Emeritus at Tanger Course - Mormonism: America’s Homegrown Religion

Location:

UNCG School of Education Building, Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC, USA

Cost:

$ 100.00 per person

Duration:

1h 30min

About this experience

Tuesdays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm 
March 18 – April 15
UNCG School of Education Building

 

As the Tony Award winning hit musical Book of Mormon hit theatres in 2011 and 2012, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seized upon the opportunity, publishing in Playbills a full-page invitation to theatregoers: “You’ve seen the play…now read the book.” Instead of railing against the irreverent (and R-rated) play bearing the name of one of the faith tradition’s central scriptures, the Church looked at the musical’s popularity as a chance to reintroduce itself to the American public. Likewise, this course takes Book of Mormon: The Musical as an opportunity to introduce Mormonism to curious learners. 

What is this American religious tradition? Where did it come from? Why did members practice polygamy? What do Mormons believe? How does it relate to social, cultural, and political forces in America? What about this religion is unique (or “peculiar,” as the tradition holds), and what is mainstream, Christian, and quintessentially American?  This engaging course offers a whirlwind tour of Mormonism in America. Using songs from the musical as a springboard for course content, this course demystifies the faith of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The presentation style will include lecture, videos, and discussion.  

  1. Mormons: Who, What, Where, and Why?: This session covers many of the basics needed to help students establish a base understanding of Mormonism. Here, we’ll cover and clarify terminology, demographics, scripture, and the group’s emergence in early 19th century America. After spending some time in the 21st century, we’ll go back in time to look at the socio-cultural milieu that would give rise to several new religious movements in the young United States, including Mormonism. 
  2. Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and Mormonism’s Early History: This session focuses on Mormonism’s founder and prophet Joseph Smith and the many ways history (and biographers) have interpreted him. We look also at the Book of Mormon’s creation and -- drawing on sociological studies of how religions form and spread – make sense of Mormonism’s strength and popularity in mid-19th century America. 
  3. From Persecution to Mainstream: Mormons were heavily persecuted in early years, even seeing founder Joseph Smith assassinated. A large group of Saints made the journey to the Utah territory, escaping persecution to the east. This class session examines why Mormons faced opposition from hostile neighbors – and then looks at how Mormons became comfortably American – and even mainstream – in the 20th century. 
  4. Family, Gender, and Sexuality: Family is at the heart of the Mormon social unit, as are conservative views of gender roles and sexuality. Today’s session examines the ways family is so central to Mormon self-understanding and evangelizing; we also look at ways some Latter-day Saints are rejecting conservative messages and claiming diverse identities, paradoxically using Church teachings. 
  5. Mormons in Today’s America: Our final session situates Mormonism in larger American debates, such as race, politics, and what it means to be Christian. Additionally, by explaining things like Mormon temples and the missionary experience, this session helps students make sense of Mormonism as they may encounter it in their daily lives. 

 

This course is held in tandem with the 2024-25 Broadway season at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts and provides a deeper understanding and context for “The Book of Mormon” before an optional viewing of the musical.  “The Book of Mormon” musical tickets are sold separately on the first day of class.   

 

 

Refund Policy

To receive a refund, a written request must be received 3 business days before the first class. A $25 processing fee will be deducted from the refund. Cancellation requests received less than 3 business days before the first class but before the second meeting will receive a 50% refund.  ALL written requests should be emailed to emeritus@spartanstrategiesinc.org or mailed to the address below.

Spartan Strategies, Inc.
Attn: Emeritus Society
5900 Summit Avenue, #201
Browns Summit, NC  27214

Your Host

Jill Peterfeso is the Eli Franklin Craven and Minnie Phipps Craven Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Guilford College. She is a cultural historian of American religion who uses ethnography to explore questions of gender, authority, and creativity, in Roman Catholicism and Mormonism. Her first book, titled Womanpriest: Tradition and Transgression in the Contemporary Roman Catholic Church (2020), was published through Fordham University Press and analyzes the controversial Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement and its rejection of the Vatican's ban on women's ordination. She is a graduate of Rhodes College (in Memphis, TN), Harvard Divinity School, and UNC-Chapel Hill.