Allitt moves from pre-Columbian Native American spirituality through Puritan New England, the Great Awakenings, Mormonism, African American religious traditions, Catholic and Jewish immigration, fundamentalism vs. modernism, up to late 20th-century developments (mega-churches, religious right, New Age movements). No major tradition is ignored.
One of the greatest risks of teaching religious history is condescension. A secular historian might dismiss revivalist fervor as mass hysteria. A partisan historian might demonize opponents. Allitt avoids both traps. He explains what people believed and why those beliefs made rational sense within their historical context. You leave understanding not just the events of the Great Awakening, but the emotional experience of being born again.
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.
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. TTC - Prof. Patrick N Allitt - American Religious History
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.
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. One of the greatest risks of teaching religious
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.
Before diving into the content of the course, it is essential to understand the lecturer. Prof. Patrick N. Allitt is a fascinating figure in American academia. Born and educated in England, he moved to the United States for graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He brings the fresh eyes of an immigrant to a subject most Americans take for granted.
Because Allitt did not grow up immersed in the American revival tent or the Southern Baptist pew, he notices the quirks. He sees the absurdity, the genius, and the profound sincerity of American religious movements with a clarity that native historians sometimes lack. His dry British wit, combined with a genuine affection for his adopted country, makes the 36 lectures of “American Religious History” feel like a long, fascinating conversation with a brilliant uncle. Allitt avoids both traps
Allitt’s guiding thesis is simple but powerful: You cannot understand American politics, culture wars, social reform, or even economic expansion without understanding American religion. From the Puritans to prosperity theology, he argues that the United States is the most persistently religious and remarkably diverse industrial democracy on earth.
As the lectures move into the 20th century, Allitt tackles the tension that defines modern America. He charts the arrival of Catholic and Jewish immigrants, and the xenophobic backlash (often religiously motivated) that followed.
He handles the "Protestant-Catholic-Jew" triad of the mid-20th century with nuance, showing how these groups eventually merged into a generalized "Judeo-Christian" ethic during the Cold War to contrast against "Godless Communism."
Perhaps the most fascinating section deals with the modern era. Allitt explores the rise of the "Nones" (those with no religious affiliation) and the simultaneous explosion of megachurches. He posits that America is unique among developed nations: it is a country that has modernized without fully secularizing.