Notice Board

The Department of History & Religion presents

“For the Public Good”: Inter-Religious Studies and the Embrace of Spiritual Pluralism 

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
4:00 PM
Markin Hall - M1060

Frederick S. Tappenden
Principal, Dean, and Professor of Scriptures and Sacred Stories
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

Abstract:

The study of Religions and Theology—either as separate or integrated disciplines—is currently experiencing a struggle of relevance.  Within many post-secondary contexts, Religious Studies and Theology are kept separate.  To be certain, both disciplines are seen as academic, though one is often conceptualized as critical and dispassionate, while the other might be perceived as personalized and beholden to faith commitments.  The division and/or integration of these two fields is handled differently across post-secondary contexts, with some universities integrating religious studies and theology into a single academic unit, while others relegate theology to the work of external (though sometimes affiliated) theological schools.  For both universities and theological colleges, the struggle for relevance relates deeply to the question of what defines the public sphere—and by extension, how does one envision the public good.  This paper examines ways that the bourgeoning field of Inter-Religious Studies might offer a compelling framework for thinking anew about the place of both religious studies and theology within the post-secondary context.  As a case study, the paper focuses on the nearly 120-year history of St. Stephen’s College and its struggle for relevance, particularly regarding the College’s ongoing transition from a centre for ministry training to a spiritually diverse community focused toward the public good.

 Biography:

Fred Tappenden is the Principal and Dean, and Professor of Scriptures and Sacred Stories, at St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta.  He holds a PhD in Religion and Theology from the University of Manchester.  His scholarly work focuses broadly on issues of meaning making and meaning construction, particularly with respect to issues of embodiment, cognition, and social memory in ancient Judean and Christ-believing communities.  Dr. Tappenden is the author and/or editor of four books.  His 2016 monograph, Resurrection in Paul: Cognition, Metaphor, and Transformation (SBL Press), was awarded the 2017 Lautenschläger Award for Theological Promise from the University of Heidelberg.  He is currently co-editing (with Reed Carlson and Brigidda Zapada Bell) a volume titled, Ominous Times: Anticipating Cataclysm in Early Judaism and Christianity (to by published by De Gruyter’s in 2026).  Extending from his interests in meaning making and meaning construction, Dr. Tappenden’s currently research is moving into the fields of Inter-Religious Studies and Comparative Theology.  Prior to coming to St. Stephen's, Dr. Tappenden was a Faculty Lecturer at McGill University, and he has taught and/or held research positions at the University of British Columbia, the Montreal School of Theology, The King's University, and Concordia University of Edmonton. 

Everyone is welcome!