What Does Religion Have To Do With It? Conway Lecture Spurs Dialogue April 13

Jeff Zalar, a Catholic studies professor in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences, hopes to illuminate how Catholic intellectuals and secular scholars can benefit from an open dialogue during the third annual Conway Lecture April 13. 

“Catholicism and the Secular Research University: Where Do They Meet?” focuses on educational environments, including UC. 

“One’s perspectives on secularity can play a significant role in determining the character of academic settings,” said Zalar, who is the Ruth J. and Robert A. Conway Endowed Chair in UC’s Catholic studies program. “Gaps in perception between believers and secular thinkers on this subject can lead to misunderstandings between them. I think it is important to promote a dialogue whenever possible, so that our academic settings conduce to the generation of good ideas and the disqualification of bad ones.” 

He said the historical antagonism between religious and secular academics hurts not only academics and the academic work, but also society in general. A healthy rapport between non-religious and religious academics is more common today than in the past, he added, but potential conflict remains. 

“We live in an era of great uncertainty about the foundations and aims of university learning,” Zalar said. “This uncertainty impinges upon each one of us, regardless of our thoughts about religion, because we are selfsame members of the UC learning community. If this lecture helps to clarify the nature of this uncertainty, and if it strengthens this community, then I think it will have succeeded to the benefit of all.” 

The Conway Lecture takes place Wednesday, April 13, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Annie Laws Room in the Teacher’s College Building, Room 407. 

The Conway Lecture is named to honor Ruth and Robert Conway, who donated $2 million to establish the chair in Catholic studies at UC. The Catholic studies program is housed in the Department of History within the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at UC. To learn more about the program, visit its webpage.