This panel examines publicly engaged scholarship in the study of religion as a critical response to contemporary crises of polarization, mistrust, and democratic fragility. Moving beyond text-centered approaches, it foregrounds pluralism as a lived, relational, and contested process constituted through practices of encounter, narrative, and collaboration across religious and political difference. The session explores how scholars of religion engage communities beyond the academy, cultivate forms of belonging that exceed mere inclusion, and develop sustainable models of partnership and institutional support. Attending to questions of scale, power, and accountability, the panel highlights the importance of praxis—translating scholarly insight into forms of public engagement that are ethically grounded and strategically effective. In doing so, it positions publicly engaged scholarship not as a peripheral activity but as central to the future of the field and its capacity to contribute to more just and pluralistic forms of collective life.
In this case study, scholar practitioners will share experiences leading "Multiple Belonging Circles" as a part of the Belonging Colorado project, a statewide effort to help people connect, participate, and collaborate across differences. Following ten people from diverse religious, political, cultural, racial, and gender identities, presenters will share stories, videos, struggles, and insights from the project. Additionally, logistical details will be shared, including funding, collaboration, and participant support.
The United States is plagued by rising polarization, misinformation, and threats to democratic pluralism. The need for empowered leaders with the practical skills and ethical frameworks to translate deeply held values into effective public action is clear. To address this pressing need, our institute is launching the “Values and Public Voice Network.” The primary goal of the VPV Network is to provide a practical, graduate-level public curriculum that equips clergy, nonprofit professionals, organizers, educators, activists, and other leaders to translate their deeply held values into tangible, justice-oriented frameworks for public impact. We are discussing this program as a case study for the "Publicly Engaged Scholarship in the Study of Religion Seminar" to expand relationships, share wisdom, and receive valuable feedback from leaders in other institutions who are engaging in similar work.
How can scholarship on interreligious relations move beyond the academy to shape the future of relationships between religious communities? This paper examines a developing symposium initiative designed to translate academic research on Hindu–Christian relations into publicly engaged collaboration among scholars, Hindu organizations, and Christian communities in the United States. Building on foundational works such as The Routledge Handbook of Hindu-Christian Relations and Francis X. Clooney’s The Future of Hindu-Christian Studies, the project seeks to bring scholarly insights into practical community engagement.
Using this initiative as a case study, the paper analyzes strategies for building relationships across multiple scales: individual trust between scholars and practitioners, community partnerships between Hindu and Christian organizations, and institutional collaborations that sustain engagement over time. Reflecting on my experiences working with academic institutions and religious organizations, the paper examines how publicly engaged scholarship navigates institutional power structures while cultivating relationships necessary for pluralistic coexistence.