RELIGION FELLOWS PROGRAM OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND THE INSTITUTE ON CULTURE,
RELIGION & WORLD AFFAIRS
“Religious Pluralisms in the Public Square”
2012–13
RATIONALE & GOALS
The School of Theology sponsors the Religion Fellows Program each year to promote
faculty dialogue and mutual research across Boston University on religious practices in
global contexts. The 2012–13 Religion Fellows Program will convene an
interdisciplinary working group of twelve Fellows drawn from Boston University and
other local universities and organizations to discuss research related to the topic of
“Religious Pluralisms in the Public Square.” The notions of “religious pluralisms” and
“public square” have already generated a great deal of scholarly and popular debate about
the role of diverse religions and religious practices in public discourse. This ongoing
debate invites scholars to reflect on both the positive and negative roles that religions
have played in public and private life, taking account of the worldviews, socio-political
perspectives, and daily practices generated by religion. Daily reminders of religious
diversity and its influence on cultures around the world make the topic rewarding for
scholarly investigation. We want to explore what this topic means in terms of the actual
theories, practices, and life values of individuals, communities of faith, and larger
societies as they are shaped by the growing demographic fact of religious pluralism in
many combinations. People are becoming increasingly aware of how practices of
globalization impact economic and political life, but also how such exchanges influence
religious values. The 2012–13 topic is complex and broad; thus, we invite participants to
engage the topic from their wide-ranging disciplinary and cultural perspectives, engaging
in what we hope will be a fruitful conversation.
The Fellows program will consist of seven sessions during the 2012–13 academic year.
The first session will be an introduction to the program and will provide a chance for
participants to share the initial formulation of their research projects. At each of the other
six sessions, two participants will present their research. At the end of the program, the
School of Theology will publish the papers electronically, after being revised and edited,
sharing research outcomes as honed in the dialogue. The Institute on Culture, Religion &
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World Affairs will host and support some related events during 2012–13, and these will
be of complementary interest to the Religion Fellows.
The Religion Fellows Program will provide travel expenses and will arrange for
hospitality, refreshments, and meals for each session. Further, the Religion Fellows
Program will offer an honorarium and small research grant for each participant in the
program (details in Letter of Invitation). The expectation is that every participant will
attend all sessions for the year, though allowance will be made for necessary absence.
We invite any interested member of the faculty to submit a one-page outline of a research
project related to the theme of “Religious Pluralisms in the Public Square.” We
understand that research on this theme can be broadly conceived and undertaken from
diverse disciplinary or multidisciplinary perspectives. We sincerely hope that you will
consider applying.
RELIGION FELLOWS PROGRAM CONTACTS
The Boston University School of Theology sponsors the Religion Fellows Program in
collaboration with the Institute on Culture, Religion & World Affairs (CURA). Interested
parties can contact Dr. John Berthrong for more information about the 2012–13 program.
Dr. John Berthrong, Director
Boston University School of Theology
745 Commonwealth Ave., Room 307
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-6136
Email: jhb@bu.edu
Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore, School of Theology, Religion Fellows Co-Director
Professor Robert Hefner, Director, Institute on Culture, Religion & World Affairs
(CURA)
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