This document outlines three exercises for analyzing the influence of Protestantism on contemporary cultural values. The first exercise asks students to explain how values like individualism, freedom, and tolerance connect to early Protestantism. It then asks students to critically evaluate the theory that contemporary values reflect Protestantism. The second exercise asks students to find three examples from media that show evidence of values like individualism and freedom being influenced by Protestantism. The third exercise asks students to reflect on how the examples from the second exercise relate to their analysis in the first exercise and what finding examples in secular media says about secularism in North America.

1. Part 1: Exercise 1:
Identify how the culturally dominant values outlined by
Schofield Clark (e.g., individualism, freedom, etc.) connect to
early ideas found in Protestantism. For example, how is
individualism, which is highly prized in contemporary society,
reflected in the early formation of Protestantism? Make the
connection between Protestantism and protestantization by
discussing the following values (each connection should be
approximately one paragraph in length):
individualism
freedom
pluralism
tolerance
democracy
intellectual inquiry
Having made the connections between Protestantism and
protestantization, critically evaluate Schofield Clark’s theory of
protestantization in approximately two written pages. Do you
think contemporary cultural values are indeed a reflection of
Protestantism? Why or why not? What do you think are the
strengths and weaknesses of her argument (whether or not you
agree or disagree with her)?

2. Part 2: Exercise 2:
Drawing from any media you wish (e.g., print, screen, internet,
art, film, television etc.), find three examples of
protestantization in secular media. For this particular exercise,
please draw from secular media only. Please save your research
for exercise 3. Identify the following:
the type of media used
the specific cultural value(s) that show evidence of
protestantization
the way in which these cultural values are represented
Example:
Media:
BMO advertisement (television)
Specific cultural value(s):
individualism, freedom
Representation:
A couple who is trying to organize their bills/financial situation
lay back on their couch and close their eyes, only to open their
eyes again to find themselves in a BMO office. The bank
advisor informs them of the ways in which BMO can help the
couple organize their lives financially that will individually suit
their needs. This in turn will eventually give them the freedom
to do what they want. After hearing this good news, the woman
of the couple lies back on the couch and closes her eyes again in
hopes of a trip to a tourist hot spot, only to re-open them and

3. find that no transformation of her space has taken place. The
message? Hard work and dedication will pay off and provide
the couple with the freedom to choose what they want to do in
the future.
Part 3: Exercise 3:
Having completed exercise 1 and 2 from this module, return to
these works and answer the following questions. Each question
should be approximately 1-2 paragraphs in length.
Having observed and recorded examples of protestantization in
exercise 2, did these examples challenge or uphold your
analysis in exercise 1? That is, if you argued that Protestant
values were not reflected in our society, was this further
supported by difficulty in finding appropriate examples of
protestantization in exercise 2? Likewise, if you agreed that
Protestant values were reflected in our society, did you have
difficulty in finding examples to support your claims? Or
finally, if you felt that your examples supported your analysis,
how did recognizing specific examples in secular media further
enhance your argument?
In exercise 2, you were asked to specifically draw from secular
media. What does the fact that you were able locate examples
in
secular
media tell us about secularism in North America?