News from the R&ACCenter for the Study of Religion and American Culture Spring 2007 Volume 14, Number 1 Young Scholars Program Renewed We are pleased to announce that Lilly Endowment has agreed to Mentors for the 2007-09 Young Scholars in American Religion renew funding for the Young Scholars in American Religion Program. Program will be Dr. Amanda Porterfi eld, the Robert A. Spivey The grant, totaling $852,589, will enable the program to continue Professor of Religion at Florida State University, and Dr. Paul Harvey, through 2012. Professor of History at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Begun in 1991, over one hundred new faculty members have Dr. Porterfi eld is author of such important books as Female Piety completed the series of seminars in Puritan New England, Mary Lyon dedicated to teaching and research. The and the Mount Holyoke Missionaries, program will continue to focus on those and The Transformation of American elements of the profession but also Religion, and more recently Healing include a weekend seminar on such “ in the History of Christianity and The other professional issues as constructing Protestant Experience in America. Dr. a tenure portfolio, publication, grant This program is unique Harvey is author of Redeeming the writing, and department politics. in its design and its long- South and Freedom’s Coming, as well “I believe this is one of the most as co-editor of Themes in Religion and time level of success. I’m successful training seminars for new American Culture and The Columbia faculty in any fi eld of study,” said Philip proud that it is associated Documentary History of Religion in Goff, director of the Center for the Study “with Lilly Endowment. America Since 1945. of Religion and American Culture. “We are very grateful for the trust - Philip Goff, Center Director “By adding another set of meetings Lilly Endowment has placed in us to for issues that often go undiscussed, continue helping new professors as we can further enhance an already they gain their footing,” said Goff. wonderful program and hopefully help “This program is unique in its design our participants navigate rough waters and its long-time level of success. I’m that sometimes make academic life diffi cult.” proud that it is associated with Lilly Endowment.” The grant will provide funds for three groups of Young Scholars to Information about the program and the application requirements go through the program. The fi rst set will meet fi ve times from 2007 can be found on page 11 of this Newsletter. For further information, through 2009. The second will meet from 2009 through 2011. The please write, email, or call the Center directly. fi nal group will meet from 2010 through 2012. CSRAC Named a Signature Center of IUPUI The Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture was recently named a Signature Center of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The Signature Center designation, new to IUPUI, is based upon several criteria, including research strength, academic distinction, and scholarly record of faculty investigators. The Center’s proposal was one of nineteen selected from seventy-one submissions. “A strong university research profi le that brings genuine distinction is always built on ideas that faculty are passionate about,” said Uday Sukhatme, IUPUI Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties, “The IUPUI Signature Center Initiative was designed to promote such strong research units. The Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture already has a remarkably strong track record for scholarship —I had heard about it beafore joining IUPUI. I was delighted when all four of our faculty review committees independently recognized the unique and distinctive work of the Center, and enthusiastically chose it for support as an IUPUI Signature Center.” 2 News from the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture Working on Scriptures? So are we! Center for the Study of A new research focus at the Center for the Study Religion and American Culture of Religion and American Culture is how scriptures influence and are influenced by life in North America. Already the research specialization of several of our Philip Goff, Director Research Fellows, the Center is now poised to make the study of scriptures in American life a signature Thomas J. Davis, Journal Managing Editor issue of research for the next several years. We have already identified five areas for study, Peter J. Thuesen, Director of Research including: scriptures and American ideas, scriptures in the Humanities and science in America, scriptures and American education, scriptures and the American imagination, Arthur Farnsley II, Director of Research in the Social Sciences and scriptures in American law and politics. One component of this project involves finding Rebecca Vasko, Program Coordinator those scholars studying the role and influence of scriptures in American society and culture, both past Joy Sherrill, Office Coordinator and present. We hope to sponsor several conferences on this topic and need to build a database of those working in this area who might be invited to present their research. We would like to hear from those Center for the Study of Religion & American Culture working in the areas listed above, as well as other IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI subjects related to the topic. Cavanaugh Hall, Room 417 If you are working on some aspect of scriptures in 425 University Blvd. American life, please contact Dr. Peter Thuesen, the Indianapolis, IN 46202-5140 PH: 317-274-8409 Center’s Director of Research in the Humanities, by FAX: 317-278-3354 email at [email protected] or by mail at The Center www.iupui.edu/~raac/ for the Study of Religion and American Culture, IUPUI, [email protected] 425 University Blvd., CA 417, Indianapolis, IN 46202. on the web: http://www.ucpressjournals.com full text online at: http://caliber.ucpress.net religion and american culture Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation is devoted to promoting the ongoing scholarly discussion of the nature, terms, and dynamics of religion in America. Embracing a diversity of theoretical perspectives, this semi-annual publication explores the interplay between religion and other spheres of American Culture. university of california press News from the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture 3 Visiting Scholars Meet with Center Fellows Spring saw two significant scholars on campus to meet with Research Fellows at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture. In March Mark Noll discussed his new research project on Civil Rights, while in April Harry S. Stout conferred with Fellows about his recent book and possible topics for new research. Noll, formerly of Wheaton College and now Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, visited IUPUI to deliver the Thomas H. Lake Lecture on Faith & Giving on March 29th. His lecture, entitled “The Logic of Evangelicalism and the Challenges of Philanthropy,” was attended by nearly 200 academicians and members of the community and sponsored by the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving. A dinner followed the lecture with a discussion moderated by Philip Goff, director of the Center. The next morning Noll met with a group of the Center’s Research Fellows for further conversation. “It was my privilege to experience Indianapolis’ bracing combination of a serious center devoted to the study of philanthropy and a dynamic group that studies American religious history,” said Noll. “As much fun as it was to prepare a lecture on the subject, ‘The Logic of Evangelicalism and the Challenges of Philanthropy,’ it was even more of a treat to bat this subject around with the historians at a roundtable the day following the lecture. Some of the cognescenti probably still do not think first of Indianapolis, when locating American high points of intellectual excellence, but they should.” Stout, who is Jonathan Edwards Professor of History of Christianity at Harry Stout talks about his latest Yale University, spoke on April 6th about his new book Upon the Altar of book, Upon the Altar of the the Nation: A Moral History of the Civil War (Penguin Books, 2006). The Nation, at a roundtable discussion thought-provoking lecture produced an equally educational question with Center Research Fellows and answer period. “Professor Stout’s wonderfully iconoclastic book uses ‘just war’ theory to question some of the tactics used during the Civil War,” said Peter Thuesen, Center Research Fellow. “It was Mark Noll contemplates a fascinating to hear him reflect on the reaction from some readers, question from one of the Centet’s Research Fellows whose assumptions about the defining American war have been challenged.” The following day Stout met with a group of the Center’s Fellows to discuss further his work on religion and war, as well as bounce around ideas for his next book project. “I can’t recall a time when three hours went so quickly!” said Stout. “The questions and conversation explored some of the most vexing issues we face as as a nation in confronting the From left, Center Fellows Jon Baer, William difficult subject of religion and war. I emerged from the dialogue with a far clearer sense of how Enright, and William Ringernberg at roundtable discussion with Harry Stout religion has shaped our American society—and our world, for better and for worse.” The two visits capped a year of gatherings by the Fellows which included such other authors as Alan Petigny of the University of Florida on Reinhold Niebuhr and secularization in the 1950s, and Fellows Sheila Kennedy and Edward Curtis presenting portions of their book manuscripts for discussion. Kennedy’s God and Country: America in Red and Blue was just published by Baylor University Press.