http://www.aarweb.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/Past_and_Future_Meetings/2002/highlights.asp
2002 Program Highlights
|
Plenary & Presidential Addresses Sessions on Professional Practices & Institutional Location |
Plenary & Presidential Addresses
Bharata Natyam: Beyond the Borders of Religion (A14)Saturday, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Francis Barboza, West Orange, NJ
Francis Barboza, a talented exponent of the
classical dance form of Bharata Natyam, is world renowned for his innovative
efforts to expand the scope of this art form beyond the boundaries of
religions. Barboza has the distinction of being the only dancer worldwide who
gives full recitals on both Hindu and Christian themes. Trained under some of the
most eminent gurus of his time, Barboza has earned bachelor, master, and
doctoral degrees in dance and performing arts, as well as degrees in philosophy
and theology. Barboza has numerous research articles and papers to his credit,
as well as the book Christianity in Indian Dance Forms. He has
won many prestigious awards for Indian classical dance and has been invited to
perform around the world.
Presidential Address: Embodied Cosmologies (A70)
Saturday, 7:15 pm-8:30 pm
Vasudha Narayanan, University of Florida
Vasudha Narayanan is the Research Foundation Professor in the Department of Religion
and Interim Director of the Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research at
the University of Florida. She did her graduate work at the University of
Bombay and the Center for the Study of World Religions/Harvard Divinity School,
and taught at DePaul University before coming to the University of Florida in
1982. She is the author of over sixty-five articles and reference book entries
and has written and edited five books that span a number of areas including
women in the Hindu tradition, religion and ecology, and shared ritual space
between Hindus and Muslims in India. Her publications include The Way and
the Goal; The Tamil Veda (with John Carman) and The
Vernacular Veda: Revelation, Recitation, and Ritual. She is the
past-president of the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies and has served on the
editorial boards of the Religious Studies Review and JAAR.
Other Testaments: An Interview with Jacques Derrida "On Religion" (A160=S24-125)
Sunday, 7:15 pm-8:15 pm
Jacques Derrida, École des Hautes Études en
Science Sociale, University of California, Irvine
Jacques Derrida
is the French philosopher whose work originated the school of deconstruction, a
strategy of analysis that has been applied to literature, linguistics,
philosophy, law, architecture, and religion. In 1967 Derrida published three books—Speech
and Phenomena; Of Grammatology; and Writing and
Difference, which introduced the deconstructive approach to reading
texts. Derrida has resisted being classified, and his later works continue to
redefine his thought.
Derrida was born in El-Biar, Algeria. In 1952 he began studying philosophy at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he later taught from 1965 to 1984. From 1960 to 1964, Derrida taught at the Sorbonne in Paris. Since the early 1970s, he has divided much of his time between Paris and the United States, where he has taught at such universities as Johns Hopkins; Yale; and California, Irvine. His recent works include Acts of Religion (2001) and The Work of Mourning (2001).
Have We Distorted the Essence of Religion? (A248)
Monday, 7:15 pm-8:15 pm
Arun Gandhi, M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
Arun Gandhi is the fifth grandson of India's late spiritual leader, Mohandas
Karamchand "Mahatma" Gandhi. Arun Gandhi lived with his grandfather though
the final years of India's struggle to free itself from British rule. His
grandfather showed Gandhi firsthand the effects of a national campaign for
liberation carried out through both violent and nonviolent means. In 1991
Gandhi, with his wife Sunanda, founded the M. K. Gandhi Institute for
Nonviolence, located at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee
where Gandhi is also scholar-in-residence. The institute’s mission is to
examine, promote, and apply the principles of nonviolent thought and action
through research, workshops, seminars, and community service. Having written
eight books and hundreds of articles, Gandhi is an accomplished author and
journalist. In addition to lecturing worldwide at colleges and institutes and
addressing community and professional organizations, Gandhi is active in
community, educational, corporate, and prison programs, workshops, and
conferences.
Special Topics Forums
AAR, SBL & ATS Grants Forum (A16=S23-69)
Saturday 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Sponsored by the Publications Committee, the SBL Research and Publications Committee, and the
Association of Theological
Schools in the United States and Canada
Christopher Wilkins, Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, Presiding
Program officers from foundations and funding agencies will be available to answer questions and distribute materials.
This session is an opportunity to learn more about the funding process and the many different kinds of resources available to
scholars in religion. It is designed to be helpful for first-time applicants as well as those who have received
grants in the past. There will be representatives from organizations that provide a wide variety of
types of funding, including dissertation support, faculty leave grants, and project-level grants.
"If I Knew Then What I Know Now": Lessons from the First Year on the Job (A17=S23-70)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Sponsored by the EIS Advisory Committee
Edward R. Gray, Atlanta, GA, Presiding
Junior faculty members will reflect on and offer advice about the first year on the job during this special topics forum.
Panelists will speak to their wisdom and missteps as they contended with developing new courses, teaching new students,
completing a dissertation, balancing career and family life, and learning the local cultures of their new department,
institution, and locality. Panelists include: Jane F. Crosthwaite, Mount Holyoke College; Michael Penn, Mount Holyoke
College; Glenn Holland, Allegheny College; Eric Boynton, Allegheny College; Christopher D. Stanley, St. Bonaventure
University; and Peter Trudinger, St. Bonaventure University.
The Public Role of Racial and Ethnic Scholars (A41)
Saturday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Sponsored by the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession Committee
Daisy L. Machado, Texas Christian University, Presiding
It is generally known that the aim of racial and ethnic scholarship is to generate new knowledge, challenge old stereotypes,
correct wrong interpretations, and re-educate the dominant society about the minority communities. A growing cadre of racial and
ethnic public intellectuals is gradually emerging for the purpose of taking their scholarly findings beyond the halls of academe
onto the public stage where their lectures and debates aim at influencing public policies and empowering their respective
communities. This special topic forum provides an opportunity for a diverse panel of scholars to assess critically the
emerging public role of racial and ethnic scholars. The following panelists will share their experiences: Ada María Isasi-Díaz,
Drew University; Chris Jocks, Dartmouth College; Sheema Khan, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Canada; Jung Ha Kim, Georgia
State University; and Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, Graduate Theological Union. Michael Eric Dyson, University of Pennsylvania, will
respond.
Interested persons are invited to a reception hosted by the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession Committee directly following this session.
Introduction to the AAR (A67)
Saturday, 5:00 pm-6:15 pm
Sponsored by the Student Liaison Group
Richard Amesbury, Claremont Graduate University, Presiding
This session provides an orientation to AAR structures, programs, publications, and services. Brief presentations will be given,
and ample opportunity for questions and discussion will follow. Panelists will include: AAR Board of Directors Secretary Susan E. Henking,
Hobart & William Smith Colleges; AAR Student Liaison Anita Bradshaw, Lutheran Seminary; Committee on the Status of Women in the
Profession member Sarah Heaner Lancaster, Methodist Theological School in Ohio; Regions Committee Chair Mark Lloyd Taylor,
Seattle University; Academy Series Editor Kimberly Rae Connor, University of San Francisco; and AAR Director of Academic
Relations Carey J. Gifford.
Academy, University, and Faith Community: Teaching Religion at Religiously Affiliated Institutions (A78)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Sponsored by the Academic Relations Task Force and the Caucus of Scholars at Religiously Affiliated Institutions
Stephen R. Haynes, Rhodes College, Presiding
According to the AAR’s recent census, over half the religion programs in North America are located at religiously affiliated
institutions (RAIs). What do we know – or think we know – about life in these departments? How, if at all, does institutional
mission affect hiring, orientation, teaching, research, or promotion? What special expectations accompany the study of
religion at RAIs? What is the texture of these places, and why do so many scholars of religion teach in them?
Panelists will address issues such as the effects of Ex Cordae Ecclesiae at Roman Catholic colleges and universities, the politics of affiliation and disaffiliation at traditionally Southern Baptist colleges, and the possibility of doctrinal dissent at Mennonite and Missouri Synod Lutheran institutions. Panelists include William J. Cahoy, St. John’s University; Mary Todd, Concordia University; Bill J. Leonard, Wake Forest University; Annette Moran, Carroll College; Keith J. Wilson, Brigham Young University; and Ted Grimsrud, Eastern Mennonite University.
Interested persons are invited to a luncheon hosted by the Caucus of Scholars at Religiously Affiliated Institutions directly following this session.
Religion and Public Policy: Embryos, Stem Cells, and Clones (A79)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Sponsored by the Public Understanding of Religion Committee
Dena S. Davis, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Presiding
In the last decade, governments have been faced with a number of policy challenges raised by advances in biotechnology: Should
scientists be allowed to use public monies to experiment on embryos? How should we balance the anticipated benefits of this
research against the destruction of the human embryo, given the latter’s contested moral status? Is human cloning ever
justified? What do we mean by "playing God," and why does that concept frighten us? These questions are being contested in
both the United States and Canada, with widespread participation by religious bodies. In this session, people involved in the
debates over embryonic, stem-cell, and cloning research will discuss the nature and implications of these heated issues.
Questions from the floor will be encouraged. Panelists include James F. Childress, University of Virginia; Ronald M. Green,
Dartmouth College; Moira McQueen, Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute; and Laurie Zoloth, San Francisco State University.
The Professional as Personal: Telling the History of the AAR and the Study of Religion in North America from Personal Experience (A105)
Sunday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Robert Orsi, Harvard University, Presiding
AAR President-Elect Robert Orsi is 'master of ceremonies' for this special
event. To start, Orsi delivers the final NABI Presidential Address, delivered at
the last meeting of NABI, AAR's predecessor association, in 1963. President
Clyde Holbrook's powerful address makes the case for an American Academy of
Religion in terms that seem strikingly relevant in 2002. Two of our five
co-founders will be present to share some memories from that time-- Harry Buck,
member of the self-study committee that recommended the formation of AAR and our
first executive director (1964-1972), and Robert V. Smith, chair of the
self-study committee. After far too many years, we will finally recognize and
celebrate their extraordinary contributions to the field of religion and to us,
their progeny in the AAR. Three AAR presidents will reflect on these beginnings
and the AAR during their leadership-Chris Downing, 1974, Charles Long, 1973, and
Robert Neville, 1992. There will be plenty of time for interaction and
conversation among presenters and attendees, especially concerning the
implications of our origins for our future. Come join in on this special
session!
"Crisis" in the Roman Catholic Church: Scholarly Resources for Reform (A133)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Studies Group
Jeffrey Marlett, College of Saint Rose, Presiding
This panel session has been convened to foreground scholarly resources for reform in the face of recent revelations of a pattern
of obfuscation and denial about clergy sexual misconduct by the U.S. Roman Catholic hierarchy. While these revelations have
raised immediate questions about Roman Catholic Church policies for dealing with sexual abuse, they have also raised broader
questions about the Roman Catholic understanding of ordained ministry, of sexuality and sexual morality, of hierarchy and
authority, and of the role of the laity in the institutional Church. Our panel of scholars will draw on sociological,
historical, theological, and cultural analyses as they address the place of Roman Catholicism in the culture of the United
States; present a constructive position that argues theologically for a larger role for the laity; argue for the ecclesial
need for women clergy; and bring U.S. and Brazilian Catholicism into dialogue, particularly with regard to sexuality. Panelists
include Chester Gillis, Georgetown University; Phyllis Zagano, New York, NY; Paul F. Lakeland, Fairfield University; and Maria
José Rosado-Nunes, Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paolo. Thomas P. Rausch, Loyola Marymount University, will respond.
Where and How to Publish? A Practical Forum on Getting Your Work in Print (A267=S24-126)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Sponsored by the AAR, Publishers Weekly, and the
SBL
Jana Reiss, Publishers Weekly, Presiding
All scholars understand the need for getting their work published. But where and how should you publish? In this session, the
religion editorial staff of Publishers Weekly, who together have more than 80 years of publishing experience, offer tips on
how to place your work. Here is an opportunity to learn more about the nuts and bolts of publishing, and how you as an author
are affected. Panelists will explain the important differences between academic, trade, and religious publishing houses, and
help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of various publishing situations. They will also offer tips on how to write
a query letter, how to pitch your work so that it will attract an editor's attention, and how to understand a publishing
contract. They will give an overview of how the market's expansion has opened up new opportunities in religious and scholarly
publishing.
A Dialogue between Canadian and U.S. Feminist Scholars of Religion on Strategies for Responding to Militarism (A169)
Monday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Sponsored by the Status of Women in the Profession Committee
Janet R. Jakobsen, Barnard College, Presiding
The Status of Women in the Profession Committee is committed to creating opportunities for feminist scholars to speak out on
issues of public concern. As a follow-up to last year’s discussion on faith-based initiatives, we have organized a dialogue
about the connections between violence against women, local cultures of violence, and the larger international questions of
conflict from a religious perspective. The participants are Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, University of Florida, Amila Buturovic,
York University; and Judith Rebick, columnist and public intellectual.
American Lectures in the History of Religions: Sufis and Hindus: Sixteenth-Century India (A198)
Monday, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm
Sponsored by the History of Religions Jury
Alan F. Segal, Barnard College, Presiding
Willard Oxtoby, University of Toronto, emeritus, will deliver the third of five lectures focusing on Islam as part of the
American Lectures in the History of Religions series. Islam introduced something novel to Indian history: the notion of a
tightly boundaried religious community. Both doctrine and practice distinguished Muslims from others, in a society otherwise
characterized by a fluidity of identity. The term "Hinduism" as a label for an aggregate of non-Muslim practice in India came
into use only later, during British rule in India. But India also contributed something novel to Islamic history: the experience
of being a minority ruling over a population that on the whole did not convert to Islam. The synthesizing politics of the
emperor Akbar form part of the picture, but a major theme is the sense of irrelevance of religious boundaries in the vernacular
devotional poetry of both Muslims and Hindus. God, it appeared, might be beyond the difference between temple and mosque. The
specific Indian experience provides entrée to more general issues regarding religious boundaries and claims for the potential
unity of religions.
Is Teaching Graduate Students How to Teach Just a Fad? (A199)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Sponsored by the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion
Stephen C. Berkwitz, Southwest Missouri State University, Presiding
The future success of the field of religion in higher education depends very much upon good teaching. While many institutions
and individual scholars voice support for excellence in teaching, most graduate programs train their students to conduct
research but offer little in the way of pedagogical training. This panel will consider the benefits and constraints in preparing
graduate students for classroom teaching. Rebecca S. Chopp, Colgate University; M. David Eckel, Boston University; James Harlan
Foard, Arizona State University; and Richard A. Rosengarten, University of Chicago, will discuss their views on graduate
training in pedagogy and share their experiences in teaching masters and doctoral students how to teach. This panel will
encourage and engage in open discussion with the audience.
The New Paradigm in International Relations? Reflections after September 11, 2001 – A Special Lecture by Hans Küng (A223)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Sponsored by the Program Committee
Barbara DeConcini, American Academy of Religion, Presiding
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, a new paradigm for international
relations was required. Hans Küng, president of the Global Ethic Foundation,
was a member of the "Group of Eminent Persons" convened by Kofi Annan,
Secretary General of the United Nations. The group drafted "Crossing the
Divide: Dialogue among Civilizations" a U.N. Manifesto that calls for an
attitude of reciprocal co-operation, compromise, and integration instead of the
former attitude of confrontation, aggression, and revenge that provoked so many
wars in the era of European nationalism and imperialism. A new mind-set is
needed: national, ethical, and religious differences must no longer be
understood as a threat but rather as possible sources of enrichment. This new
paradigm should be based on some fundamental common ethical standards - a Global
Ethic. The lecture will raise some challenging questions.
Pre-Conference Programs
Please note, some pre-conference workshops require separate registration.
Running a Successful Faculty Search Chairs Workshop (A1)
Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Sponsored by the Academic Relations Task Force
Carey J. Gifford, American Academy of Religion, Presiding
Learn from Lee McCann and Baron Perlman of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh about the educational context for recruiting,
the difference between good teaching and scholarship, the teaching portfolio, and developing a pool of candidates for your
department. Both McCann and Perlman have presented workshops on faculty
recruiting and teaching portfolio development at various campuses
nationally and at national and regional conferences.
See Chairs Workshop page for a full description and registration form. Separate registration required (requires PDF).
Religion and Media Workshop (A2)
Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Sponsored by the Public Understanding of Religion Committee;
Arts,
Literature, and Religion Section; Religion and Popular
Culture Group; Religion, Film and Visual Culture Group;
Religion, Culture, and Communication Consultation; and SBL’s Bible
in Ancient and Modern Media Section
Stewart M. Hoover, University of Colorado, Boulder, and Jeffrey H. Mahan, Iliff School of Theology, Presiding
The events of September 11 and subsequent news coverage provide a context to consider how religion is experienced and understood
in mass media culture, and how the narrative forms and technologies of the media shape and are shaped by religion. Panelists
have been asked to help us think about how their particular critical and methodological approaches help us to understand these
events and relationships. In addition to their presentations, the workshop will provide ample opportunity for conversation with
panelists and other participants. Questions about the workshop should be directed to Stewart Hoover, University of Colorado,
Boulder, hoover@colorado.edu or Jeffrey Mahan, Iliff School of Theology, jmahan@iliff.edu.
Separate registration required (requires
PDF).
Women’s Caucus Workshop (A4=S22-5)
Friday, 11:30 am-5:00 pm
Young Lee Hertig, United Theological Seminary, Presiding
This annual workshop sponsored by the Women’s Caucus includes updates from the AAR and SBL’s Status of Women in the Professions
Committees, and information about grant writing and interviewing strategies. There will also be an opportunity to network with
other women in the field. The topic "Women Scholars and Activism" will be discussed by this year’s panelists Mary E. Hunt,
Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Religion; Kathlyn Breazeale, Pacific Lutheran University; and Anthea Butler,
Princeton University.
EIS Center Orientation (A5=S22-103)
Friday, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Presiding: Carey J. Gifford and Emily Noonan, American Academy of Religion
At this year’s orientation, there will be a "how-to" tour of the EIS Center. Staff will be available for questions. Employers
and candidates will be able to utilize the message center, pick up their copy of the Annual Meeting Special Edition of
Openings,
and register (if they have not done so already). Employers will also have access to candidate credentials and will be able to
reserve Interview Hall Space. Candidates and employers are encouraged to participate in Orientation, but are not required to
attend.
Working with Reporters: Your Role as a News Source (A12)
Saturday, 9:00 am-11:00 am
Sponsored by the Religion and Media Center and the Pew Charitable Trusts
Kyle Cole, American Academy of Religion, Presiding
Religion scholars are now getting more calls from journalists with the recent website launch of Religionsource. Learn how
journalists work and how to handle journalists' questions at this workshop featuring reporters and scholars in an interactive
session. No registration is required. Contact Kyle Cole, kcole@aarweb.org, for more information.
Arts Series Presentations & Tours
Arts Series Performance: Hari Krishnan and Company (A161)Sunday, 8:30 pm-9:30 pm
Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, Georgetown University, Presiding
Charting new territory in movement and gesture, Hari Krishnan is a Toronto-based artist who has gained international acclaim
as a dancer and choreographer. Trained in Bharata Natyam dance and music, Krishnan has inherited and reconstructed several
archaic temple and court dance genres and compositions under the tutelage of his Guru, the late K.P. Kittappa Pillai, one of
the last great hereditary masters of Bharata Natyam dance in Tanjavur, India. Krishnan continues to receive specialized training
in ritual temple dance repertoire from P. R. Thilagam, one of the last hereditary female temple dancers of South India. His
creative output is holistic, combining the allied arts of Bharata Natyam dance, music, theatre and theory with contemporary,
urban, post-modern culture. Krishnan is the current Visiting World Dance Artist in Residence at Wesleyan University. Whether
performing with his dance company and musicians or solo, his work continues to draw critical acclaim at home and abroad.
Walking Tour of Toronto’s Religious and Civic Sites (A197)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Sponsored by the North American Religions Section
This tour will include the Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, and the Metropolitan United
Church. All are within an easy walk, and participants may leave the tour at any time. There is no fee to participate. If you
plan to participate, please e-mail the Annual Meeting Program Director at annualmeeting@aarweb.org or call +1-404-727-3049 so
that the tour won’t leave without you. Your guides are Sarah Hall, Sarah Hall Studios, Jeanne H. Kilde, Macalester College, and
Peter W. Williams, Miami University.
Films
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (A6)Friday, 7:00 pm-9:30 pm
Sponsored by the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group
Amir Hussain, California State University, Northridge, Presiding
A visually stunning martial arts film with great characters and incredible action sequences including a amazing fight scene waged from swaying bamboo treetops and rooftops. The film is a vision of early nineteenth century China that focuses on a romantic tale of an honorable man, Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and woman, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) who devote themselves to recapture Green Destiny, a sword that once belonged to Li Mu Bai's master. The title refers to the understanding of "tigers" as young, brazen, and emotional and "dragon" as wise, reserved, yet powerful and how the main characters in the film incorporate qualities of both species in the manner in which they live out their lives in relationship with each other. The heroes transcend space, gravity, the limitations of the body, and fears of the mind.
Directed by Ang Lee, 2000, 120 minutes (Color, USA version).
In the Light of Reverence (A72)
Saturday, 8:30 pm-10:00 pm
Sponsored by the Native Traditions in the Americas Group
Andrea Smith, University of California, Santa Cruz, Presiding
In the Light of Reverence explores American culture’s relationship to nature in three places considered sacred by native
peoples: Mt. Shasta in California, the Colorado Plateau in the Southwest, and Devils Tower in Wyoming. Rich in minerals and
timber and beloved by recreational users, these “holy lands” exert a spiritual gravity that pulls Native Americans into
conflicts with mining companies, New Age practitioners, and rock climbers. Ironically, all sides see themselves as besieged.
Their battles tell a new story of culture clashes in an ancient landscape. Ten years in the making, In the Light of Reverence
juxtaposes reflections of Hopi, Wintu, and Lakota elders on the spiritual meaning of place with views of non-Indians who have
their own ideas about how best to use the land.
Directed by Christopher McLeod, 2001, 73 minutes (Color, USA).
Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (A73)
Saturday, 8:30 pm-11:00 pm
Sponsored by the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group
Lee Demarbre, Ottawa, Canada, Presiding
Perhaps the best description of this film is by the director himself: "The first testament says 'an eye for an eye.' The second
testament says 'love thy neighbor.' The third testament KICKS ASS!" The filmmaking team that won the Spirit of Slamdance prize
with Harry Knuckles and the Treasure of the Aztec Mummy raises the stakes with this tale of the ultimate action hero: Jesus
Christ. The second coming is upon us, and Jesus has returned to earth. But before he can get down to the serious business of
judging the living and the dead, he has to contend with an army of vampires that can walk in the daylight. Combining kung-fu
action with Biblical prophecy and a liberal dose of humor, the film teams the Savior with Mexican wrestling hero El Santos
against mythological horrors and science gone mad. It also manages to address contemporary sexual politics. By the way,
did we mention that it's a musical?
Directed by Lee Demarbre, 2001, 85 minutes (Color, Canada).
Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone (A163)
Sunday, 8:30 pm-11:00 pm
Sponsored by the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group
John Lyden, Dana College, Presiding
A supernatural adventure film, filled with the gruesome and the sublime, which remains faithful to the children's fantasy novel
by J. K. Rowling, originally published in 1997. Harry
is a nobody, treated poorly by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by an evil wizard.
Mysterious letters wrench Harry from his dreary existence to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where the real
adventure begins. Our first glimpse of Hogwarts sets the tone for the movie's colorful characters, scary creatures, and
fantastic special effects.
Directed by Chris Columbus, 2001, 153 minutes (Color, USA).
When Night is Falling (A164)
Sunday, 8:30 pm-10:30 pm
Sponsored by the Lesbian-Feminist Issues and Religion Group
Laurel C. Schneider, Chicago Theological Seminary, Presiding
This provocative drama presents the story of Camille (Pascale Bussieres), a theologian at a Canadian Christian college who is
preparing to become co-chaplain along with her fiancé (Henry Czerny). When Camille meets Petra (Rachael Crawford), a performer
in a travelling circus, her desire threatens to undermine everything she and her fiancé have planned and worked towards.
Integrating religious myth and eroticism, this award-winning film by one of Canada's leading filmmakers is a courageous
exploration of identity, faith and discovery.
Directed by Patricia Rozema, 1995, 96 minutes (Color, Canada).
Memento (A249)
Monday, 8:30 pm-10:30 pm
Sponsored by the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group
Gerard Loughlin, University of Newcastle, Presiding
Leonard Shelby (Guy Pierce) is a man suffering from short-term memory loss, a condition that causes him to take notes, make
maps, tattoo himself with facts, and explain over and over again that he has to talk fast because in a few minutes he will
forget the conversation. Memento is a story told backwards, from end to beginning. Leonard's story is about moral duty, the role of memory, and the truth of facts. What unfolds
is Leonard's attempt to find himself with the vestiges of his past and his quest to solve the murder. His compulsion for revenge
and the facts tattooed on his body comprise his personal system of symbols that lend a mystique of authenticity and factuality
to his construction of reality.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, 2001, 114 minutes (Color, USA).
Sessions on Professional Practices & Institutional Location
Strengthening the profession, qua profession, is a continuing focus for the Academy. This year's Annual Meeting includes new opportunities to engage a range of issues around professional practices and the relationship between institutional location and intellectual identity.
Chairs Workshop (A1)
Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Religion and Media Workshop (A2)
Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Women’s Caucus Workshop (A4=S22-5)
Friday, 11:30 am-5:00 pm
EIS Center Orientation (A5=S22-103)
Friday, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Working with Reporters: Your Roles as a News Source (A12)
Saturday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
AAR, SBL, & ATS Grants Forum (A16=S23-69)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
"If I Knew Then What I Know Now": Lessons from the First Year on the Job (A17=S23-70)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Teaching Islam after September 11 (A18)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
The Public Role of Racial and Ethnic Scholars (A41)
Saturday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Making Justice: Pedagogies of Transformation (A42)
Saturday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Academy, University, and Faith Community: Teaching Religion at Religiously Affiliated Institutions (A78)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Preparing Scholar – Teachers: Reflections on Professional Development and Practice (A80)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
The Idea of the University (A98)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Telling Our Stories: The History of the AAR and the Field of Religion (A105)
Sunday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Teaching Asian/America/Religions: What, Why, and How (A113)
Sunday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Innovating Pedagogy/Pedagogical Innovations: Tools, Themes, Strategies, and Models (A134)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
A Dialogue between Canadian and United States Feminist Scholars of Religion on Strategies for Responding to Militarism (A169)
Monday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Religion in the Workplace (A174)
Monday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Women in American Evangelical Academia (A183)
Monday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Is Teaching Graduate Students How to Teach Just a Fad? (A199)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Crossing Borders: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Canada (A200)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
The Pedagogical Crossroads of Theology and Religious Studies (A251)
Tuesday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Sessions with a Canadian Focus
This year's Annual Meeting features a special focus on Canadian scholarship in religion. In addition to many individual presentations, there are several sessions devoted to Canadian scholars and scholarship.
Religious Ethics and Public Discourse: Canadian and American Considerations of Stem Cells and Reproductive Technologies (A20)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
New Religious Movements in Canada and East Asia (A32)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (A73)
Saturday, 8:30 pm-11:00 pm
Migration and Interreligious Faith Communities of African Descent in Canada: Historical and Contemporary Voices (A91)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Jews and Judaism in Toronto (A111)
Sunday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Religion and the Legal Status of First Nations Peoples in Canada (A116)
Sunday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
The Challenges of Canadian Catholic Perspectives (A126)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Religious Diversity in Toronto (A139)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
A Dialogue between Canadian and U.S. Feminist Scholars of Religion on Strategies for Responding to Militarism (A169)
Monday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Walking Tour of Toronto’s Religious and Civic Sites (A197)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Crossing Borders: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Canada (A200)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
The Work of Gregory Baum: An Appreciation (A209)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Issues in Religious Liberty (Canada, South Africa, United Kingdom) (A210)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Drawing Outside the Lines: Extending the Boundaries of Asian North American Religions (A235)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Canadian Scholarship on Women and Religion (A261)
Tuesday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Derrida and Religion
Jacques Derrida will be participating in the Annual Meetings as a joint plenary event. Various program units of the AAR and SBL are collaborating on a series of sessions with the theme Other Testaments: Derrida and Religion. The sessions are
Other Testaments: An Interview with Jacques Derrida "On Religion" (A160=S24-125)
Sunday, 7:15 pm-8:15 pm
Hospitality: Monolingualism (Monotheism) and the Other (S23-118)
Saturday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Reading a Page of Scripture (with a Little Help from Derrida) Part1: Allegories, Parentheses and Veils (S24-22)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Reading a Page of Scripture (with a Little Help from Derrida) Part 2 (S24-68)
Sunday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Sacrifice and Secrets (S24-120)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Towards the Outside: Perspective’s on Derrida’s Religious Thought (A191)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Reading a Page of Scripture (with a Little Help from Derrida) Part3: In Quest of Origins and Ends (S25-72)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
La Toucher/Touching Her: Touch in the Gospels (A240)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Books Under Discussion
Women and Religion Section (A23)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
and
Womanist Approaches to Religion and Society Group (A157)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Delores Williams, Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk
Gay Men’s Issues in Religion Group and Lesbian-Feminist Issues and Religion Group (A56)
Saturday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Janet R. Jakobsen and Ann Pellegrini, Love the Sin: Sexual Regulation and the
Limits of Religious Tolerance
Latina/o Religion, Culture, and Society Group (A57)
Saturday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Andrés G. Guerrero, A Chicano Theology
North American Religions Section (A86)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Sarah Barringer Gordon, The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America
Study of Judaism (A89)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
John Milbank, Radical Orthodoxy: A New Theology
Latina/o Religion, Culture, and Society Group (A94)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Maria Pilar Aquino, Daisy L. Machado, and Jeanette Rodriguez, eds., A Reader in Latina Feminist Theology: Religion and
Justice
Theology and Continental Philosophy Group (A101)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Richard Kearney, The God Who May Be: The Hermeneutics of Religion
Feminist Theory and Religious Reflection Group (A148)
4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Serene Jones, Feminist Theory and Christian Theology: Cartographies of Grace
Religion and Science Group (A155)
Sunday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
James Edward Huchingson, Pandemonium Tremendum: Chaos and Mystery in the Life of God
Theology and Religious Reflection Section (A178)
Monday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Kathryn Tanner, Jesus, Humanity, and the Trinity: A Brief Systematic Theology
Korean Religions Group (A184)
Monday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
David Chung, Syncretism: The Religious Contexts of Christian Beginnings in Korea and Christ and Caesar in Modern Korea
Theology and Religious Reflection Section (A209)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Gregory Baum, retrospective of his work
Religion and Popular Culture Group (A218)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Christopher Hodge Evans, William R. Herzog, and Stanley Hauerwas, eds., The Faith of Fifty Million: Baseball, Religion, and American Culture
History of Christianity Section (A226)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Dale Irvin and Scott Sunquist, History of the World Christian Movement: Earliest Christianity to 1453
Philosophy of Religion Section (A228)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Françoise Meltzer, For Fear of the Fire: Joan of Arc and the Limits of Subjectivity
Chinese Religions Group and Confucian Traditions Group (A237)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Julia Ching, retrospective of her work
Feminist Theory and Religious Reflection Group and Theology and Continental Philosophy Group (A240)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
J.L. Nancy, La Toucher/Touching Her: Touch in the Gospels
Mysticism Group and Person, Culture, and Religion Group (A242 and A265)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm and Tuesday 9:00 am-11:30 am
William James, Varieties of Religious Experience
Native Traditions of the Americas Group (A243)
Monday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Clara Sue Kidwell, Homer Noley, and George Tinker, A Native American Theology
Religion and the Social Sciences Section (A257)
Tuesday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Ann Burlein, Lift High the Cross: Where White Supremacy and the Christian Right Converge
Receptions and Breakfasts
AAR Donors Reception (A68)
Saturday, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm
Individuals whose generosity has allowed us to continue many of our special programs are invited to a reception hosted by the
AAR Board of Directors to learn about some exciting new initiatives.
Reception for Racial and Ethnic Minority Members (A69)
Saturday, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Interested persons are invited to a reception celebrating the contributions of racial and ethnic minority scholars in the
Academy.
AAR Members Party (A71)
Saturday, 8:30 pm-11:00 pm
Following the success of last year’s party, AAR members are invited to join one another at the AAR Members Reception for music
and dancing.
Women’s Caucus Reception (A87=S23-126)
Saturday, 9:00 pm-11:00 pm
The Womanist Approaches to Religion and Society Group and the Women’s Caucus invite interested persons to a reception honoring
women’s contributions in the Academy.
AAR Annual Business Meeting and Continental Breakfast (A77)
Sunday, 7:30 am-8:45 am
AAR members are encouraged to join the Board of Directors for the annual business meeting of the Academy. A light breakfast will
be provided.
Retired Members Reception (A159)
Sunday, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm
All members of the AAR who are retired from full-time employment are cordially invited to an open house hosted by Barbara
DeConcini, executive director, and Vasudha Narayanan, president.
JAAR Editorial Board Reception (A162)
Sunday, 8:30 pm-10:00 pm
JAAR Editorial Board members are invited to a reception in their honor.
International Members Continental Breakfast (A168)
Monday, 7:30 am-8:45 am
All AAR international attendees are invited to an information session and continental breakfast hosted by the International
Connections Committee.
Reception for Program Unit Chairs and Steering Committee Members (A250)
Monday, 9:00 pm-10:30 pm
AAR program unit chairs and steering committee members are invited to a reception in their honor hosted by the Program
Committee.
Especially for Students
AAR Student Lounge
Saturday-Monday 8:00 am–5:00 pm
AAR's Student Liaison Group invites fellow student members to stop by the
AAR Student Lounge for coffee (in the morning) and soda (in the
afternoon). Student liaisons from various Ph.D.-granting
institutions will be on hand to answer questions.
Student Liaison Group Business Meeting (A10)
Saturday 9:00 am–10:45 am
Richard Amesbury, Claremont Graduate University, Presiding
Appointed and elected Student Liaison Group members will gather to discuss business.
Introduction to the AAR (A67)
Saturday, 5:00 pm-6:15 pm
Richard Amesbury, Claremont Graduate University, Presiding
This session provides an orientation to AAR structures, publication programs, and services. A brief presentation will be given and ample opportunity for questions and general discussion will follow.
"If I Knew Then What I Know Now": Lessons from the First Year on the Job (A17=S23-70)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Reception for Student Members (A75=S23-127)
Saturday 10:00 pm–12:00 am
AAR and SBL student members are invited to drop by for conversation with fellow students.
Preparing Scholar – Teachers: Reflections on Professional Development and Practice (A80)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Mentoring Session with the Women's Caucus and the Status of Women in
the Profession Committee (A104)
Sunday, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Rebecca T. Alpert, Temple University, and Young Lee Hertig, United
Theological Seminary, Presiding
The Women's Caucus and Staus of Women in the Profession Committee have
invited thirty feminist mid-career and senior AAR scholars toa brown bag
lunch with new scholars and graduate students. Please join Karen Brown,
Karen Torjensen, Emilie Townes, Rita Nakashima Brock, and many more to
discuss issues like choosing an adviser, getting published, contract
negotiation, and the challenge of balancing work and personal commitments.
Please bring questions and your own lunch.
AAR Student Luncheon (A195)
Monday, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Richard Amesbury, Claremont Graduate University, Presiding
The AAR’s Student Liaison Group and the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning cordially invites AAR student members to gather
for conversation with experienced faculty about the emerging identity of a new teacher. A light lunch will be provided.
Attendance is limited to the first 90 students who sign up. Please go online to the
Students page to RSVP for
the luncheon and to find other information for students.