The Inaugural Aronov Lecture

Each Fall, the Department will sponsor an Aronov Lecture, delivered by a nationally recognized scholar of religion capable of exploring the wider relevance of the academic study of religion to the mission of the public university. This event is made possible by the Department's Aaron Aronov Endowment for Judaic Studies.

November 4, 2002
Professor Martin Jaffee
Department of Comparative Religion
University of Washington
Topic: "Can I Share a Personal Example with You?: Self-Disclosure, Religious Studies Pedagogy, and the Sceptical Mission of the University."

Read the essay that first suggested Prof. Jaffee as a possible Aronov Lecturer, "Fessing Up in Theory: On Professing and Confessing in the Religious Studies Classroom."

See the University's Press Release on Prof. Jaffee's lecture.

American Religion Discussion Group

Saturday, March 1, 2003
Meeting of the American Religion Discussion Group
The American Religion Discussion Group is a semi-annual gathering of American religion historians, drawing participants from colleges and universities in the South, including Clemson, Vanderbilt, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Georgia, Samford, Auburn and Alabama. This is the first time that the University of Alabama has hosted this event. The topic for discussion at this meeting is the book Wayne Flynt's book, Alabama Baptists (1998). The meeting will take place in the Ferguson Center's Anderson Room (on the 3rd floor) from 9:00-12:00.

Religion in Culture Lectures

September 26, 2002
Professor Eddie Glaude Jr.
Center for the Study of Religion
Princeton University
Topic: "In Search of a Black Public: The Changing Place of African American Religion during the Interwar Period"

In preparation for this lecture, a faculty group is reading Prof. Glaude's first book, Exodus! Religion, Race, and Nation in Early Nineteenth Century Black America (2000). This lecture is made possible by the combined efforts of: American Studies, African-American Studies, History, New College, English, the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Office of the Provost, as well as through the cooperation of Stillman College, where Prof. Glaude spoke on September 27.

Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Professor Willi Braun
Department of Comparative Literature, Religion, and Film/Media Studies
University of Alberta, Canada
Topic: "Reading Myth, Writing History: Historiographical Reflections on the Study of Early Christianity."

Professor Braun is the author of Feasting and Social Rhetoric in Luke 14 (1995), co-editor of the Guide to the Study of Religion (2000), and longtime editor of the international scholarly journal, Method & Theory in the Study of Religion. His seminar will be held in the Student Services Building (Room 101F). This event is made possible by the Anonymous Lecture Fund of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Monday, March 10, 2003
Prof. Lawrence Powell
Department of History
Tulane University
and
Holocaust survivor Anne Levy
Topic: "Troubled Memory: Anne Levy, the Holocaust, and David Duke's Louisianna."
A reception and book signing follows, all of which is held in 205 Smith Hall at 7 p.m. This event is made possible by the Department's Aronov Endowment for Judaic Studies.

Thursday, March 13, 2003
George Williamson
Department of History
University of Alabama
Topic: "Creating a National Mythology: Religion, Scholarship, and the Postcolonial Moment in Germany, 1770-1848."

A brief response to the paper will be delivered by Tim Murphy, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama. The event will be held from 3:30-4:30 in the Forum Room of the Ferguson Center (Room 360), with a reception to follow in the Anderson Room (Room 313). The event is free and open to the public. This event is made possible by the Anonymous Lecture Fund of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Monday, March 31, 2003
Mark McCormick
Assistant Professor of Old Testament
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa AL
Topic: "Fifty Years of Fact and Fiction: The Culture of Biblical Studies and the Creation of History."

Professor McCormick is the author of Palace and Temple: A Study of Architectural and Verbal Icons (2002). This event will be held at 7:00 p.m. in Smith Hall (Room 205) with a reception to follow in the 2nd floor gallery of Smith Hall. The event is free and open to the public, and is made posible by the support of the Department's Aaron Aronov Endowment for Judaic Studies.