwin shook the foundations
Simultaneously, he profiles the "Age of Giants":
No Q&A, no discussion. The 30-minute lecture model means some topics feel rushed (e.g., the Scopes Trial gets ~15 minutes). The included course guidebook (PDF) is helpful but mostly an outline, not a full transcript.
As the 20th century dawned, Darwin shook the foundations. Allitt’s lectures on the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy are worth the price of the course alone. He explains the "Five Points of Fundamentalism" (inerrancy of Scripture, virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, and historical reality of miracles) and how they became a rallying cry against higher criticism and evolution.
The Scopes "Monkey" Trial of 1925 is presented not as a simple victory for science (William Jennings Bryan looked foolish to the press), but as a political defeat for the rural South. Allitt shows how Fundamentalism retreated into the shadows, building a parallel network of Bible colleges and radio ministries—only to re-emerge decades later as the Moral Majority.
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