Faculty Development Opportunity: Participation Sought for 2012-2013 Religion Fellows.
The Boston University School of Theology and the Institute on Religion, Culture & World Affairs (CURA) present the 2012-2013 Religion Fellows Program:
Religious Pluralisms in the Public Square
We invite you to participate in the 2012-2013 Religion Fellows Program, focused on Religious Pluralisms in the Public Square and co-sponsored by the Boston University School of Theology and the Institute on Religion, Culture and World Affairs (CURA). The rationale document elaborates the purpose, theme, and scope of the Religion Fellows Program. As will be described in more detail, the notions of “religious pluralisms” and the “public square” are subjects that have already generated a great deal of scholarly and popular debate about the role of diverse religions and religious practices in public discourse and policy. This ongoing debate invites scholars to analyze the complex roles that religions play in public and private life.
As we explain in the rationale, the Religion Fellows will participate in seven sessions over the 2012-2013 academic year. Each participant will be invited to present the results of her or his research at one of the sessions. In order to select twelve fellows and plan an effective schedule, we invite each applicant to compose a one-page proposal explicating: (1) the purpose and nature of your research project; (2) your writing goal; and (3) the relation of your research to the theme for 2012-2013, “Religious Pluralisms in the Public Square.” Please submit the proposal to Prof. John Berthrong by 10 August 2012. We also request that colleagues interested in applying to the program communicate your intent to Prof. John Berthrong, the Program Co-Director, as soon as possible.
The Fellows Program will provide the following direct individual financial support for each participant:
• Research Grants: $200 per participant for support of the research project.
• Honoraria: a stipend of $1,050 for participation in every session ($150 per session) to be provided after the fall and spring semester.
The expectation of the Fellows Program is that each participant will attend all seven sessions. If someone needs to miss a session, the person will forfeit the $150 stipend for that particular seminar.
The Fellows Program will provide for all participants’ meals (depending on the schedule for each session) and also any incidental fees such as parking at Boston University when necessary.
At the program’s conclusion, the written results of the participants’ research will be revised and edited based on the participants’ multi-disciplinary conversations. The final papers will be published online in order to share the insights the Fellows will have gained during the year of research and dialogue.
All sessions will take place in Boston University School of Theology. The schedule will be arranged to ensure maximum participation by all participants. While scheduling conflicts are inevitable, we will make every effort to be flexible and realistic in setting dates and times to accommodate fellows as much as possible.
If you have any questions about the theme, rationale, or structure of the program, please contact Dr. John Berthrong (jhb@bu.edu) for further clarification. We sincerely thank you for your interest in this exciting program. This is an important and timely multi-disciplinary program, which is made rich by the participants and their scholarship.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. John Berthrong
Boston University School of Theology
745 Commonwealth Ave., Room 307
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-6136
Email: jhb@bu.edu
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 2012-2013 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 2012-2013 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 2012-2013 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 and World Affairs will host and support some related events during 2012-2013, 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 multi-disciplinary 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 2012-2013 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)