Miroslav Volf, the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity
School and director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, will co-teach
a course on faith and globalization next year with former British Prime Minister
Tony Blair.
T H I S
The course, announced earlier this spring, is a joint program of Yale’s
Divinity School (YDS) and School of Management (SOM). Blair chose Volf to co-teach
the course after meeting with a group of YDS and SOM faculty in London to discuss
specifics of the course.
Volf is a prolific author, whose book “Exclusion and Embrace” received
the Grawemeyer Award for religion writing in 2002. Another of his books, “Free
of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace,” was
selected as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s official Lenten study book
for 2006.
In addition to teaching required courses in systematic theology, Volf teaches
courses on the theology of Luther, on grace and forgiveness, and many others.
A native of Croatia, he has forged a theology of forgiveness and non-violence
in the face of the horrendous violence experienced in Croatia and Serbia in
the 1990s. While he maintains active interest in many aspects of faith’s
relation to culture, his work primarily has focused on theological understandings
of work, the church, the Trinity, violence, reconciliation and memory.
On the Center for Faith and Culture website, Volf describes what he says are
two “basic malfunctions” that frequently plague faith: a disconnect
with daily life, and faith that “turns into a deadly poison.”
“The more serious problem is when faith’s medicine turns into a deadly
poison,” Volf argues. “In this case, a person’s faith is no
longer idle or lukewarm but is used for ill and leeches society. This malfunctioning
of faith gives inspiration and seeming legitimacy to people’s unconscionable
deeds —from acts of violence and terror to complacency and inaction before
situations of abuse and injustice.”
The mission of the Center for Faith and Culture, explains Volf, is “to
explore ways to counter these two distressingly widespread malfunctions of
faith by helping people practice their faith responsibly in all spheres of
life.”
One of the ongoing initiatives of the center is its Reconciliation Program,
which aims to promote reconciliation between Christians and Muslims. The program,
with leadership from Volf, was a primary force behind creation of the widely
circulated document “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response
to a Common Word Between Us and You.” The statement was drafted by Volf
and three other YDS scholars in response to a text published by Muslim leaders.
It was published on Nov. 18 as a full-page ad in The New York Times with the
signatures of scores of other Christian scholars and religious leaders.
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Added sun does not lower breast cancer risk, warn expertsYale affiliates are honored with election to prestigious societies
Ten appointed members of American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Mathematician Peter Jones named to National Academy of Sciences
Ian Shapiro chosen to join American Philosophical Society
Strobel’s students rediscover sense of scientific ‘wonder’ . .
Yale to celebrate 307th graduation
Summertime at Yale
Scientist Joan Steitz wins nation’s largest prize in medicine
University names 18 future leaders as 2008 World FellowsENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS
Mary E. Miller named Sterling Professor of the History of Art
Joseph Roach appointed Sterling Professor of Theater
Dr. Madhav Dhodapkar is the new Bunker Professor of Hematology
Dr. Richard Edelson is the first Lerner Professor of Dermatology
Architecture students helping to design Mideast Peace Park
China’s President Hu Jintao meets with participants in . . .
In Yale-led study, astronomers discover nine young galaxies . . .
Research on male mating behavior suggests brains may be unisex . . .
Paul Anastas honored as the founder of ‘green chemistry’
Town-gown partners honored with Elm-Ivy AwardsSCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEWS
Drug addicts can learn to save lives, says researcher
Study: No ‘Hollywood heart attack’ symptoms for most women
Findings suggest eating chocolate may be boon to pregnant women
Early-stage bone cells may offer possible estrogen replacement
Expert assesses lessons from 12 years of anti-smoking efforts
Computer program helps keep drug abusers abstinent, study shows
Noted gastroenterologist named chief medical officer at YMG
Yale Ob/Gyn researchers discuss their work at New Orleans meeting
Symposium on pain management aimed at medical school students
Exhibits explore artist’s Liverpool years, British watercolors
Two student-curated shows focus on the medium of photography
Library creates digital archive of ‘oldest college daily’
Two seniors will study at the University of Cambridge as Gates Scholars
Campus leaders discuss strategies for increasing staff diversity
Former Bucknell chaplain is named new pastor of University Church
Professor Miroslav Volf will co-teach class with . . .
Tony Blair
Council of Masters honors 10 juniors for their scholarship . . .
Conference focuses on ‘Women and Men in the Globalizing University’
The future of ‘Computers, Freedom and Privacy’ to be addressed . . .
Karyn Frick honored for contributions to women’s health
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home