2008-2009 Catalog - Virginia Wesleyan College

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM45CENTER FOR THE STUDYOF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMWhy have a Center for the Study of ReligiousFreedom at a liberal arts college with a UnitedMethodist heritage? The answer is simple.We live in a complex and rapidly changing world.Religious and cultural pluralism are prominent features ofour social reality. If we are to be engaged and productivecitizens, we must learn to appreciate the diverse perspectivesfrom which the world is viewed. A liberal arts educationhelps prepare students to do this. By the same token,respect for diversity has always been part of the Methodisttradition. The United Methodist Church’s social principlescondemn all forms of religious intolerance, while stronglyaffirming the fundamental importance of religious libertyand church-state separation. In short, Virginia WesleyanCollege’s commitment to the value of a liberal artseducation, combined with its United Methodist heritage,make it an ideal setting for such a Center.Mission: The mission of the Center for the Study ofReligious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan College is:• Education: to provide Virginia Wesleyan studentswith an informed understanding of religious freedomas a basic human right;• Scholarship: to engage in sustained study of the legal,social and theological conditions of religious freedom;• Engagement: to combat religious intolerance byconstructively engaging our society’s broad religiouspluralism.Combining the resources of the College and the widercommunity, the Center provides a vehicle for educationand scholarship and a forum where people of diverse faithtraditions (or none) can come together for respectfuldialogue and mutual understanding.Faculty and Student Involvement: The study ofreligious freedom is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing ona wide range of disciplines including history, politicalscience, religious studies, and other fields. Faculty membersfrom across the college’s academic divisions contribute tothe Center’s work through the teaching in these disciplinesand by participating in Center programs.Students benefit from Center educational programs inmany ways. Center courses affirm the value of diverseperspectives and methodologies in understanding complexissues (see page 61). The Center’s public educational eventsoffer additional opportunities for student enrichment.Students involved in service learning programs orcommunity service organizations may work with theCenter on specific projects. The Center’s library includesmore than 1,000 books on religious freedom and relatedissues, and these materials are available to students, faculty,and other interested users.Community Initiatives: Each year, the Centersponsors several educational events that reach beyond thecampus community and invite the larger public into ourongoing exploration of religious freedom. Interfaith paneldiscussions, semester-long symposia on particular issues,presentations on sacred music, plays, and films are amongthe types of programs regularly offered by the Center. Manyevents are arranged in partnership with local organizationsor faith communities. One of the Center’s hallmarkprograms is the NEXUS Interfaith Dialogue Series.“Nexus” means “a point of connection,” and this is justwhat NEXUS is about: connecting people of all faithsthrough open and respectful dialogue. These personalencounters are vital in our struggle to overcome religiousintolerance in our society.The Center seeks not only to educate our minds, but totouch our hearts and transform our communities. Thisrequires respectful engagement with those whoseworldviews are different from our own. We need not beafraid of our religious differences. Instead, we can choose tosee them as opportunities for mutual understanding andgrowth. This process of committed engagement deepensour self-understanding, strengthens our communities, andreaffirms the democratic principles that support religiousfreedom.The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom islocated on the first floor of Clarke Hall. You are welcome tocome by and visit. You may also want to visit our website:www.vwc.edu/csrf.