In a world teeming with religious narratives and expectations, what happens when lived experiences do not align? Dr. Philippa Koch, Missouri State University associate professor of religion, explored this question through her research on how Christians in colonial America held onto the doctrine of providence. This is the belief that God oversees everything and sometimes … [Read more...] about The untold stories of faith, childbirth and women’s realities
He believes that perspective ignores the attention to the sacred and spiritual on campuses. It also doesn’t account for the intersectionality of religious studies. It overlaps with many other disciplines – from social work to politics. The role of religion in higher education is a dynamic topic right now, he noted. But as a sociologist, he’s always been intrigued by how … [Read more...] about Finding faith in college
"The house I grew up in and every school I went to was destroyed," said Matthews. "Much of me went away in the sky, and yet I was able to go back down there and identify what was remaining of the structure that was my childhood home." Matthews took a picture of the ruins and uses it in class as a way of talking about how space is still present in our memories. This speaks to … [Read more...] about An everyday life of Biblical proportions
But it is. And that’s one of the things that attracted Buddhist studies scholar Dr. Stephen Berkwitz to Sri Lanka in the first place. Although Berkwitz, professor of religious studies and current department head, originally hails from Minnesota, he has long harbored an interest in Asia. “I became interested in studying Buddhism, particularly Buddhism in Sri Lanka, which … [Read more...] about Scholar explores one of world’s oldest Buddhist Cultures