Religious Studies Scholars as Public Intellectuals

by Sabrina D. MisirHiralall (Editor), Christopher L. Fici (Editor), Gerald S. Vigna (Editor)

Overview

The prominence of religion in recent debates around politics, identity formation, and international terrorism has led to an increased demand on those studying religion to help clarify and contextualise religious belief and practice in the public sphere. While many texts focus on the theoretical development of the subject, this book outlines a wider application of these studies by exploring the role of religious studies scholars and theologians as public intellectuals.

This collection of essays first seeks to define exactly what makes an intellectual "public". It then goes on to deal with a few questions of concern: How do public intellectuals construct knowledge in religious and theological scholarship? What is the link between public intellectuals of higher education and their role in society? Do higher education institutions have a responsibility to endorse public intellectualism?

Looking at the individual and collective role of religious studies scholars and theologians in public life, this book will be of great interest to all scholars and academics involved in religious studies and theology across the academy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367589943
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/14/2020
Series:	Routledge Studies in Religion
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Sabrina D. MisirHiralall, Ed.D. received her doctorate from the Pedagogy and Philosophy Program at Montclair State University. Recently, she published Confronting Orientalism A Self-Study of Educating Through Hindu Dance. She serves as Regional Coordinator on the Executive Board of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Academy of Religion.

Christopher L. Fici is a Ph.D candidate at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He serves currently as the President of the Mid-Atlantic American Academy of Religion, as well as Co-Chair within that region for the Comparative Religion and Ecology section.

Gerald S. Vigna is Associate Professor of Theology at Alvernia University in Reading, PA. He completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at Temple University and Northwestern University respectively. Currently, he is Vice-President/President-Elect of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Academy of Religion.

Table of Contents

Notes on contributors viii

1 Introduction Sabrina D. Misirhiralall 1

Part I Our role as public intellectuals 5

2 Presidential address: the future of religious and theological studies: what is our responsibility as public intellectuals? Sabrina D. Misirhiralall 7

3 Claiming our voice: religious studies and public scholarship Michael D. Waggoner 12

4 A scholar's lament: public acts of grief in a nation of religious minorities Nathan C. Walker 26

Part II Public intellectual theology for the common good in the post-truth era 33

5 Tragedy and resistance: religious and theological studies for the common good Joel C. Daniels 35

6 Chess boards and boxing gloves: public theology, aesthetics, and post-truth politics L. Callid Keefe-Perry 45

7 Theological inquiry and leadership in a "post-truth" era: insights from blessed Oscar Romero Marc Delmonico

Part III Pedagogy and praxis of the public intellectual 75

8 Decolonizing the classroom: experimental strategies for decolonial pedagogy and praxis Gabriel C. Crooks 77

9 The responsibility and limits of military chaplains as public theologians Adam Tietje 91

10 Religion and leadership: taking some cues from Focolare's "inundations" Marian Maskulak 109

11 The faithful frame: interfaith conversation and the role of the public intellectual Rev. Dr. Jane Huber Rabbi Seth Wax 120

Part IV Public intellectualism across the borderlines of religion and history 133

12 Welcoming Syrian refugees in Turkey: the role of religious discourse in the case of Diyanet Aysenur Sönmez Kara 135

13 The philosophy of Islamic Sufism in public and private piety Walead Mosaad 148

14 Public intellectuals at the dawn of the Anthropocene Age: can we re Member? Sara Jolena Wolcott 163

15 Theological anthropology: Christianity's metaphysic of oppression Roberto E. Alejandro 178

16 Conclusion: scholars of religion and the duty to speak and act Christopher L. Fici Gerald S. Vigna 193

Index 200