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At the Intersection of Research and the Public Good

At the Intersection of Research and the Public Good

September 27, 2023
The 2023-24 academic year might just be the busiest one yet at the Center for the Study of World Religions. In addition to the Center’s numerous and lively lectures, art exhibits, and guest talks that all students (and most often the general public) are invited to attend, the CSWR’s Transcendence and Transformation (T&T) initiative is now entering its third year and is expanding considerably, with new funding and a widely expanded crop of visiting scholars, postdoctoral fellows and research associates who will broaden T&T’s reach and impact.
President Claudine Gay stands behind a podium in the James Room speaking to a seated crowd.

At Harvard Divinity, Claudine Gay Sees ‘Aspirations for What We Can Achieve as a University’

September 11, 2023

“Those who founded the nation’s first non-sectarian theological school in 1816 would be astounded by this gathering, which represents these ever-widening circles of inclusion.”

Harvard President Claudine Gay shared those words while addressing a crowd of nearly 200 Harvard Divinity School community members on Thursday during the School’s 208th Convocation. She pointed out that two centuries later, the School’s mission has evolved beyond “to quote early advocates, ‘the serious, impartial, and unbiased investigation of Christian truth’ to ‘a just world at peace across religious and cultural divides,’” noting that the student body now represents more than 40 different faith traditions—as well as those of no faith tradition.... Read more about At Harvard Divinity, Claudine Gay Sees ‘Aspirations for What We Can Achieve as a University’

Kenneth Moales III, MDiv '24, back row third from right, attends the “Stand Up To Jewish Hate” campaign event with faith leaders. Photo

At HDS, New Certificate Leads to Community Contributions

September 7, 2023

When Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School launched three years ago, it engendered a new Certificate in Religion and Public Life, providing students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and networks to leverage their master of theological studies and master of divinity degrees across a range of professional contexts, including in journalism, government, humanitarianism, and organizing.

In addition to coursework...

Read more about At HDS, New Certificate Leads to Community Contributions
Ailih Weeldreyer, MTS '24, at the United States Institute of Peace / Courtesy image

Summer Internship Furthers International Peacebuilding Efforts

August 28, 2023

"Conflicts are driven by a number of complicated factors, but are often mislabeled as religious. This experience showed me that religious literacy is necessary in peacebuilding to appropriately address the ambivalent and complex religious dimensions of conflict, and how best to channel the power of religious peacebuilders in the creation of just and peaceful societies."—Ailih Weeldreyer, MTS candidate

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... Read more about Summer Internship Furthers International Peacebuilding Efforts

Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart

A Slippery Slope: What the Supreme Court's Recent Rulings Mean for Religion in the U.S.

July 21, 2023

This summer, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued two major decisions with religion at the center of the cases. In Groff v. DeJoy, the court bolstered protections for workers asking for religious accommodations, and in 303 Creative v. Elenis, SCOTUS sided with a Colorado web designer who did not want to provide services to same-sex couples.... Read more about A Slippery Slope: What the Supreme Court's Recent Rulings Mean for Religion in the U.S.

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