UA Conference Focuses on the Place of African Cultures in the Study of Religion

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The department of religious studies at The University of Alabama is hosting “The African Diaspora and the Study of Religion” conference on April 7-8 at the Bryant Conference Center. The conference is free and open to the public.

The two-day conference focuses on the work of up and coming national and international scholars studying the history, spread and influence of African cultures.

“Presentations will focus on Africa – both as a physical and a mythical place, and religion as a cultural phenomenon,” said Dr. Theodore Trost, professor of religious studies and New College, and chairperson of the program committee for the conference. “Examples of this include movements such as Rastafari and the Nation of Islam, the southern black church, and in communities of Latin America and the Caribbean.”

“The role African-Americans have played in shaping the American culture is not sufficiently recognized,” said Trost. “This conference will highlight those contributions. There is also a chance to meet and talk with scholars who are likely to make significant contributions to the study of religion, literature, and culture over the next two or three decades as well as to hear from established scholars.”

Dr. Wilson J. Moses, the keynote speaker, has spent a lifetime addressing the issues of the African Diaspora in his scholarly work. His will deliver his address at the conference at 7 p.m. on April 7. He is Ferree Professor in American History at Pennsylvania State University and senior fellow of the Institute for the Arts and Humanities. Moses is the author of six books: “The Golden Age of Black Nationalism,” “Black Messiahs and Uncle Toms,” “The Wings of Ethiopia,” “Afrotopia: Roots of African-American Popular History” and “Creative Conflict in African American Thought.” He is also the editor of three text books and author of over 150 articles, chapters, essays, reviews, poems and stories.

Twelve junior scholars from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States will present their research. The junior scholars, who are doctoral students and assistant professors, were selected from an international “call for papers” in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Concluding remarks will be provided by Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., professor of religious studies at Princeton University at 4:45 p.m. on April 8. Glaude’s research interests include African-American religious history and its place in American public life. He is the recipient of the 2002 Modern Language Association William Sanders Scarborough Prize for his book “Exodus!” which investigates how the story of the exodus in the Hebrew Bible has been interpreted, reinterpreted and used to forge a common identity among African Americans.

“Glaude presented a Religion in Culture lecture at UA in 2002,” said Trost, “We are excited about his return to our campus.”

For the full schedule of presentations, to register for the conference or for more information, visit http://www.as.ua.edu/rel/africanconference.html or call the department of religious studies at 205/348-5271.

Students at UA have the option of registering for this conference as a two-day, one credit hour course for the spring 2005 semester. Dr. Catherine Roach, assistant professor of New College and religious studies, is directing this aspect of the conference and may be contacted at croach@nc.ua.edu or 205/348-8415.

Hosted and organized by the department of religious studies, the conference is also sponsored by Dr. Judy Bonner, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Robert Olin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; the African American studies program, Capstone International Programs, the department of American studies, the department of anthropology, the department of history, the department of women’s studies, external degree program, Honors College, New College, and the office of student affairs.

The department of religious studies is located in the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state with 6,600 students and 360 faculty. Students from the college have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships, and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Team.