Politics and Religion
This MIT OpenCourseWare graduate reading seminar examines how religious groups, institutions, and ideas shape political life, drawing on social science theories rather than theological argument. Students work through a syllabus of assigned readings covering topics such as religious mobilization, secularization, church-state relations, and the influence of faith communities on voting, policy, and conflict. The course is designed for graduate students, though advanced undergraduates can join with instructor permission, and sessions run as discussion-based seminars rather than lectures. Materials available include the full syllabus and reading list as published by MIT. There are no video lectures or a certificate, but the course provides a structured, university-level framework for studying religion as a political variable, useful for anyone wanting a rigorous reading plan on the subject rather than a survey course.