October 27, 2005
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Brian Birch
(801) 863-8759
birchbr@uvsc.edu
Tenth Annual Religion and the Humanities Conference
“Religion and Democracy: Challenges and Prospects”
The Religious Studies Programs at Utah Valley State College and Westminster College are presenting the Tenth Annual Religion and the Humanities Conference November 3 and 4. At this year’s conference titled “Religion and Democracy: Challenges and Prospects,” participants will explore the ways in which religious beliefs and practices relate to democratic forms of governance.
“Given the current efforts of the United States to build democracy in Iraq, it is important to explore the extent to which Islamic beliefs and culture is compatible with democracy,” said Michael Minch, assistant professor of philosophy and co-organizer of the conference. “Christian traditions have wrestled with similar questions since the emergence of modern democratic cultures. Catholicism historically has had a complicated relationship with democratic forms of government while certain traditions within Protestantism were influential in their formation.”
Events will be held at both Utah Valley State College and Westminster College. Thursday’s presentations begin at 10 a.m. at UVSC in the Learning Resource Center, room 243 (Faculty Seminar Room). Friday’s presentations begin at 10 a.m. at Westminster College in the Gore Auditorium, with a concluding session at 7 p.m. A full schedule of presentations is available at www.uvsc.edu/phil/religiousstudies. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Brian Birch at (801) 863-8759 or birchbr@uvsc.edu or Michael Popich at (801) 832-2411 or mpopich@westminstercollege.edu.