The Elon Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society is the research arm of the Elon University multi-faith center, which is located in the heart of campus and seeks to foster a diverse community of study, discourse and practice that promotes mutual understanding and respect across and within religious traditions and belief systems and contributes to the development of global citizenship.
The Elon Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society highlights and promotes the interdisciplinary study of religion, culture, and society. This faculty-led center draws together faculty from disciplines across Elon’s campus, with students, staff, community members, and experts from the region and beyond. The Center will work to foster research, teaching, and dialogue that informs community knowledge and action. Pursuing fulfillment of Elon’s commitment to multi-faith education and engagement, the CSRCS convenes and facilitates dialogue that advances the understanding of the role of religion in society with intellectual rigor and academic integrity.
The Center offers rich and varied resources to fulfill the university’s vision of encouraging spiritual formation and expression, promoting religious literacy and respect for diverse faith traditions and world views, examining the role of religion in society, and supporting research and scholarship on religion. The Center invites broad participation of community members into meaningful dialogue, regardless of personal professions of faith, as a reflection of our commitment to modeling the respectful exchange of ideas and perspectives.
Center Intiatives include:
Thirteen Elon students traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, March 2-4 for the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion (SECSOR), the annual regional meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature. Six of the students presented undergraduate research mentored by professors from the Department of Religious Studies, while the other seven observed in preparation for presenting in the future.
A film screening of "Redneck Muslim" at Turner Theater brought the audience on a journey through Imam Shane Atkinson's life as a chaplain at UNC Medical Center and as a white Muslim in the South.
An associate professor of religious studies, Allocco discussed her research on death rituals and gender at renowned universities.
The trip to India offered Pennington the opportunity to continue documenting regional heritage and revival movements and folk performances in India.
Religious Studies Professor Geoffrey Claussen's new article appears in the journal Polin.