Dr. Matthew Kuiper of the Department of Religious Studies spoke last evening (May 16) at an interfaith Iftar (breaking of the fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan). The event was organized by the local Muslim community of Springfield, MO, Faith Voices, Ekklesia, Catholic Campus Ministries, and Interfaith Alliance of the Ozarks. Dr. Kuiper shared some personal reflections on … [Read more...] about Interfaith Iftar Features Religious Studies Professor
by Austra Reinis Dr. Austra Reinis and Dr. Magda Hayton took their REL 100 Introduction to Religion students on an evening field trip to Dinh Quang Buddhist Temple in NE Springfield on February 27. The students saw statues and paintings of a number of buddhas and bodhisattvas. The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, they learned, spent a long lifetime alleviating the … [Read more...] about REL 100 and REL 338 Field Trips!
by Dr. Vadim Putzu Sunday, February 24, I hosted a panel on how to address non-Christians in the classroom and in the workplace as part of a series of initiatives intended to educate about diversity and inclusion, which will continue throughout this semester with a Shattering the Silences evening with the regional representative of the Anti-Defamation League in late … [Read more...] about Fighting Antisemitism: How to Address Non-Christians in the Workplace and the Classroom
by Dr. Vadim Putzu Last night's screening of the movie, Icaros: A Vision, in Glass Hall and a promised question/answer session with the film's director, Mr. Matteo Norzi, drew a large crowd and invoked a lively discussion as students and community members had a host of questions for Matteo after watching the film. Dr. Marnie Watson (Anthropology), introduced the movie, … [Read more...] about Icaros: A Vision Film Screening Invokes Lively Discussion
Last Thursday, Religious Studies Assistant Professor Dr. Vadim Putzu, was invited to give a lecture at the Thomas Moore Johnson Library and Museum in Osceola, MO. Dr. Putzu shares his experience with us: Tom Johnson, the grandson of Thomas Moore Johnson (whom I have been writing about in the past year), invited me to talk about “Judaism Past and Present” for their … [Read more...] about Dr. Vadim Putzu Invited to Speak at Johnson Library and Museum