Religious Violence: Myth or Global Reality?

Conventional wisdom in the west suggests that religion is to blame for many of the world’s violent conflicts. Theologian and historian William Cavanaugh (pictured) will challenge this assumption by exploring western ideas about religion, secularism, and power to discuss the idea that religion is to blame for many of the world's violent conflicts during a 7 p.m. presentation 26 January in Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis.

The event is presented by the Seminar on Religion and World Civilization at Butler.

Cavanaugh is an associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., where his research and teaching focus on the intersection of violence and religion. He is the author of The Myth of Religious Violence: Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflict (2009).

Respondents will be Margaretha Geertsema and Lawrence Gerstein. Geertsema is an assistant professor of journalism at Butler University. Her research draws on studies of globalization, media, culture, sociology, and gender. Gerstein is a professor of psychology at Ball State University and director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Ball State. He is president of the International Tibet Independence Movement.

(Photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

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Ball State Assists Kandahar University

A $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of State will allow Ball State University to help Kandahar University in Afghanistan develop curricula emphasizing free market principles and entrepreneurship within its new College of Economics, reports the BSU news bureau.

The two-year grant enables faculty members from Ball State's Center for Entrepreneurship to work with members of Kandahar's economics department in creating entrepreneurial courses that will lead to an expertise in entrepreneurship, business development and economic development.

Additionally, faculty from Ball State's Intensive English Institute will work with Kandahar University to improve the English language proficiency of its faculty and students.

Members of Ball State's Career Center also will assist Kandahar University with the creation of its own career development center, which will serve as another method of integrating the university with the business world and give students more opportunities for internships and employment.

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Ball State Assists Tikrit University in Iraq

Ball State University will receive $1 million from the U.S. Department of State to help transform an Iraqi university's curriculum and its faculty members' teaching style, reports the BSU news bureau. The three-year grant is part of the U.S. Department of State's Iraqi university linkage program, which provides technical and curriculum assistance to Iraqi institutions — in this case, Tikrit University.

Ball State faculty members will work closely with Tikrit University to review its current curriculum and teaching style, which is more of a traditional lecture method, and help it develop a more student-centered, interactive pedagogy.

Ball State professors will also teach courses in English, accounting and computer science via the Web and videoconferencing to 25 of Tikrit's top sophomore students from each of the three academic areas.

Additionally, the grant will afford some Tikrit University faculty members the opportunity to visit Ball State and receive professional development.

BSU Group Returns From Turkey

A delegation from Ball State University has returned from a two-week educational, business relations and economic development trip to Turkey, reports Inside INdiana Business.

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Ball State to Help Iraqi University

The U.S. Department of State has awarded a $1 million grant to help Ball State University revamp the curriculum at Tikrit University in Iraq, reports Inside INdiana Business. Faculty from Ball State will help develop a more student-centered approach at the Iraqi institution. Ball State professors will also utilize internet and videoconferencing technology to teach Tikrit students.

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