News and Events
Spring 2009
02/25/09 "Encountering Zen," a lecture by Rev. Kojima, Zoto Zen School, Zenshiji Temple, Los Angeles, for the Religious Studies Visiting Speakers Program, 10:00-10:50 a.m., Sierra Hall 314.
03/02/09 "Contemporary Religious Thought in a Secular Age," a lecture by John Crossley, University of Southern California, 10:00 -10:50 a.m., Sierra Hall 314 . In earlier times, when a new religious tradition was introduced into a culture, the new religion had mainly to contend with a populous whose world-view was shaped by the indigenous religion. Today, more often than not, the people of a culture have been reshaped by secularism, and the new religion must contend with secular attitudes. How does secularism change the dynamics of inter-religious dialogue?
03/17/09 "Religious Terrorism in Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism," a presentation by Jody Myers, Religious Studies Department and Coordinator, Jewish Studies Program; Mustafa Ruzgar, Religious Studies Department; and Phyllis Herman, Religious Studies Department (California State University Northridge), 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Thousand Oaks Room, University Student Union.
03/25/09 "Economy and Religion," a lecture by John B. Cobb Jr., Claremont School of Theology, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Whitsett Room, Sierra Hall 451. Consumerism has become the global religion, and its theology is taught in graduate schools of economics. But there are still traditional religious teachings that stand in opposition. There are problems with both sets of teaching, and it is time to consider what teachings about the nature of human beings and about the human good would be better. How will the Earth and God fit into such new teaching?
04/03/09 "Nihon Bukkyo" and "Nihon Bukkyogaku": The Transnational Construction of the Field of "Japanese Buddhism," a lecture by Duncan Ryûken Williams , University of California, Berkeley, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m., Sierra Hall 314 . The study of Japanese Buddhism contributes both to furthering the understanding of the Buddhist tradition as well as to Japan's religious culture. Through a critical examination of the categories "Japanese Buddhism" and "Japanese Buddhist studies," this presentation will chronicle the historical development of this field in Japan and in the West. in the context of religious studies, Buddhist studies, and Japanese cultural studies.
04/14/09 "Mourning Mumbai," a lecture by Shana Sippy, Columbia University, 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Thousand Oaks Room, University Student Union.
04/24/09 "Paul: The Man, The Message, and The Myth," a lecture by David Matson, Hope International University, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Whitsett Room, Sierra Hall 451.
05/05/09 "From Patmos to the Barrio:Subverting Imperial Myths," a lecture by David Sanchez, Loyola Marymount University, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Presentation Room, Oviatt Library.
