CONFERENCE PROGRAM 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH 

9:55am

Gregory Simpson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Welcome Address

10am – 11:30am

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa, Columbia University & NYU

Keynote Address: ‘Teaching Hinduism to non-Hindus’

                                                           

11:30am – 1pm:            Lunch Break

1pm – 2pm

                       

Daniel Liechty, Illinois State University

‘A Psychosocial Theory of Religion: Its Significance for Academic Religious Studies’

2pm – 3pm

Jack Laughlin & Kornel Zathureczky, University of Sudbury

‘Citizens United for Religious Studies Education: Teaching Religion Beyond the Curses of Literacy & Eliminationism’

3pm – 4pm

Katherine Jo, University of Illinois—Champaign-Urbana

‘Philosophy as Religious Education: Exploring the Common Ground & Divergent Truths of the Religious and the Secular’

4pm – 5:30pm  

Mark Berkson, Hamline University

Keynote Address: ‘Why, How, & Who?  Exploring the Big Questions in Religious Studies Pedagogy’

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH 

9am – 10am     

Michael Barnes Norton, University of Arkansas

‘The Importance of the Study of Religion for Philosophy: Two Cases’

10am – 11am

Lisa Landoe-Hedrick, University of Chicago Divinity School

‘Cognitive Maturity & Responsible Selves: Pragmatist Insights for Interpersonal Communication & their Methodological Import for Religious Studies’

11am – Noon

Nathan C. Walker, Columbia University Teachers College

            ‘Teaching Legal Research & Analysis in Religious Studies’

                                   

Noon – 1pm:  Lunch Break

1pm – 2pm

            Daniel Breyer, Illinois State University

‘Naturalizing Religion: Three Buddhist Ideas that Even Non-Buddhists Can Endorse’     

Distinguished Speakers

Mark Berkson is Chair of the Department of Religion at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Professor Berkson’s research focuses on comparative religion, religious ethics, and interreligious dialogue. In 2008, he received Hamline University’s prestigious Outstanding Faculty Award. Recently, Professor Berkson produced a lecture series with The Great Courses entitled Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know.

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa (aka, Pandit) is a Hindu monk, a dynamic lecturer, and the first-ever Hindu chaplain for Columbia University and New York University. Pandit regularly contributes to the Huffington Post and recently published his autobiography, Urban Monk - Exploring Karma, Consciouness and the Divine. Recently, NPR featured Pandit in its story, ‘Long Days and Short Nights of a Hindu Monk.’

Mark Muesse is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. Professor Muesse’s research focuses on comparative religion and spirituality. This August, he published his most recent book, The Age of Sages: The Axial Age in Asia. In 2008, Professor Muesse won the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching, Rhodes College's highest faculty honor. Unfortunately, Professor Muesse experienced health problems that prevented him from attending the conference. Look for a version of his paper on the conference blog soon: http://whystudyreligion.blogspot.com

Teaching Hinduism to Non-Hindus

By Gadadhara Pandit Dasa

            One in five hate crimes in America are religiously motivated. Most hate crimes are rooted in ignorance of other cultures, beliefs, and traditions. Religious education will play a crucial role in reducing and perhaps even preventing religious violence from taking place.

            The cultural and religious landscape of America is becoming increasingly diverse. Our neighborhoods can consist of people from a variety of different faith backgrounds.  In order for us to live in harmony with each other, it is imperative for everyone to be knowledgeable of one’s own and other people’s philosophies and practices of prayer and meditation.

            Of all the major faith traditions, the West is least informed about Hinduism. Through many popular Hollywood movies, Seven Years in Tibet, Kundun: the Movie and the multiple biographies of the Dalai Lama, Buddhism has made its way into mainstream American culture. Most monks within Hollywood movies are from the Buddhist tradition. Over the last 14 years, 99% of the people who approach me, while I’m walking around in New York City in my saffron robes, ask me if I’m a “Buddhist” monk. Once, a person asked me “if I was a Shaolin monk and if I knew Kung-Fu.” This is the result of people getting their religious education from television and movies. This type of “Hollywood” education has proven very detrimental for those of the Muslim faith whose members have been singled out after acts of terrorism of a few religious fanatics.

            Therefore, I feel that it is especially important for the student community, high school and college level, to learn about the various religious traditions that surround them. Younger minds are more open and receptive to all kinds of knowledge. They have an easier time learning and accepting the differences that exist between people. It’s only when we get older and fixed in our own paths that we have a harder time accommodating others. This increases the risk of developing the mentality “my way is the only way.”

            One teacher cannot represent all traditions and therefore, it is crucial for students to get exposed to practitioners of the various faiths who can properly represent and be the face of that tradition. Hearing from a practitioner brings the religion to life, which allows the student to see members of other faiths as people and as a result become more sympathetic to them and their beliefs.

            Visits to houses of worship provide a wonderful, eye-opening experience for students. This takes them out of their comfort zone and allows them to step into the world of worship experienced by people of a different culture. We fear what we don’t know and understand. That fear can lead to discriminatory behavior, which can even lead to acts of aggression. However, if from an early age, that fear is dealt with in a positive manner, through acts of education, the next generation of adults can be more sympathetic and help reduce the religious-based violence in the world.

            Growing up in Glendale, California in the 1980s, I had the experience of being the only Hindu kid in school and in my entire town.  Although, I wasn’t discriminated against, I did experience bits of ridicule from some students about worshipping eight-armed goddesses and monkeys. I made sure to never bring up religion so as to avoid uncomfortable situations.

            My parents maintained an altar with pictures of multiple Hindu deities. Daily we would offer incense and flowers to the gods. I would also participate and recite prayers and mantras as part of my daily ritual. I didn’t understand the reason behind the rituals; however, the practices made me feel connected to God.

            For the first time in my life, at the age of 21, after the collapse of my family’s multimillion-dollar jewelry business, I began an exploration of the Bhagavad Gita in hopes of finding answers about karma, reincarnation, god, and the purpose of life. Many years later, in an attempt to explore my spiritual life in depth, I moved into a monastery in Mumbai, India and have been a monk for the last 14 years. Currently, I live in a monastery in New York City and work as the Hindu Religious Life Advisor (chaplain) for Columbia University and New York University and as an interfaith chaplain for Union Theological Seminary.

            I draw upon my experiences of growing up in this country as an exploring Hindu and attempt to teach the beliefs and practices of the Hindu faith to a western audience, in a way that is accessible, relatable, and universal.

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa (aka, Pandit) is a Hindu monk, a dynamic lecturer, and the first-ever Hindu chaplain for Columbia University and New York University. Pandit regularly contributes to the Huffington Post and recently published his autobiography, Urban Monk - Exploring Karma, Consciouness and the Divine. Recently, NPR featured Pandit in its story, ‘Long Days and Short Nights of a Hindu Monk.’ He will be the opening speaker at the upcoming conference, Why Study Religion? at Illinois State University. His talk will be in the State Farm Hall of Business in room 148 at 10am on Friday, October 25th.