Why Public Scholarship Needs Research on Religion for Religious Leaders: H. Paul Douglass Lecture, Religious Research Association
This H. Paul Douglass lecture discusses the critical importance of translating academic research on religion for religious leaders and communities. Over two decades of experience engaging with religious leaders has demonstrated their significant influence on social life, with nearly half of U.S. adu...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Review of religious research
Year: 2025, Volume: 67, Issue: 2, Pages: 163-174 |
| Further subjects: | B
public scholarship
B applied research B Religious leaders B Religious communities |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | This H. Paul Douglass lecture discusses the critical importance of translating academic research on religion for religious leaders and communities. Over two decades of experience engaging with religious leaders has demonstrated their significant influence on social life, with nearly half of U.S. adults attending religious services monthly. Religious leaders shape their communities’ responses to crucial issues including environmental concerns, racial justice, mental health, and social crises. The lecture argues that public scholarship for religious leaders serves multiple purposes: it democratizes knowledge, enhances academic research quality, and bridges gaps between academic and religious communities. Key strategies for effective engagement include being reflective about one's positionality, creating “neutral third spaces“ for dialogue, managing power dynamics thoughtfully, and building authentic relationships. The benefits of such engagement include broader research dissemination, clearer communication of findings, and more relevant research questions. However, challenges exist, such as potential gatekeeping by religious leaders and the need to maintain academic integrity while building trust. The lecture concludes that despite these challenges, engaging religious leaders with academic research enriches both scholarly work and religious communities, while promoting more informed dialogue on pressing societal issues. |
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| ISSN: | 2211-4866 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Review of religious research
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0034673X251317598 |
