Undergraduate Religious Studies Association

Events Calendar

Faculty and Student Lunches, Movies and Field Trips

Wednesday October 2nd Movie with Prof. Furey (The Exorcist) Sycamore Hall 001 starting at 6pm. Food will be provided.
The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film, adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty, dealing with the demonic possession of a young girl, and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her daughter through an exorcism conducted by two priests. The film features Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Lee J. Cobb, Jason Miller and Mercedes McCambridge. Both the film and novel took inspirations from a documented exorcism in 1949, performed on a 14-year-old boy.

Wednesday Oct 15 Movie with Prof. Manring (The Clay Bird) Student Building 150 starting at 6:30 pm. Food will be provided.
Set against the backdrop of Pakistan during the turbulent 1960s, a family is ripped apart by religious beliefs and civil war. Anu, a shy young boy from rural East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) is sent away by his father Kazi, an orthodox Muslim, to a madrasah. Far from his family and the warmth of his region's vibrant Hindu festivities, Anu struggles to adapt to the Islamic school's harsh monastic life. As the political divisions in the country intensify, a split develops between moderate and extremist forces within the Madrasah. In the village, these same tensions create a growing divide between the stubborn Kazi and his increasingly independent wife, Ayesha.

Thursday October 16, Lunch with Prof. Stalnaker. This is an opportunity to meet with Prof. Stalnaker. He will talk about his research and teaching interests. Sycamore 224 at noon. Lunch will be provided. (RSVP)

Monday October 27, lunch with the RS graduate students. Graduate students will talk about graduate school (the perspective of 'insiders', what to expect when you get to graduate school, what they would have done differently to get to graduate school, what has surprised them as graduate students, is it ok to defer and not go directly to graduate school and more of your questions.)Sycamore 224 at noon. Lunch will be provided. (RSVP).

Monday November 10, lunch with Prof. Johnson. Prof. Johnson is particularly interested in discussing: "Black Religions, American Loyalty, and FBI Surveillance in the 20th Century". He will also talk about his research and teaching interests. Sycamore 224 1pm. Lunch will be provided. (RSVP)

Wednesday November 12 Movie with Prof. Weitzman (Pulp Fiction) Considered one of the great and most entertaining masterpieces of American cinema in the 1990s, Pulp Fiction is also a sly and surprisingly profound reflection on religion that explores the nature of miracles, repentence, and redemption. Join us for a viewing followed by a discussion that will focus on how the film reads the Bible. Viewer discretion is advised.
Jordan Hall 7-10pm.

Monday November 17, Movie with Prof. Brakke (The Matrix)
A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against the controllers of it.Food will be provided. Sycamore 108 6:30 pm.Food will be provided.

Wednesday December 3 lunch with Adjunct Prof. Conkle from the IUB Law School. This is an opportunity to meet with Prof Conkle. He will talk about his research and teaching interests. Sycamore 224 at 12:15. Lunch will be provided. (RSVP)

2008 URSA FIELD TRIP

Sunday December 7, the field trip to the Tibetan Cultural Center for a prayer service.  It starts at 12:30.  Lunch is provided afterward.  Rinpoche, who is one of the Lamas, will be there and would love to talk to students.  Brother Benedict from St. Paul's will also be there to guide us through the center and answer any questions. (RSVP, let us know if you need a ride.) 3655 S Snoddy Rd Bloomington, IN 47401 tibetancc.com

Spring 2009

Student and Faculty Reception 2009

The event will be held on Thursday April 23, 2007 at 5:30 pm in Faculty Club in the University Club at the IMU. Previously called Honors Day.

Graduation Party 2009

The Department of Religious Studies will celebrate the graduating class of Saturday, May 9, 2009 5:30-7PM at a reception for students and their families in the Faculty Room in the University Club at the IMU.