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About us
Our
Mission
The Center on Religion & the Professions works to
improve religious literacy among professionals,
to help them serve a diverse public. We
believe that as America grows more religiously
diverse, professionals need to better understand
the religious traditions and beliefs of
the public they serve. Our interdisciplinary,
practical and applied work centers on that
mission. Founded in 2003 with a grant from
The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Center is
one of Pew's 10 Centers of Excellence.
What
we do
We improve the religious
literacy of professionals by
- Supporting ground-breaking
research on how religion affects people
and encouraging its use by the appropriate
professionals;
- Creating resources and
training programs to improve religious
literacy among professionals;
- Developing and testing
curriculum about religion for all disciplines;
- Presenting public forums
and discussions to improve professionals'
and the public's understanding of religion.
Ultimately, we seek to
help professionals and students become more
aware and respectful of religious and cultural
beliefs among co-workers, clients or patients,
and to be sensitive how religion affects
perspectives of ourselves and others.
Why
is it important?
Religion wields extraordinary
influence in individual lives as well as
in world events, yet it is one of the most
understudied phenomena in today's academic
sphere. It is vital that professionals and
those entering the workforce understand
the role of faith and values as they work
in increasingly diverse settings.
The professions are diverse,
and each is related to religion in unique
ways. We believe it is important to encourage
curriculum and training in many professions
to enhance understanding and service. Interdisciplinary
exposure prepares students and professionals
for the diverse context of the professional
realm.
What
is a professional?
Professionals generally
serve the public, require specialized knowledge
and training, have ethical codes, and often
require some sort of licensing. Doctors,
lawyers, nurses, engineers, teachers, journalists,
psychologists, clergy, social workers, veterinarians,
and other professionals share most of these
qualities. But our Center defines professionals
broadly. Understanding the faiths that motivate
and affect people is necessary for all citizens
in a democracy that prizes its freedom of
religion.
Religion's
impact on professionals
The public is becoming
more diverse and the role of religion in
public life has grown more prominent. Professionals
today need a broad understanding of religion
to effectively serve this increasingly diverse
nation.
Some questions professionals
may face related to religion include:
- How does religion affect
a patient's understanding of healing and
attitudes toward treatment?
- How can journalists
report on faith and values with accuracy
and balance? How does their own faith
impact what they write?
- Religion affects how
people raise their children and the values
they pass on, yet sometimes a religion
can clash with cultural expectations and
norms. How do social workers handle conflicts
of values with those they serve?
- Are scientists and engineers
equipped to consider the human consequences
of new technologies?
- What challenges and
opportunities do demographic shifts provide
for businesses and marketing?
- What do lawyers do when
civil law and a client's sense of religious
law clash?
Affiliations
Click here to see
the National
Board and
Affiliated
faculty
Campus affiliations
We have partnered
with several campus groups and academic
units. These include:
The Center operates independently,
but often collaborates with other programs
that contribute to learning in the field
of religious understanding.
Current
projects
The center is currently
working on four projects:
- A project to improve
the religious literacy of reporters by
strengthening journalistic coverage of
religion in the United States;
- A project to improve
the religious literacy of health researchers
and professionals by exploring the relationship
between religion, spirituality, and a
variety of health-related fields, including
adolescent health behaviors, neuroscience,
physical health, mental health, chronic
cognitive and physical disability and
medical disorders;
- A project to improve
the religious literacy of the professions
by fostering discussion and scholarship
on the relationship of ethics as applied
to professionals;
- A project to improve
the religious literacy of the public by
sponsoring lectures and forums on issues
related to religion and public life.
Past
projects
The center's past
work includes:
- Studies of how religion
helps or hurts brain-damaged people cope
- Curriculum development
for training journalists in religion
- Studies of professionals'
attitudes of religion
- Public forums on religion
- Small group discussions
on ethics and the professions
- Creation of an online
journal
- Sponsorship of fellows
- Scholarly presentations
and publications
Click here to read highlights
of our most recent Annual
Report to the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Future
projects
The Center is developing
a series of short courses for medical, nursing
and health professionals to help them understand
how clients' religious beliefs and practices
may come in conflict with traditional medical
practices and ways to approach these situations.
It also is planning significant research
about how the public views religion news
coverage.
Getting
involved
We welcome all interested people to become
involved with the Center. The Center works
with faculty and students from a range of
disciplines at the University of Missouri-Columbia,
as well as noted authors, scholars, researchers,
public figures, religious leaders and thinkers
from around the world. To discuss your interest,
please contact Amy White at 573-882-2770.
Supporting
our mission
The Center was founded in April 2003 with
a $1.4 million, two-year grant from The
Pew Charitable Trusts. The Center received
a $1.5 million two- to three-year renewal
grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts in
December 2005. The university is required
to raise endowment funds to keep the Center
running once grant funding ends. It aims
to raise funds from contributors nationwide.
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