The Initiative in Globalization and the World's Religions strives to bring the academic rigor of religion and globalization to the public through timely and accessible events. The faculty has engaged in a number of presentations through the Centre for Research on Religion (CREOR). The Initiative hopes to expand these lecture and workshop opportunities by connecting to the greater network of global universities in which it is affiliated and by providing a platform for those studying and working in public policy, diplomacy, and international development to engage the topic of religion in the globalized world in new and practical ways.
Past Events
Inaugural Birks Forum on the World's Religions and Public Life, June 22-23, 2013.
Religion & Foreign Policy: The Global Challenges of Religious Pluralism
Click here to register. Questions? Please contact dean.relgstud [at] mcgill.ca
Click here to view the videos.
Conversion and Modernity, a lecture series sponsored by CREOR, the School of Continuing Studies, and the Faculty of Religious Studies, starting October 2012. Podcasts from this lecture series are available to view here.
The Faculty of Religious Studies has select lectures and events available on iTunes U as well ad through McGill's Religious Studies podcasts and CREOR podcasts websites.
Rethinking Secularism, October 12, 2011
A Conversation with Charles Taylor and Jose Casanova
Recent decades have brought an increased awareness of the role that religion plays in the cultural, social and political dynamics of both local and world affairs. The “resurgence” of religion in the public sphere calls for a reconsideration of how we define 'secular', as well as pointing to a need to revisit theories of secularism and the dominant 'modes of secularism' in the public sphere. Charles Taylor and Jose Casanova are two of the leading scholars in the field of social sciences who are challenging these issues and ideas.Sponsored by the Faculty of Religious Studies and the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism. Download the event poster here. If you are having trouble viewing the podcast, please try the troubleshooting suggested here.
Shared Purpose: A Religious Response to the Climate Change by Reverend Canon Sally Bingham, December 1, 2010
Reverend Canon Sally Bingham gave a religious perspective on global warming and climate change. This lecture was presented by the Faculty of Religious Studies and the McGill School of Environment.
McGill Initiative in Faith and Globalization, November 12, 2010
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair visited McGill on November 12 to celebrate the public launch of the McGill Initiative in the World’s Religion and Globalization, an exciting new partnership between the University’s Faculty of Religious Studies and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. If you are having trouble viewing the podcast, please try the troubleshooting suggested here.
CREOR Fall 2010 Lecture Series, 14 October to 24 November
Religion, Globalization and Dialogue
Jeffrey Haynes: Religions and Global Politics , 14 October 2010
Peter Beyer: Religious pluralisation in a global society, 20 October 2010
José Casanova: Emerging global denominationalism, 27 October 2010
Arvind Sharma: Religious freedom, globalization and dialogue, 3 November 2010
Mark Juergensmeyer: Religious challenges to the secular state, 10 November 2010
Katherine Marshall: Faith and good governance, 17 November 2010
Akbar Ahmed: Journey into America: the challenge of Islam, 24 November 2010
CREOR Fall 2009 Lecture Series, 7 October to 18 November
Religion and the Public Sphere
Margaret Somerville: Is religion a pink slip in the public square?, 7 October 2009.
Oliver O'Donovan: Who can show us any good?, 14 October 2009.
Charles Taylor: A secular age, 21 October 2009.
Douglas Farrow: Ethics and religious culture: why the fuss?, 28 October 2009.
Lori Beaman: Limits on religious freedom, 4 November 2009.
Preston Manning: Legitimating the expression of faith in the public square, 11 November 2009.