Join us for a series of thought-provoking events! Over the winter, we will be joined by 3 fantastic speakers. Firstly we will hear from Prof. Heidi Campbell from Texas A&M University who will explore the dynamics of technology, religion, and digital culture, focusing on media negotiations within Jewish, Muslim, and Christian contexts. Next, we are joined by, Rev. Dr. Anne Van Gend will launch her book “Restoring the Story,” delving into the multifaceted understandings of atonement across cultures. Finally, Dr. Gina A. Zurlo will analyze Christianity’s global demographic shift and its implications, discussing methodologies and findings of quantitative data on religion.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Religious internet memes, and how they can spread miss/diss information about Religion
Prof. Heidi Campbell, Texas A&M
Date & Time: June 12th 2024, 6:30 pm for pizza, 7 pm for lecture.
Biography:
Heidi A Campbell is Professor of Communication, affiliate faculty in Religious Studies at Texas A&M University. She is also director of the Network for New Media, Religion and Digital Culture Studies, and a founder of Digital Religion studies. Her research focuses on technology, religion and digital culture, with emphasis on Jewish, Muslim & Christian media negotiations. Her books include When Religion Meets New Media (2010), Digital Religion (2013/2021) and Digital Creatives and the Rethinking Religious Authority (2021).
Book Launch: Restoring the Story
Rev. Dr. Anne Van Gend
Date & Time: 22nd June 2024, 6:30 pm for pizza, 7 pm for a panel discussion.
Book blurb:
An accessible, entertaining and comprehensive introduction to the variety of understandings of atonement, and why they matter.- Written with a cross-cultural and international audience in mind, from material which has been used for teaching in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand-Plenty of suggestions for further reading, giving students jumping-off points to further explore the conversation. Are we getting too squeamish about the atonement?There is a quiet crisis of confidence in many Western churches. Confusion, debates and changing sensibilities have thrown doubt on whether one of our central doctrines can be reliably communicated as “good news” today. This book approaches atonement through story, allowing imagination to illuminate the multi-faceted meanings in Christ’s atoning work, and exploring how those rich stories can be good news for the complex issues of our day.
Christianity and Quantitative Data on Religion: History, Methods, Findings
Dr. Gina A. Zurlo
Date & Time: 10th July 2024, 6:30 pm for pizza, 7 pm for lecture.
Abstract:
Christianity is the world’s largest religion with 2.6 billion adherents. In the 20th century, Christianity experienced a massive transformation and there are now more Christians in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania than in Europe and North America. How did this happen? What demographic and religious factors have a role in global religious change? This talk will discuss the methods of counting religion worldwide and present findings of the current status of religion, and the potential religious future.
Biography:
Gina A. Zurlo, Ph.D. is a Yang Visiting Scholar of World Christianity at Harvard Divinity School as well as Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Her research focuses on the demography of religion, World Christianity, sociology of religion, and women’s studies. She is also a visiting research fellow at Boston University’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs, where she edits the World Religion Database (Brill). Her most recent books include Global Christianity: A Guide to the World’s Largest Religion from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe (Zondervan Academic, 2022), Women in World Christianity: Building and Sustaining a Global Movement (Wiley-Blackwell, 2023), and From Nairobi to the World: David B. Barrett and the Re-Imagining of World Christianity (Brill, 2023). She was named one of the BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring and Influential Women of 2019 for her work in quantifying the religious future.
