Center on Religion & the Professions

Improving religious literacy among professionals.

Middle East scholar to lecture on Afghan war

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Stephen Zunes

Join the Center on Religion & the Professions, the University of Missouri’s Peace Studies Program and their co-sponsors for the free lecture “Afghanistan: How We Got In, Can We Get Out,” by Middle East scholar Stephen Zunes, on April 13, 2010, on the University of Missouri campus.

Zunes is a professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco, where he chairs the Middle Eastern Studies program, and a senior policy analyst for the Foreign Policy in Focus project of the Institute for Policy Studies. An author of numerous articles and books on Middle Eastern politics and U.S. foreign policy, Zunes is an associate editor of Peace Review and a foreign affairs columnist for the National Catholic Reporter. He has met frequently with top government officials and other stakeholders in the Middle East and other conflict regions.

The lecture is co-sponsored by MU’s Peace Studies Program, the MU Peace Studies Programming Committee, the Center on Religion & the Professions, Columbia Peace Coalition, and the Palestine Israel Peace Association (PIPA).

This event is free and open to the public. It will be held at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact CORP at (572) 882-9257.

The Ill Girl

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Lia Lee, a young child of Hmong immigrants, has been brought to the emergency room of a California medical clinic. It took several days for the doctors to diagnose the case because the interpreter, a Hmong whose English was poor, was inadequate. The problem was made worse because the parents considered Lia’s illness to be both a threat to her health – hence their trip to the clinic – and a sign that she may be destined to be a shaman. The doctors prescribed a drug regimen. The parents said they understood how to administer the medicine, although they couldn’t understand English or read what was written on the bottles.

Issues and Study Questions

  • Based on the overview above, what are the issues?
  • What beliefs are at issue here?
  • Were the parents “noncompliant?”
  • What could the doctors/nurses do differently?
  • What do you feel the doctors/patient/parents should do here?
  • How could a social worker or skilled interpreter assist in this situation?
  • Was religion an issue in this situation?
  • What is the responsibility of the health care community in such a situation? What about other professions?
  • Do you think there is a “right” and “wrong” way to handle this situation? Why? Why not?
  • Have you faced similar issues in your own profession or personal life? If so, what were they? Were they resolved?
  • What can be learned?
  • Do you think education about religious literacy would have helped/harmed in this situation? How so?

Source: Religion and the Professions (General Honors 1030) taught by Dr. Jill Raitt, University of Missouri

Prayerful Patient

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Mrs. Albert is 83 years old. She has multiple medical problems that are quite real and that produce chronic, progressive pain and weakness. She is on a number of medications, and she is faithful to the regimen her doctors prescribe. Nevertheless, nothing the doctors do seems to help her. On the other hand, her faith helps her to cope and to maintain independence and the church-related activities that are so important to her. She told her doctors, “Whenever you pray, you get healing from God.”

Mrs. Albert’s doctor is impressed by his patient’s fortitude, and he wants to understand better the relation of health to religion. He has read articles by Dr. Harold Koenig of Duke University, so he wrote to Dr. Koenig asking for some advice. Dr. Koenig’s answer regarding chronic pain and prayer has both medical and spiritual elements. Other doctors, however, disagree fundamentally with Dr. Koenig and explain differently the relation of Mrs. Albert’s prayer to her condition.

Issues and Study Questions

  • Based on the overview above, what are the beliefs and issues here?
  • If you were the doctor, what would you do differently?
  • Would the other doctor’s advice change how you treated your patient?
  • Is there an issue here, if Mrs. Albert is compliant in her care?
  • Was religion an issue in this situation?
  • What is the responsibility of the doctor in such a situation? What about other professions?
  • Do you think there is a “right” and “wrong” way to handle this situation? Why? Why not?
  • Have you faced similar issues in your own profession or personal life? If so, what were they? Were they resolved?
  • What can be learned?
  • Do you think education about religious literacy would have helped/harmed in this situation? How so?

Source: Religion and the Professions (General Honors 1030) taught by Dr. Jill Raitt, University of Missouri

Enrollment open for religious literacy class

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May 28, 2009 – There are a few days left to enroll in “Religious Literacy for the Public and Professions,” a new online course offered through MU Direct: Continuing and Distance Education. The course (REL ST 3100) teaches students to engage and encounter religion in day-to-day life and in the professional workplace. Its primary goal is to examine religious diversity in private and professional contexts from a practical standpoint by examining a variety of case studies. The course is open to University of Missouri students who are absent from campus for the summer or unable to attend day classes and to nontraditional students.

Five seats remain available for the course, which is offered through the University of Missouri’s Department of Religious Studies. The course was created by the department and the Center on Religion & the Professions at University of Missouri. The instructor is Justin Arft. Students can register up to June 8 for the eight-week class, which runs June 8-July 31. MU summer registration is June 3-5. A late fee is assessed if registering June 5-8.

Textbooks for the course include “Religion and the Workplace” by Douglas A. Hicks and “How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook” by Stuart M. Matlins and Arthur J. Magida.

The Center on Religion & the Professions was founded in 2003 with a mission of improving religious literacy among professionals, to help them serve a diverse public. For more information about the Center, call (573) 882-9257.

Cultural Awareness Training: Yan-Koloba

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The MU Black Culture Center, in partnership with the City of Columbia’s Commission on Human Rights, offers a cultural awareness training to Columbia residents.
Yan-Koloba is a social, educational and multicultural teambuilding and character-building activity rooted in the cultures of Africa. A brief intermission will feature authentic African cuisine. Space is limited to the first 30 participants.

May 23, 2009 – 2-4 p.m.
MU Gaines-Oldham Black Culture Center
University of Missouri

RSVP to Nathan Stephens at stephensna@missouri.edu.

CORP Newsletter – March 17, 2009

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crp-logoNews, Research, Calls for Papers and Events from the University of Missouri’s Center on Religion & the Professions (CORP)
March 17, 2009

CORP EVENTS
April 2 Film Series: “Spirituality & Health” Free. “Swimming in Auschwitz: Survival Stories of Six Women,” chronicles the families, faith and spiritual stories of six women deported to the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during the Holocaust. Discussion led by Dr. Brick Johnstone, MU professor of health psychology and head of CORP’s Spirituality & Health research team. Wrench Auditorium, South Memorial Union, 7 p.m.

April 7 Lecture and Book Signing: “Losing My Religion” by William Lobdell, former Los Angeles Times reporter and editor. Lobdell covered religion at the Times for eight years, reporting on such stories as the Roman Catholic clergy abuse crisis. In 2007, he wrote a column revealing that his experience with religion as a journalist caused him to lose his Christian faith. His memoir, “Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America – and Found Unexpected Peace,” was published in 2009. Free. Fred W. Smith Forum, Reynolds Journalism Institute, Missouri School of Journalism, 7-9 p.m.

April 11 Conversation: “Prayer and Your Profession.” Do you pray at work? Hear from those for whom prayer is part of daily practice, including in their professions. Find out what it means for them to be able to pray at work and how it relates to their professions. Free. Part of the “Sects and the City: Coffee and Conversation on the Intersection of Faith and Life” series. The Cherry Street Artisan, 111 S. 9th St., Columbia, 11 a.m.-noon.

CORP NEWS
Director Interviewed: CORP Director Debra L. Mason was interviewed about technology use by churches for an article, “PTL*: Praise the Lord, Local church invites prayer requests via text message,” in the Columbia Daily Tribune on March 7, 2009. Mason provided information about the role of technology in churches and faith outreach, types of technology and trends.

Research Published: Religion and health research conducted by CORP-affiliated researchers has been published in the Missouri Medicine Quarterly. The article, “Spirituality, Religion and Health Outcomes Research: Findings from the Center on Religion and the Professions,” was authored by Dr. Brick Johnstone, head of CORP’s Spirituality and Health research team. The issue comes out in March 2009.

New Resources Online: CORP has added new resources to its Web site, including links to codes of ethics and conduct for 41 disciplines taught at MU; and to more than 60 religious organizations at MU. The Web site now also includes a newly launched feature on ways to donate to the Center.

New Course: CORP and affiliates have developed a new course, “Religious Literacy for the Public and Professions” (Religious Studies 3100) that will be taught online in Summer 2009 through MU Extension’s Center for Distance and Independent Learning. The course provides practical knowledge about religion as it is encountered in the professional world in a pluralistic society. For information, call 882-9257.

CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
March 26 Lecture: “Matters of Life and Death,” by Thomas Lynch, funeral director, noted speaker and author of books such as “The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade.” Part of the President’s Lecture Series at William Woods University. Cutlip Auditorium, William Woods University, Fulton, 7 p.m.

April 2 Lecture: “From Transience to Transcendence: The Psychological Impact of Awareness of Mortality on Human Conflict, Aggression and Peaceful Co-Existence,” by Jamie Arndt, associate professor in MU’s Department of Psychological Sciences. Overview of how human aggression and conflict can be understood, in part, as responses to the existential predicament of the human condition. Part of the 2009 Distinguished Lecture Series in Psychological Sciences, sponsored by the MU Department of Psychological Sciences and MU College of Arts and Sciences. Ketchum Auditorium, Laferre Hall, 3:30-5 p.m.

April 3 Brownbag Lecture: “The Mystery of the Resurrection: An Eastern Perspective,” sponsored by the MU Christian Scholars’ Forum. Fellowship, presentation and discussion; bring lunch. N243 Memorial Union, noon-1 p.m.

April 3-5 Retreat: Insight Meditation, led by Gina Sharpe, New York City Insight founder and visiting teacher at Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock. Featuring meditation, inquiry and conferences with teachers, focusing on awakening of wisdom and compassion and their manifestation in everyday life. Sponsored by Show Me Dharma. Sliding scale, $55-$100. Location to be announced. The non-residential retreat runs 7-9 p.m. April 3; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 4; and 8 a.m.-noon April 5.

April 4 Training: Diversity Train the Trainers, a program to instruct participants on diversity exploration activities. Sponsored by the MU Multicultural Center. Free. For more information, call (573) 882-7152. Gaines-Oldham Black Culture Center, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

April 8 Film: “For the Bible Tells Me So,” an exploration of how people and families of faith address having a gay child. Sponsored by the MSA/GPC Films Committee. Free. Wrench Auditorium, South Memorial Union, 8 p.m.

April 14 Dinner: Social Justice Seder, an interfaith event honoring the Jewish liberation story of Passover and celebrating struggles for freedom. The meal is kosher for Passover and is vegetarian. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the MU Women’s Center, Hillel, the Jewish Student Organization, the Multicultural Center, and the LGBT Resource Center. For more information, contact Struby at strublem@missouri.edu or (573) 882-6549. Location to be announced, 6 p.m.

April 20 Lecture: “Muslims and the Secular State: Dynamics of Majority/Minority Situations” by Abdullahi An-Naim, director of the Religion and Human Rights Program of Emory University School of Law’s Law and Religion Program. An-Naim, who is from Sudan, is an internationally recognized scholar on Islam and human rights, religion and human rights, Islamic law and criminal law. Sponsored by the MU Department of Religious Studies. 114 MU Physics Building, 7 p.m.

CONFERENCES
April 29 Seminar: “Living with Grief: Diversity and End-of-life Care,” a teleconference seminar focusing on understanding diversity and how cultural histories, traditions and beliefs can affect end-of-life care. Moderated by Frank Sesno, CNN special correspondent and professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University. Hosted by the MU Center for Health Ethics. Continuing education credit available. Deadline to register is April 3. For more information, contact Allison Farris at (573) 882-2738. $30 ($20 for students). MU Old Alumni Center, 1105 Carrie Francke Drive, Columbia, noon-4 p.m.

CALLS FOR PAPERS
March 31 Deadline: Nida School for Translation Studies, a program of the E.A. Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship at the American Bible Society, aimed at supporting advanced training and research into translation studies. Theme is “Translation and Culture.” Conference to be held Sept. 7-9, 2009, in Rimini, Italy. For details, visit http://www.nidainstitute.org/TheNidaSchool/NidaSchool2009.dsp .

RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Read what’s in the news about religion this week on CORP’s home page.

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Sects and the City: "Meditation and Medicine, Across the Faiths"

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satc-logo1More doctors are prescribing meditation to combat conditions such as stress, migraines, high blood pressure, asthma, insomnia, heart disease and depression. But meditation and meditative prayer have been rooted in spiritual traditions for thousands of years. Relax, take a breath, and contemplate the meditation-health connection with experts and practitioners.

Featuring:

Terry Furstenau, teacher at ShowMe Dharma, where he has practiced Insight Meditation for seven years and has been teaching for three years. His practice has been informed primarily by vipassana and dzochen teachings. Furstenau has an M.Ed in counseling psychology.

Dr. Daniel Cohen, visiting assistant professor in the MU Department of Religious Studies, an expert on Buddhism and Hinduism with interests in healing traditions. Cohen is a member of CORP’s spirituality and health research team.

Part of the “Sects and the City: Coffee and conversation on the intersection of faith and life” series co-sponsored by the Center on Religion & the Professions.

March 14, 2009 – 11 a.m.-noon
The Cherry Street Artisan
111 S. 9th St., Suite 10
Columbia, Mo.

Free and open to the public.