"Religious Freedom," the next in the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Freedom Files, will be presented at 1p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, in 150 Franco Building, Penn State Berks. This event is free to the public. The American Civil Liberties Union Web site states, "The right of every American to practice his or her own religion or no religion at all (more)
Charles S. Prebish, professor of religious studies, will retire Dec. 31 from Penn State, following more than 35 years of service. Prebish is leaving Penn State to become holder of the Charles Redd endowed chair in religious studies at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He will assume his new position Jan. 1. (more)
As Christmas approaches, Americans begin to display differing opinions on public displays of religion. Some Americans feel that religious displays are inappropriate; while others feel that it's their right to show their holiday spirit. "World of Difference" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, on WPSU-TV/FM will examine what is acceptable to say and display during the holiday season. (more)
Planning and attending the office Christmas party in December used to be relatively simple. The increasing diversity of the workplace, however, has turned party planning for the office into a potentially thorny dilemma. But a diversity specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says a few simple guidelines can keep the fun in holiday celebrations. Patreese Ingram, associate professor of diversity education, notes that while Christmas is one of the most important celebrations for Christians, a growing percentage of the nation's population is non-Christian. (more)
The ethics statement of Penn State's Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs (CERA) notes that the center is "charged with providing a venue and programs for the ethical, spiritual and character development of the University community." According to Interim Director Bob Smith, CERA will continue to facilitate the religious part of its name, while intensifying its focus on the ethics portion. "Students are at that point where for the first time, they have to make a tremendous number of decisions on their own," he said. "A lot of those decisions cause stress and anxiety. If they have a solid foundation in ethical decision making, it helps immensely." (more)
A faith-based program that provides health and healing outreach to central Pennsylvania communities is the recipient of a $30,000 grant from Highmark Blue Shield. LINCSS, which stands for Linking Individuals with Non-medical Congregational Support Services, is a community outreach program sponsored by the Center of Religion and Health, part of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center's Department of Pastoral Services. LINCSS strives to inspire health and healing by providing spiritual leadership and creative programming to assist faith-based communities in creating and sustaining meaningful health ministries. (more)
Penn State is hosting an international conference on "Islam and Bioethics: concerns, challenges and responses" March 27-28 at The Nittany Lion Inn, on Penn State's University Park Campus. All events are free and open to the public. In addition, event organizers will host a screening of the documentary "Hold Your Breath" on Monday, March 27, at 8 p.m. in 112 Chambers, and a public lecture on Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. in 110 Wartik. (more)
As the nation celebrates African-American History Month, many parents are trying to teach children the value of diversity. While most young children aren't ready to grasp such abstract concepts, a researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences said children as young as preschool age can be taught the basic principles of equity and fairness. Starting at about 2 years old, children have no problem noticing and appreciating the differences in the people around them, said Patreese Ingram, associate professor of diversity education in the department of agricultural and extension education. That's also an important time for developing attitudes based on feedback from those around them, including family and educators. (more)
Lori Ginzberg, associate professor of history and women's studies in the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, has recently won a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship Award for 2006-2007 to research a biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the nineteenth century's most prominent proponent of women's legal, social, and spiritual equality. Famous for having organized the woman's rights convention at Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848, and authoring its powerful Declaration of Sentiments, Stanton was a complex figure who addressed a wide range of issues. Her feminism was never confined to the demand for the vote; until the end of her long life she would shock even her close coworkers with proposals for liberalized divorce laws and a critique of the constraints that orthodox religion placed on women. "This book will address the connections between Elizabeth Cady Stanton's personal and her public passions, and critically explore her life as an important feminist theorist and activist," says Ginzberg. "Now that historians have revised an older map of 19th-century feminism, I hope to write a biography that views Stanton's life as a window onto American social and intellectual change itself." (more)
The Routledge Press has published a volume, known as a "Festschrift," honoring Charles Prebish's long contribution to the field of Buddhist studies. Prebish, professor of religious studies, is in his 35th year on the Penn State faculty. The book is "Buddhist Studies from India to America: Essays in Honor of Charles S. Prebish," which was edited by Damien Keown. It contains a prologue serving as a biography and summary of Prebish's contributions to Buddhist studies, a bibliography of his publications and an introduction surveying the chapters in the book. Some 17 essays are included. (more)
