NEXUS

NEXUS: Religion in the Public University

From 2004 to 2008, SIRCS and the UNM Religious Studies Program sponsored a series of public events designed to promote thoughtful dialogue regarding the contemporary issues and the role of religious traditions within society and the public university. Most included public lectures on religion, ethics, and spirituality vis-a-vis contemporary issues, each free and open to the public. Most were followed by intensive dialogue sessions between university-based scholars from diverse academic disciplines and congregation-based clergy from diverse religious traditions. Nexus was primarily funded by the Lilly Endowment through the Louisville Institute. The Nexus initiative has continued through internal university events on similar topics, and may be re-launched in the future.

Public Events Sponsored/Co-sponsored by SIRCS/Religious Studies

Event	Speaker	Date	Attendance
Ethics of Taxes in New Mexico	NM Voices for Children, Director Kay Monaco Rabbi Joseph Black, Congregation Albert Rev.Christine Robinson, First Unitarian Church Fr. Bob Keller, Aquinas: Newman Center Mr. John Sandager, Hoffmantown Baptist Church	Dec 2004	~30 religious & civic leaders
American Empire: A Theological Response to the Bush Inauguration	Dr. Larry Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary	Jan 2005	~100 religious & civic leaders and UNM faculty
The Use and Misuse of Religion in Politics	Rev. Brian Taylor, St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church Richard Wood, UNM Religious Studies Rev. Curtis Brickley, Hoffmantown Baptist Church, Andy Schultz, UNM School of Law and Rabbi Joe Black, Congregation Albert	May 2005	~ 120 community members
Religion, Civil Rights, & Individual Liberties	Rev. C. Becknell, Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church Sen. Mark Boitano, Republican Sen. Dede Feldman, Democrat Imam Isam Rajab, Islamic Center of NM Prof. Rob Schwartz, UNM School of Law	July 2005	~90
"The Failure of Environmentalism -- and What Religious Communities Can Do"	Dr. Larry Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary	Sept 2005	~100 UNM faculty & students, local leaders
Christian and Hindu on Loving God	Dr. Martin Ganeri, OP; Catholic chaplain at University of Edinburgh	Nov 2005	~35 UNM faculty & students, local religious leaders
"Saints at Odds: Islam and America in the World"	Dr. Anouar Majid, University of New England	Nov 2005	~200 UNM faculty & students, local religious & civic leaders
Evolution Wars: Who's Fighting Whom about What?	Dr. Martinez Hewlett, Professor Emeritus of Molecular Biology, Univ. of Arizona Dr. Ted Peters, Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley	Jan 2006	~250 UNM faculty & students, local religious & civic leaders
Poverty in America -- Whose Responsibility?	Patsy Kelton-Born, Project Share Frank Yates, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church	Jan 2006	~80 religious & civic leaders