Religion has a dramatic impact in our world today. But widespread popular assumptions about what defines the proper place of religion in our society and in the broader world, combined with a lack of informed exposure to diverse religious communities, are symptoms of a pervasive religious illiteracy.

For example, many of us unconsciously assume that religion should be an inherently private, personal matter, and take it for granted that authentic forms of religious practice should be free from political and economic entanglements. Uncritical assumptions such at these hinder our capacity to understand the wide diversity of religious actors and religious communities with whom we increasingly come into contact, either in our local communities or through the global reach of social media.

The Religion Department’s new Religious Literacy for Professions Undergraduate Certificate Program, the first of its kind in the U.S., is designed to address these deficiencies in public education.

And, to mark the inauguration of this new program, the Religion Department will offer a slate of public events highlighting various aspects of religious literacy, starting on September 26, 2019 and ending just over a month later on November 4, 2019.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (or all three!) for even more details, updates, and eventually media from all events. Here’s some details! This page will be updated often–so check back!

September 26, 2019, 4:30pm, Carpenter Auditorium (Given Hall).

Simran Jeet Singh, Ph.D. “Turbans, Beards, and Hate: How Experiencing Racism Made Me a Scholar-Activist.” More information here.

October 15, 2019, 3pm, John Dewey Lounge (Old Mill).

Indigenous People’s Day Events all day; our panel is “Abenaki Spirituality and Religion,” and features Chief Don Stevens. More information here.

October 22, 2019, 4:30pm, Waterman 338.

Tia Pratt, Ph.D. “Catholic Young Adults and Pro-Life Teachings:  A Bellwether for the U.S. Catholic Church.” More information here.

October 28, 2019, 5pm, Mildred Livak Ballroom (Davis Center 419).

Liz Kineke. “Religion is Always in the Room.” More information here.

November 4, 2019, 5pm, Waterman 338.

Religion Department Faculty Forum: “Studying Religion, Religious Literacy, & the Age of Trump.” More information here.