The world’s challenge: For the past three centuries, religious and nonreligious people and institutions have competed — sometimes violently — with each other and contended with the modern world in its myriad configurations.
University of Notre Dame’s response: Contending Modernities is a major multi-disciplinary research initiative focused on generating new knowledge and greater understanding of the ways in which religious and secular forces interact, for good or for ill, in the modern world.
Participants: Catholic, Muslim, and secular scholars and public intellectuals from around the world who are committed to working together on research that contributes to addressing the world’s major problems.
Phase 1 Research: Focus on the interaction among the world’s two largest religious communities (Catholics and Muslims) and secular people and institutions. (Eventually, the project will expand to engage all major world religions, including Judaism, Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.)
Research teams: Interdisciplinary teams will focus on issues that include: human development and the global economy; violence, peace, and human rights; gender, family, and sexuality; democracy and citizenship; law and governance; religious freedom and proselytism; science, technology, and the environment; religious identity, community, and authority; global migration.
Goals and expected outcomes:
- A new scholarly community of Catholic, Muslim, and secular academics
- New knowledge of value to policymakers, educators, religious leaders, business leaders, and other scholars
- New paths for constructive engagement between and among religious and secular people and institutions
- Actionable recommendations for religious, political and business leaders, nongovernmental and governmental organizations.
Contacts:
Scott Appleby, director of Contending Modernities, is available for interviews.
Media contact Joan Fallon, Communications Director, Kroc Institute, 574-631-8819, jfallon2@nd.edu, or (cell) 574-514-8972.
