Workshop Title:

Understanding Religious Identity in Educational Contexts

Date:

August 20th, 2025 (UTC-4)

Organizer:

Saint Mary’s College

Keywords:

• Religious studies
• Academic study of religion

Workshop Chair:

Personal Bio:

Kurt Buhring is Associate Professor of Religious Studies & Theology at Saint Mary’s College (IN). Born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, he earned his BA in Religious Studies from Grinnell College and his PhD in Theology from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Buhring is the author of Spirit(s) in Black Religion: Fire on the Inside (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022) and Conceptions of God, Freedom, and Ethics in African American and Jewish Theology (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008). Both of these texts are a part of Palgrave Macmillan’s “Black Religion/Womanist Thought/Social Justice” series.  Buhring’s research is focused in Black Theology of Liberation. In particular, he is interested in concepts of understanding the divine-human interaction in ways that foster human agency and positively transform the self and society. His research has also explored issues in modern Jewish theology, religion during the Great Depression, and religious expressions in film. At Saint Mary’s College, Buhring teaches courses in social justice, Black theology, interfaith relations, religion and science, and Islam. He has also taught at Westville Correctional Facility as part of the Moreau College Initiative.

Workshop Description:

Background

“Understanding Religious Identity in Educational Contexts” is a class early in the semester of a course entitled, “Introducing Religious Studies and Theology.” After the previous class in which we consider why and how one should study religion, this class meeting takes up an exploration of how we might define religion. On the day of the sample class meeting, students will have read and will be discussing “On Defining and Studying Religion,” Chapter Two from Gary E. Kessler’s Studying Religion (3rd ed., 2008).

Goal/Rationale:

Kessler presents advantages and disadvantages to various definitions, including how inclusive or exclusive a definition may be, as well as how we may discern various biases in definitions. In small groups, students craft their own definition of religion. After charting out these definitions on the board, the class compares their work with one another as well as definitions offered by scholars such as Clifford Geertz, Paul Tillich, and William Alston. We then discuss how useful or precise these definitions are. One goal of the class meeting is for students to understand better the nature and complexity of religion and the academic study of it.

Scope and Information for Participants

This workshop is a sample class meeting from the course, “Introducing Religious Studies and Theology.” The course is a 100-level undergraduate class that meets a general education requirement for Saint Mary’s students. The students tend to be first-years and sophomores, most of whom are not majors in my Religious Studies and Theology department. Many of our students identify as Roman Catholic and have been in private schools for much of their academic life. Thus, this is often the first time students are asked to stretch into new territory, which can be both daunting and exciting. Participants are invited to draw from their own pedagogical experiences with these or similar thinkers, as well as comparable student populations for comparison and consideration.

Venue:

Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame, IN, USA)

VISA

U.S. Visas (state.gov)

In order to ensure the information is correct and up to date, there may be changes which we are not aware of. And different countries have different rules for the visa application. It is always a good idea to check the latest regulations in your country. This page just gives some general information of the visa application.

US Visa Information

The B-1/B-2 visitor visa is for people traveling to the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). Generally, the B-1 visa is for travelers consulting with business associates; attending scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions/conferences; settling an estate; or negotiating contracts. The B-2 visa is for travel that is recreational in nature, including tourism; visits with friends or relatives; medical treatment; and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature. Often, the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2.

Application Items

If you apply for a business/tourist visa, you must pay your $160 application fee and submit the following:

• A Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) Form. Visit the DS-160 web page for more information about the DS-160.
• A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.
• One (1) 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) photograph taken within the last six months.
• If a visa is issued, there may be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, depending on your nationality.

In addition to these items, you must present an interview appointment letter confirming that you booked an appointment through this service. You may also bring whatever supporting documents you believe support the information provided to the consular officer.

Supporting Documents

• Invitation letter from business or school.
• Detailed CV or resume including a list of publications.
• Complete itinerary, including all meetings, conferences, and visits; include names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your hosts.
• For other materials, please refer to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.

NOTICE:

Should your application be denied, the organizing committee cannot change the decision of visa officer, nor will ICEIPI engage in discussion or correspondence with the visa application center on behalf of the applicant. The registration fee CANNOT be refunded when the VISA application of individual being denied.

Important Info