A project with two parts: (Part 1) Develop a “Family Religious History” statemen

A project with two parts:
(Part 1) Develop a “Family Religious History” statement for at least three generations of your family, beginning with yourself. List the religious affiliations (or lack thereof) of each family member as fully as possible and briefly note other important religious/social data (e.g. the person formed part of an ethnic immigrant community; they changed religion for a specific reason (if known); they became alienated from their religion for some reason, etc. Not every person or family is religious but it is more uncommon to find a family with no religious connections extending over 3 generations.

Religious trauma is unfortunately a reality and I am aware that this assignment might surface past or present issues where religion has played a destructive role in family structures. If this is the case for you, please feel free to speak with me about this assignment.

(Part 2) Write a 5-6 page paper, placing some aspect of your religious family history in the context of broader themes of the American Religious Experience. For example, your thesis might be that the “conversions” of your family from one religion to another reflected the perceived need for a faith that is more inclusive and more closely aligned with the dominant traditions/values of America. Or, your family might illustrate the rise of the twentieth-century Pentecostal movement; the conflicting views of what it means to be Evangelical in America; the changing role of women; or a move away from institutional religion, etc.
Additional information: to clarify, the total length of your paper should be between 5 and 6 pages (a little longer is acceptable but it should not be shorter). It is true that some students will have an easier time connecting their family to some of the broad themes we have touched upon as some students are from families that may not be religious. I am less concerned with precision and will be looking for the effort to identify which broad trends have, or may have, influenced your family as well as your connections (or lack of) to institutional religion. If you family is not religious, are there factors which explain that? I don’t assume every person or family has a connection to organized religion. One of the fastest groups groups in the US are the “Nones” – person who have no religous affiliation or connection to organized religious.