Activities
Our department regularly sponsors lectures and discussion groups related to religious topics.
On March 15, 2009 we warmly received internationally-renowned author, James Cowan, to discuss his experiences on “Writing Religion.” Cowan has spent a significant amount of time researching the belief system of Australian Aborigines, following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, and delving into traditional, hermetic practices of Coptic Christians in Egypt, among many other experiences. His discussion was very well-attended, leaving standing room only.
Australian author James Cowan discusses “Writing Religion.”
Attendees intently listening to Cowan.
Australian author, James Cowan.
Dr. William Londo speaks on Japanese Buddhism to an overflow crowd of students and faculty at the MSU Union.
We welcomed Dr. William Londo, of MSU’s Asian Studies Center, on February 20, 2009 to present “Buddhism in Japan: The Waning and Rebirth of a Mountain Retreat Center.”
Dr. David Nichols presents to an interested audience.
About 60 students attended the lecture, packing the room to standing room only.
On October 24, 2008, we welcomed Dr. David Nichols, MSU Department of Philosophy, to present on the topic of “The Religion of Politics: Mythology and the Presidential Candidates.” Dr. Nichols discussed the presidential candidates, the stories they tell, and the mythologies that their political lives depend upon. Photos from this lecture are below.
REL 220H students at the Bharatiya Hindu Temple. Photo by Nichole Hoerner.
Our REL 220 class, Religion in America, taught by Prof. Amy DeRogatis, regularly takes class visits to several religious sites in the Lansing, MI area. Below are photos from the REL 220H class visits to the Bharatiya Hindu Temple in Haslett, MI and Quam Am Buddhist Temple in Mason, MI during October 2008 and a visit to the Nokomis Learning Center in Okemos, MI. Much gratitude is extended to Nichole Hoerner, a REL 220H student interested in photojournalism, for sharing the images from the Bharatiya Hindu Temple and Quam Am Buddhist Temple with us.
REL 220H students at the Bharatiya Hindu Temple. Photo by Nichole Hoerner.
REL 220H students sit around a medicine wheel at the Nokomis Center in Okemos, MI. Photo by Prof. Amy DeRogatis.
Below are pictures from the REL 220H class visit to the Nokomis Learning Center in Okemos, MI.
Photo by Prof. Amy DeRogatis.
REL 220H students sit around a medicine wheel at the Nokomis Center in Okemos, MI. Photo by Prof. Amy DeRogatis.
Photo by Nichole Hoerner.
Below is a photo of REL 220H students at the Quam Am Buddhist Temple in Mason, MI during October 2008.
