Religious Studies Departments Research Articles

Problematika Pembelajaran Fikih Mawaris pada Mahasiswa Berlatar Belakang Pendidikan SMA di Program Studi Pendidikan Agama Islam Universitas Negeri Padang

The problem in learning can obstruct and slow down the learning process, which can become an obstacle to achieving learning objectives. This study aims to identify the problems faced by students with a high school background in the Islamic Religious Education study program in learning Fiqh Mawaris, as well as the efforts made by both students and Islamic Law lecturers to address these issues. The method used is descriptive qualitative with informants including the head of the Islamic Religious Studies Department, two Islamic Law lecturers, and ten students from the Islamic Religious Education program. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, and then analyzed using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing techniques. Data validity was tested using source triangulation and technique triangulation. This study found three main problems in the Fiqh Mawaris learning process among students with a high school background: 1) difficulty in understanding the concepts of inheritance classification and distribution, 2) difficulty in analyzing inheritance distribution cases, and 3) challenges faced by students due to their high school educational background. The efforts made by the students to overcome these problems include: 1) writing and memorizing Fiqh Mawaris concepts, 2) seeking additional learning resources, and 3) discussing and studying together. Meanwhile, the lecturers addressed these problems by: 1) delivering material in stages, 2) using discussion and question-and-answer methods, and 3) conducting evaluations and providing feedback to students. The problems in Fiqh Mawaris learning for students with a high school background can be overcome through the active efforts of students seeking additional understanding and through a more structured and interactive teaching approach from the lecturers.

Digitalization of Religious (Islamic) Education

This research explores the impact of digital methods in religious studies on students' global and community engagement within a liberal arts education. The university's Religious Studies department pioneers digital practices to promote civic awareness, global integration, and student empowerment through interactive learning. Small-scale community projects foster global skills, enhance learning, and promote diversity appreciation. One such project, "Digital Methods to Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence & Social Justice," involves creating and disseminating digital messages promoting environmental cleanliness. Insights from interdisciplinary experts, including those from Forman Christian College University, refine these practices. The study aims to standardize effective digital methods for liberal arts education, fostering community-centered individuals and contributing to the digital humanities field. Through experiences at Forman Christian College University, it enriches discussions on integrating digital methods in liberal arts education, fostering future teaching innovations.

Living in Illusion is Dangerous

Abstract The interview given by Marina F. Bykova, Professor of Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at North Carolina State University (USA), and the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Studies in East European Thought. She earned her PhD and Dr. Habil in Philosophy from the Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia), where she worked until relocating to the USA in 2000. Bykova specializes in the history of nineteenth century continental philosophy, with a particular focus on German idealism. She has also written extensively on Russian philosophy and intellectual tradition. She has published 11 books and over 250 scholarly articles. Her forthcoming book, Hegel’s Philosophy of Nature: A Critical Guide, is set to be released by Cambridge University Press in 2024.

ДАНИИЛ ВАЛЕНТИНОВИЧ ПИВОВАРОВ: ДИАЛОГ-ВОСПОМИНАНИЕ (К 80-ЛЕТИЮ ФИЛОСОФА)

The article is a conversation between two colleagues who knew D. V. Pivovarov and worked with him for several decades. The conversation emphasizes the importance of the scientist’s works in various fields of humanities – philosophy, religious studies, cultural studies, in each of which he contributed significant results. Organizational abilities are noted, in particular, the creation of the Department of Religious Studies at the Ural University, which he led for three decades. The participants in the dialogue also draw attention to the teaching and educational activities of D. V. Pivovarov; he has trained several dozen candidates of sciences and about twenty doctors of sciences.

The eco-ethical contribution of Menico Torchio – a forgotten pioneer of European Bioethics

BackgroundIn 1926, Fritz Jahr described bio-ethics (German: bio-ethik) as “the assumption of moral obligations not only towards humans, but towards all forms of life.” Jahr summarized his philosophy by declaring, “Respect every living being on principle as an end in itself and treat it, if possible, as such!.” Bioethics was thus originally an ethical system concerned with the “problems of interference with other living beings… and generally everything related to the balance of the ecosystem” according to the 1978 Encyclopedia of Bioethics. This definition was predicated on the work of Fritz Jahr, Menico Torchio, and Van Rensselaer Potter.MethodsIn order to proceed with depthful analysis of the origin and major bioethical flare up, we will use critical analysis of existing literature, followed by a study trip to relevant bioethical localities (collecting photo and other documentations regarding Menico Torchio).ResultsWhile Jahr and Potter are typically given intellectual credit for developing the field of bioethics, the eco-ethical contributions of Menico Torchio have been forgotten.This article will first trace the origins of “bioethics” – now commonly bifurcated into “biomedical ethics” and “environmental bioethics.” The former was developed by Tom Beauchamp from the Philosophy Department and James Childress of the Religious Studies department at Georgetown University and is based on principlism, with a narrow focus on medical settings. The latter addresses the environmental impact of the medical industry and climate change health hazards. Second, we will present a panorama of Torchio’s significant intellectual contribution to bioethics. Menico Torchio’s concept of bioethics synthesized work of both Jahr and Potter, advocating “the need to expand our ethical obligations and embrace the most developed groups of animals, not only physically but also psychologically.” Third, we will reflect on the lasting legacy of “bioethics” on biomedical and environmental bioethics today. Thematic elements such as interconnectedness of planetary health and human health, dedication to living in harmony with nature, and emphasis on systems and symbiosis remain unchanged from the legacy of Tochio onward.ConclusionOur conclusion will underscore the necessity of understanding the connections between planetary, environmental, and human health.

On the Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy of the Institute of Science

It has been some time since Mongolia planned policies and activities towards ensuring the professionalism of the civil service. However, one of the serious problems in ensuring the professionalism of the civil service is patronage. In the context of the article, the researchers tried to give a clear idea of patronage, and its political approach.
 Шинжлэх ухааны хүрээлэнгийн Шашныг судлах болон гүн ухааны тасгийн тухай
 ХураангуйБНМАУ-ын Бага Хурлын Тэргүүлэгчдийн 1930 оны 12 дугаар сарын 20-ны өдрийн шийдвэрээр Монгол Улсын Судар бичгийн хүрээлэнг БНМАУ-ын Шинжлэх Ухааны Хүрээлэн болгож өөрчлөн байгуулж, 1957 онд Шинжлэх ухаан, дээд боловсролын хүрээлэн болгон өргөжсөөр 1961 онд Шинжлэх Ухааны Академи болон зохион байгуулагдсан. Тус өгүүлэлд Судар бичгийн хүрээлэнгийн Шашин мөргөлийн зүйлийг шинжлэх кабинет нь Шашныг судлах тасаг, улмаар Гүн ухааны тасаг болон зохион байгуулагдсан түүхэн баримтыг шинжлэх замаар Шинжлэх ухааны хүрээлэнгийн бүтэц дэх шашин, философийн асуудлыг судлах нэгжийн зохион байгуулалт, эрхэлсэн ажлын тухай өгүүлэх болно.Tүлхүүр үгс: гүн ухааны судалгаа, марксист философи, шинжлэх ухааны түүх, буддын шашин, шашныг эсэргүүцэхүй

Оправдалась ли концепция постсекулярного? К 15-летию стамбульского доклада Ю. Хабермаса «Против воинствующего атеизма»

On April 22, 2023, the editorial board of the journal “St. Tikhon’s University Review. Theology. Philosophy. Religious Studies” with the participation of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of St. Tikhon’s University, within the framework of the annual conference “Research in Religion: Past, Present, Future”, a round table dedicated to the problems associated with the concept of “post-secular”. The presentations and the subsequent discussion addressed the issues of modern understanding of the boundaries and conditions for the use of the term “post-secular”, the relationship between theories of secularization and the concepts of post-secular, the so-called problem “post-secular hybrids”, questions about the relationship between the real social and discursive dimensions of the concepts of the post-secular, about the empirical foundations and metaphysical premises of the theories of secularization and the concepts of the post-secular, the problem of Eurocentricity of the concept of the post-secular and its applicability to other cultural regions, the impact of the concept of the post-secular on the understanding of religion in general, the problems of correlation religion and science in modern consciousness, various aspects of the position of religion in modern society. We bring to the attention of the readers the materials of the round table.

Stephen Neill: A Colonial Scholar in an Independent Kenya (1969–1973)

This article focuses on Bishop Stephen Neill’s years (1969–1973) as the founding chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi. While he succeeded in his goal of establishing a fine academic program, almost nobody lamented his departure. While chiefly about Neill, the article touches upon larger issues related to Anglicanism and colonialism in a newly independent Kenya. It features a summary of interviews with Professor Jesse Mugambi, a longtime professor at the university, who worked with Neill during this era. It also includes a brief assessment of Neill’s time in Nairobi from the missionary-demographer David Barrett. A shorter version of this article was given in January 2023 to the American Society of Church History.

Introduction to “Mobilizing Creativity, Part 1”

Research Article| May 01 2023 Introduction to “Mobilizing Creativity, Part 1”: A Humanities Perspective Kiene Brillenburg Wurth; Kiene Brillenburg Wurth Kiene Brillenburg Wurth is professor of literature and comparative media, head of comparative literature, and a member of the MA program in medical humanities at Utrecht University. She has developed interdisciplinary research lines into intermediality, creativity, and experimental art and literature. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Iris van der Tuin; Iris van der Tuin Iris van der Tuin is professor of theory of cultural inquiry in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Utrecht University, where she is also university-wide dean for interdisciplinary education. Her research interest is humanities scholarship that integrates science and technology studies, interdisciplinary studies, and creative methods. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Nanna Verhoeff Nanna Verhoeff Nanna Verhoeff is professor of screen cultures and society in the Department of Media and Culture Studies at Utrecht University. Her research on urban media combines perspectives from (digital) media and performance studies, and contributes to the interdisciplinary methodological development of the creative humanities. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google the minnesota review (2023) 2023 (100): 60–64. https://doi.org/10.1215/00265667-10320912 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Kiene Brillenburg Wurth, Iris van der Tuin, Nanna Verhoeff; Introduction to “Mobilizing Creativity, Part 1”: A Humanities Perspective. the minnesota review 1 May 2023; 2023 (100): 60–64. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/00265667-10320912 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search Books & JournalsAll Journalsthe minnesota review Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. © 2023 Virginia Tech2023 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal Issue Section: Critical: Special Focus: Mobilizing Creativity, Part 1 You do not currently have access to this content.

From Scientific Atheism to Religious Studies

The Association affords readers of the Bulletin a chance to learn about issues and currents in the guilds wherein we do our work. Oleg Kyselov is a Senior Researcher at the H. S. Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He was a 2021–2022 Fulbright Visting Scholar at the University of Alabama, where he currently serves as an Instructor in the Department of Religious Studies. Prof. Kyselov is member of the Workshop for the Academic Study of Religions and the Ukrainian Association of Researchers of Religion, and in this essay, traces the intellectual and political contours of the academic study of religion in Ukraine.

The category of understanding in the process of forming postgraduate students' research competencies

Introduction. The capacity to solve research problems is one of the key universal competencies of future highly qualified specialists. Meanwhile, the process of understanding occupies the central position in research activity. However, the problem is that, unlike most epistemological procedures, the experience of understanding, deeply personal and often unique, is difficult to explore and transmit.Purpose setting. In this connection, the purpose of the research carried out at the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Religious Studies of the KSPU named after V. P. Astafiev during 2017–2021 was to trace the dynamics in postgraduate students» ideas about the phenomenon of understanding. More precisely, to identify their reflected experience of understanding and, accordingly, the features of formation of research competencies.Methodology and methods of the study. The target group included about 50 respondents annually. A typical and non-standardized interview, a survey, a participant observation, elements of the comparative method and longitudinal study, content analysis, logical analysis, and the phenomenological method were used. Surveys, conversations, unstructured interviews conducted among students not only allowed to reveal their ideas about the phenomenon of understanding, but also become a tool for forming these ideas, a means of learning and development. At the same time, the educational process itself acquires the features of a scientific search.Results. The answers showed that students clearly distinguish epistemological concepts, choose the right definitions, evaluate statements. 75 % of respondents did not make any obvious mistakes. Data were obtained concerning the perception of the difference between the natural sciences and the humanities, between explanation and understanding, as well as data concerning attitudes to a number of other problems.Conclusion. It has been established that by the end of the first year of study, postgraduate students demonstrated a number of stable achievements: they were aware of the key position of understanding in the system of epistemological procedures and categories; they were able to see the multidimensionality of understanding, its non-reducibility to other epistemological procedures and categories; they master post-nonclassical cognitive strategies and are open to new paradigms in science, education, and social practice. As the comparative analysis shows, the dynamics of students' epistemological preferences is reflecting the trends observed in science and education (a turn from a normative approach to an interpretative-humanistic one, and some other trends).

Sting and Religion: The Catholic-Shaped Imagination of a Rock Icon by Evyatar Marienberg

Reviewed by: Sting and Religion: The Catholic-Shaped Imagination of a Rock Icon by Evyatar Marienberg Aaron J. West Sting and Religion: The Catholic-Shaped Imagination of a Rock Icon. By Evyatar Marienberg. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021. [xvii, 215 p. ISBN 9781725272255 (hardcover), $36; ISBN 9781757272262 (paperback), $29; ISBN 9781725272279 (e-book), price varies.] Bibliography, permissions. Evyatar Marienberg has written a revealing and well-researched book exploring the influences of Catholicism and spirituality on the music of one of popular music's most compelling and literate icons, Sting (born Gordon Matthew Sumner). Marienberg is an associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His prior texts are largely centered around religion and spirituality, particularly Catholicism, and this is his first [End Page 401] book addressing a musical topic. Admittedly, religious influences on music are a complex subject for any author and made even more so when involving a complex and private artist such as Sting. Marienberg relies on prior scholarship, primary source material, and an important interview with Sting conducted by the author in 2017 in support of defining and illuminating Sting's remarkable spiritual journey and how it is reflected in his music. Furthermore, the author states that Sting himself read and presumably approved drafts of the book and the research leading to it. In his introduction, Marienberg posits Sting and Religion as a potential model for future studies involving popular artists and spirituality, stating that "studying in great detail both the religious culture surrounding an artist, with special emphasis on the religious culture she or he was exposed to during childhood … can help us to understand both the artist's background … and the artist's output. This book suggests one possible model for doing this" (p. x). Indeed, Sting and Religion is a worthwhile starting point for exploring the religious influences, experiences, and musical/spiritual intersections of popular music's most influential artists. At the beginning of chapter 1, Marienberg plainly states his intentions: "Does Sting use the Bible in his work, and if he does, how?" (p. 1). Marienberg begins this discussion with a short lyric analysis of "Carrion Prince," a very early example of Sting's writing for the band Last Exit. Formed in Newcastle in 1974, three years before the Police, Last Exit was a jazz fusion group featuring the syncopated funk beats and electrified instruments prevalent in the mid-1970s. Sting took advantage of the opportunity to write for this group, whose members were certainly eager to perform new and original material. As Marienberg demonstrates, "Carrion Prince" contains a remarkable number of biblical references that "only a person with a knowledge of the New Testament can write or understand" (p. 2). Marienberg provides an instructive summary of how many of these lyrics refer to the infamous Roman prefect Pontius Pilate. In 1979, Sting reused much of "Carrion Prince" for "Bring on the Night," recorded by the Police for Reggatta de Blanc. Most importantly, Sting omits almost all religious references in "Bring on the Night" while retaining references to T. S. Eliot and possibly Norman Mailer. Regretfully, Marienberg does not discuss this sudden shift from sacred to secular as a potentially revealing example of why Sting integrated so few Biblical references into his lyrics for the Police. Possibly the best example of Sting's sacred lyrics being reused and reworked for his writing for the Police is "O My God." This tune, written around 1975 for Last Exit, features lyrics that are unquestionably Christian. In 1977, while working with Strontium 90, an early assemblage of Police members Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, Sting reused the lyrics to "O My God" for the emphatically secular song "Three O'Clock Shit." Sting's editing and deleting of spiritual lyrics from prior songs immediately after joining the Police deserves more attention. Nevertheless, Marienberg does provide a fine overview of the numerous biblical references in Sting's works. Most notably, he offers a detailed analysis of Sting's musical The Last Ship, presenting valuable analyses of this rarely discussed work throughout the book. In chapter 2 ("Religion Surrounding Gordon Sumner: Part 1"), Marienberg begins a series of remarkably detailed...

About This Issue

About This Issue David J. Endres This issue considers the current state of U.S. Catholic historiography. The assembled studies chart developments in historians’ approaches to topics that include gender, race, and social change. They examine scholarly contributors and suggest areas for further research. We are grateful to our contributors. Sandra Yocum is associate professor in the Religious Studies Department and University Professor of Faith and Culture at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. She is also a consulting editor of our journal. Margaret M. McGuinness is professor emerita in the Department of Religion and Theology at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jeffrey M. Burns is the director of the Academy of American Franciscan History and a faculty member of the Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego. He is also an associate editor of our journal. Brian J. Clites is assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies and associate director of the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Jillian Plummer is assistant professor of Catholic Studies at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. [End Page i] Copyright © 2023 The Catholic University of America Press

The Contribution of Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Towards the Development of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”

The article for the first time in the scientific literature highlights the place and role of the Institute of Philosophy of H. S. Skovoroda of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the creation and development of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA), established 1992. Focusing on important role of the scientists of the Institute of Philosophy in the actualization of the intellectual heritage and institutional memory of the glorious Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (KMA, 1615‒1817), the article stresses the direct involvement of scientists and philosophers of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the revival of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy as a modern university, started 30 years ago by a group of Ukrainian scientists and educators headed by Vyacheslav Briukhovetskyi, and training of the first bachelors and masters of philosophy in Ukraine. Revealing the main goal of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of NaUKMA – the formation of a new generation of Ukrainian philosophers whose professional level meets modern Western standards, the author focuses attention on the model of philosophical education formed in cooperation with scientists of the Institute of Philosophy, innovative for the post-Soviet era. This model is based on a combination of general humanitarian and professional training, educational process and scientific studies, students’ in-depth knowledge of both history as well as modern directions and trends of philosophical thought, primary sources on classical and modern philosophy, proper mastery of foreign languages with the aim of directly studying the original heritage of the worldwide and Ukrainian philosophical thought, as well as the latest research literature. Outlining the achievements of the leading specialists of the Institute in the field of teaching and implementation of philosophical educational programs of NaUKMA, the author proves that their long-term cooperation with the university has become not only one of the fundamental foundations of the NaUKMA’s philosophical school, but also a powerful stimulus for professional development and creative self-realization of its Institute colleagues.

Remembering George Lindbeck at the Centenary of his Birth

Remembering George Lindbeck at the Centenary of his Birth J. Augustine Di Noia O.P., S.T.Mag. WHEN I MOVED INTO St. Mary’s Priory in New Haven in the fall of 1974 to begin graduate studies in the department of religious studies at Yale University, about ten years had passed since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council.1 George Lindbeck—the man with whom I was to work on the theology of religions and interreligious dialogue—had been among the delegated observers at the council (1962-64), representing the World Lutheran Federation. He had already written a book about his experience and the implications of the council for the future of Catholic theology.2 He was fascinated by the fact that my time of formation in the Dominican Order had coincided with the years of the council and its somewhat tumultuous immediate aftermath. It was not until years later that I would become more reflective about the impact of the council on the formation communities of the Province of St. Joseph. At the time of my conversations with Lindbeck, I recalled my formation years as largely peaceful ones. Considering my experience in the light of the fragmentation that he had seen elsewhere in the post-conciliar Church, Lindbeck marveled at the comparative [End Page 131] tranquility of the situation I remembered and eventually he found a way to interpret it for me. Some of what I learned from him in those conversations I later ventured to formulate in a lecture in 2009 on the occasion of the dedication of the new academic wing and theological library at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Lindbeck had helped me to see the importance, for the Dominicans, of the relatively calm assimilation of the renewal measures promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. This development was due, at least in part, to the fact that during and after the years of the council the faculty and senior friars in the DHS community and in the province construed the conciliar teachings as being in essential continuity, rather than a disruption or break . . . with previous Catholic teaching and the tradition. As I acknowledged in that lecture: Although there were difficulties, perhaps especially during the 1970s, the council was generally not experienced as a revolution. Without the destructive turmoil that had beset some other Catholic institutions and communities, the fundamental patterns of the Dominican religious and liturgical life of the priory, as well as those of formation and theological education in the Thomistic tradition, while undergoing necessary adjustments, continued more or less undisturbed.3 When I heard Pope Benedict XVI, in his momentous Christmas discourse to the Curia on December 22, 2005, contrast the hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture with the hermeneutic of reform and continuity in the interpretation and implementation of the Second Vatican Council, I naturally thought of Lindbeck who had, over thirty years before, first introduced me to these categories for understanding the postconciliar period. I What I had absorbed in my conversations with Lindbeck about the impact of Vatican II on the eastern province of [End Page 132] Dominican friars was just one element in his analysis of the state of late-twentieth-century theology. For me—and probably for others as well—the immense interpretive power of this analysis only emerged gradually as I began to teach theology after leaving Yale in 1980. In his first-rate new guide to Lindbeck’s life and thought, Shaun Brown notes that “coming out of his experience as an observer at Vatican II,” Lindbeck’s “cautious optimism” about the future of Roman Catholic theology was on display in the book bearing that title in 1970.4 Five years later, however, his essay “The Crisis of American Catholicism” marked a shift in his thinking as he noted that, instead of the “great upsurge of Christian vitality and faithfulness within the Roman Catholic communion . . . the aftermath of Vatican II can be read as disastrous.”5 During our conversations in the following decades, Lindbeck framed his analysis of the fractious state of American theology in terms of a perceptive account of the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. According to this...

Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.

This research delves into China's linguistic landscape, exploring the intricate relationship between language policies and diversity. Despite being home to a vast population and numerous ethnic groups, China exhibits comparatively low linguistic diversity. Through a comprehensive analysis, this study examines the impact of language policies, focusing on constitutional guarantees, language laws, and educational initiatives. The research utilizes metrics developed by scholars such as Fearon and Greenberg to measure linguistic diversity and assesses the effects of policies on dialects, Putonghua, and minority languages. The findings highlight complex outcomes, including bidialectalism, the vernacularization of Putonghua, and challenges faced by minority languages. This exploration contributes to a deeper understanding of China's linguistic dynamics and their implications for cultural diversity.

The Existence of Religious Studies in Sharia Regions: West Sumatra and Aceh

So far, there have been many studies on the dynamics and development of the religious studies in Indonesia. In general, the study covers at least two major themes, namely historical development studies and methodological studies. Generally, the existing studies are dominantly based on the development and reflection of the Religious Studies in Yogyakarta, Jakarta and Bandung. However, it is not common to discuss religious studies in other areas such as West Sumatra and Aceh, which are sharia regions in Indonesia. This paper aims to find out how the existence of the Department of Religious Studies at UIN Imam Bonjol Padang and UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. Using a case study qualitative research method, this article shows that the Department of Religious Studies, both UIN Imam Bonjol Padang and UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, still exist in their respective regions. Although the two Department are still not well known by the public, the contribution of the two Department to religious life has provided a place to balance the religious life of the people of West Sumatra and Aceh. The real contributions that have been made to the Department of Religious Studies at UIN Imam Bonjol Padang and UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh in West Sumatra and Aceh are, first, increasing religious inclusiveness; second, the driving force of religious moderation; third, activists of the discourse of tolerance; fourth, increasing inter-religious dialogue.

Hindutva 2.0: How a Conference on Hindu Nationalism Launches a Change in Strategy for North American Hindutva Organizations

Journal Article Roundtable on Hindutva Harassment of Academics in North America: Hindutva 2.0: How a Conference on Hindu Nationalism Launches a Change in Strategy for North American Hindutva Organizations Get access Dheepa Sundaram Dheepa Sundaram Department of Religious Studies, University of Denver, 2000 E. Asbury Avenue, Denver CO 80208, USA Email: dheepa.sundaram@du.edu Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of the American Academy of Religion, lfad028, https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/lfad028 Published: 23 June 2023

An Interview with Professor David Cook on Islamic Studies

David Cook is a Professor of religion in the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University, specializing in Islam. He completed his undergraduate degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1994. He later received his M.A. degree in 1998 and his Ph.D. degree with the study titled “The Beginnings of Islam in Syria during the Umayyad Period”, which he prepared under the supervision of Fred Donner, Walter Kaegi, and Patricia Crone from the University of Chicago (Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures) in March 2002. He received most of his training in Arabic and Islamic studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Then he took training in other languages and the research methodology of Islamic studies at the University of Chicago. His areas of specialization include early Islamic history and development, Muslim apocalyptic literature and movements (classical and contemporary), radical Islam, jihad, jihadist movements in Islam such as Salafism, historical astronomy, Judeo-Arabic literature, and West African Islam. This study was prepared as part of an interview with Prof. Cook in July 2022 at Rice University. It covers a number of subjects, including Cook’s educational background, his research into Islamic topics, his methodology, and his opinions on Western Islamic literature.

Contributors’ Notes

Kelley L. Carter is an award-winning entertainment and pop-culture journalist who joined ESPN in January 2016 as a senior entertainment reporter for The Undefeated (now Andscape), which is a Black media platform dedicated to creating, highlighting, and uplifting the diverse stories of Black identity. She is the host of the digital series “Another Act with Kelley Carter,” where she gives viewers direct access to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Some of her critically acclaimed work has featured artists such as film director John Singleton, legendary singer Aretha Franklin, and actor Chadwick Boseman. Carter joined the Undefeated from Buzzfeed, where she was a senior editor for entertainment. Prior to Buzzfeed, she served as entertainment editor at Ebony magazine. Carter is currently based in Los Angeles, but she is a native of Detroit and graduate of Michigan State University who was working as a journalist for the Detroit Free Press at the time of J Dilla’s death.Dan Charnas is an award-winning music and business journalist; producer of records and television; and Associate Arts Professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. He is the author of four books, including The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop (2010), Def Jam: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label, which was co-authored with Bill Adler and Cey Adams (2011), and Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm (2022). In addition, Charnas was the co-creator and executive producer of the VH1 TV series The Breaks. In the early 1990s, Charnas was one of the first writers for The Source, becoming part of a generation of young writers who helped create hip-hop journalism. He penned cover stories, features, reviews, and columns for a variety of publications on artists including L.L. Cool J, Ice Cube, A Tribe Called Quest, N.W.A. and Public Enemy.KáLyn Banks Coghill is a doctoral student in the Media, Art, and Text Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also an instructor in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies department. Her research focuses on digital violence, hip-hop feminism, black girlhood, and digital studies.Ambre Dromgoole (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in the Departments of Religious Studies and African American Studies at Yale University. Her dissertation “There’s a Heaven Somewhere