CURA
the oldest center for the study of religion and world affairs in the United States, is dedicated to supporting research and education on the role of religion in world affairs.
Latest Stories
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Is the World Becoming More Religious?
Join us on November 18 at 2 PM for a discussion of the Pew Research Center’s new report analyzing religious Read more
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Meet our 2025-26 Fellows
Congratulations to our 2025-2026 CURA Fellows! For more information about them and their upcoming presentations, please visit this page. The Read more
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2025 Fall Welcome Reception
Join us on Thursday, September 11, from 3 to 5 PM, for CURA's fall welcome reception. We are on land Read more
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CURA Colloquium • Fall 2025
CURA announces the fall 2025 colloquium schedule. This year-long conversation brings together an interdisciplinary community of scholars of culture, religion, Read more
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Call for 2025 – 2026 Fellows
Selected fellows participate in bimonthly colloquium sessions to workshop research papers. This year-long conversation brings together an interdisciplinary community Read more
Fast Facts
CURA is an academic research center with a public mission to lift up the peacemakers, and we’ve been doing that for 40 yearsJeremy Menchik
The Jewish left Event
Each year, CURA Fellows join bimonthly sessions at BU to refine research aligned with a shared theme—fostering deep academic dialogue before publication.
Colloquium Program
Since 1985, CURA has supported 140+ global projects, resulting in the publication of over 160 books on religion and world affairs.
CURA Publications
BU’s World Religion Database offers comprehensive global statistics on religious affiliation—past, present, and future—based on censuses and expert estimates.
World Religion Database