Thomas A. Tweed, professor of religious studies and associate dean for undergraduate curricula at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is the guest lecturer for the 2001 Annual Robert C. Lester Lecture on the Study of Religion at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Tweed will present "On Moving Across: Diaspora, Religion and the Interpreter's Position" on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Eaton Humanities, room 250. A reception will immediately follow the lecture and both are free and open to the public.
"Professor Tweed's visit fits the current research interests and teaching activities of the department very well. We have faculty members engaged in research and teaching on Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Latin Americans and other immigrant religious communities in America," said Fred Denny, chair of the department of religious studies.
"We also have a major interest in understanding and teaching about the ways in which diverse religions in America affect each other and the society in general."
Tweed received his graduate education at Harvard and Stanford and has authored or edited four books. His research has considered broader issues in the study of North American religions and most of his historical and ethnographic analysis has focused on religions in the United States, especially Roman Catholicism and Asian religions.
The Robert C. Lester Lectureship on the Study of Religion was inaugurated in 1999 at CU-Boulder by the faculty of religious studies. Lester, professor emeritus of religious studies, joined the CU faculty in 1970 with a mandate to establish a program for the academic study of religion. The major in religious studies was approved in 1972. Lester directed the program until it attained departmental status in 1980, after which he was chair from 1980 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1991. He was honored with the University Medal in 1982.
Lester is the author of "Ramanuja on Yoga, Theravada Buddhism in Southeast Asia" and "Buddhism: The Path to Nirvana" as well as numerous articles and book chapters on Hinduism.
The department of religious studies offers comprehensive programs leading to bachelor's and master's degrees in religious studies. For more information, call (303) 492-8041 or visit the Web site at .