Tomoko Masuzawa, a leading theorist in the study of religion and culture, will deliver the second annual Lester Lecture on the Study of Religion at the University of Colorado at Boulder on Thursday, March 16.
Masuzawa is lecturing on "The Question of Universality: Counting the 'World Religions' in the 19th Century" at 7:30 p.m. in Hale Science Building room 270. The event is free and open to the public and is presented by the CU-Boulder religious studies department. A reception will follow the lecture.
A native of Japan, Masuzawa is a professor in the program in comparative literature and the department of history at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Her book, "In Search of Dreamtime: The Quest for the Origin of Religion," published in 1993, has stimulated discussion and debate on the issue in recent years.
Masuzawa's lecture is based on her current book project, "The Invention of World Religions, or How the Idea of European Hegemony Came to be Expressed in the Language of Pluralism and Diversity."
The Lester Lectureship was established by the religious studies department to recognize Robert C. Lester, professor emeritus of religious studies. Lester joined the CU faculty in 1970 and established a major in religious studies in 1972. He directed the program until it received departmental status in 1980, after which he was chair from 1980 to 1982 and 1988 to 1991. Lester was honored with the University Medal in 1982 and has authored several books, articles and book chapters on Buddhism and Hinduism.
Masuzawa's lecture also received support from the Graduate Committee on the Arts and Humanities. For more information call (303) 492-8042 or (303) 492-6358.