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January 31, 2003/Shevat 28 5763, Vol. 55, No. 23
Researching religion
ASU creates center to examine controversial issues
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Arizona State University is creating an outlet for students, faculty and the community to examine the role of religion in controversial international issues.
The Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict intends to enhance research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and hold public conferences. It may eventually offer a post-doctorate program and new coursework for students, according to Dr. Linell Cady, the center's director and ASU religious studies professor.
"Having a focus in these particular areas makes sense, especially given the strength that ASU already has in the study of religion," said Cady.
ASU President Michael Crow hopes the center will explore conflict resolution and research ways to better understand and interpret religious philosophies.
"If we're better able to understand some of these things, perhaps we will be better able to attack the problem or the dynamics that lead to the conflict situation," said Crow.
Other possible programming topics include global clashes based on religious differences, differing visions of stem cell research and disagreements over prayer in public schools, according to a press release from the university's media relations office.
The center will not be limited to exploring only religion's role in world conflicts, however.
"Religion can often bring people together and create more peaceful endeavors," said Dr. Joel Gereboff, chairman of the ASU religious studies department. "Part of the mandate of the center is to find topics of interest ... and seek to involve (the public)."
The center, officially created Jan. 1, plans to work closely with the university's religious studies department to prioritize upcoming events.
"By utilizing the resources and opportunities the center will provide, we should be able to move forward in many of our goals," said Gereboff.
Those goals include enhancing research programs for faculty and students, creating interdisciplinary and collaborative work with colleagues, and promoting the department's almost-approved Ph.D. program, Gereboff explained.
The center also plans create a fellowship program to allow foreign students to study at ASU and allow ASU students to study elsewhere.
"It would be especially interesting if we could have the program internationally," said Cady. "We would like to be able to foster that kind of exchange."
The creation of the center fits Crow's vision of the university as a nationally recognized research institution.
"The center is an example of the kind of way that we can engage across all our fields ... in helping to focus on real-world issues," said Crow. "I'm hoping that we can facilitate the bringing together of a number of perspectives. That doesn't happen in very many places."
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 have also played a role in the creation of the center, said Cady.
"For many Americans, Sept. 11 was a very abrupt awakening," said Cady. "It served as a recognition of the way most Americans have approached religion ... as primarily private and relatively benign."
Crow hopes that faith-based groups within and around the university will participate in the center's programming.
Initial funding for the center, $175,000, has been provided by a seed grant from the ASU Office of Research and Economic Affairs, said Sarah Auffret, assistant director of the university's media relations department. The center has also received a $50,000 gift from a private donor and plans to submit proposals for additional private support, said Crow.
The university plans to support the center for the first three years, however it must eventually generate its own revenue, said Crow.
The center's first conference is tentatively scheduled for late spring, said Cady.
"This is a way that a university can maximize its resources," said Cady. "It will be able to bring people together who normally wouldn't (come together). This is a very important endeavor."
Contact the writer at jessica_barber@jewishaz.com.
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