The Boniuk Institute for Religious Tolerance at Rice University

This Thursday, join the Boniuk Institute's Religion & Public Life Center for a conversation with PRRI CEO Melissa Deckman on the religion, politics, and impact of Gen Z on American public life.

This is an on-campus event at Rice University and is open to the public, but registration is required. Email [email protected] to RSVP!

REGISTER FOR THIS UPCOMING WEBINAR: " Why Science and Faith Still Need Each Other"

The scientific and faith communities are often perceived as being at odds with one another, especially in current times.

This Thursday, April 17th, University sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund will join the Society of Christian Scholars in a webinar to explore why science and faith need each other now more than ever, and to question the assumption that they are in disagreement.

Join in the conversation by registering online: https://scshub.net/webinars/why-science-and-faith-need-each-other-by-elaine-ecklund-thursday-17-april-2025-at-1400-utc/

Join the Boniuk Institute's Religion & Public Life Center on March 6th for a conversation with PRRI CEO Melissa Deckman on the religion, politics, and impact of Gen Z on American public life.

This is an on-campus event at Rice University and is open to the public, but registration is required. Email [email protected] to RSVP!

Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels were at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC Dornsife today discussing their new book "Religion in a Changing Workplace" and hearing about CRCC's excellent work using research on religion to serve the LA community and beyond!

BI Reading Religion scholar Zikang Hou spearheaded a conversation with historian and author Darren Dochuk about his book “Anointed with Oil,” an accessible exploration of the relationship between oil and religion.

Dochuk remarked that, to thread oil through the American economy is a logical course of study, but “to thread it through religious life is another thing entirely. Oil isn’t just about labor, politics, or economics,” he said, “it cuts to the heart of daily life for many Americans, and by them, is approached through highly theological/ religious terms.” He hopes that religion scholars don’t overlook oil in their studies.

If you're in LA this week, join authors Elaine Howard Ecklund & Denise Daniels for a book talk on their new book "Religion in a Changing Workplace."

🌟Wed, Feb 5th at noon at USC Annenberg🌟

👉More info & register: https://annenberg.usc.edu/events/elaine-howard-ecklund-and-denise-daniels-book-talk-religion-changing-workplace

Save 30% on a copy of the book by using this code: IVP60AUTHOR

In today’s RPLC Scholars Meeting, Eduard van der Merwe discussed his ongoing research regarding faith, stigma, and family planning (FP) in Kenya. Specifically, he is looking to determine whether or not the utilization of local religious leaders and community health volunteers (CHVs) in advocacy campaigns alter social norms and stigmas related to the use of FP, and how their involvement influences the modernization of FP and contraceptive methods within the communities.

Preliminary results detect modest improvements among primarily Christian populations where religious leaders and CHVs are involved in community education efforts.

📢Join the BI's Reading Religion Salon--now open to the public, Thursdays from 12-12:45pm CST.

👉Register by email to [email protected]. To learn more visit: https://boniuk.rice.edu/reading-religion-graduate-salon

At this week’s Boniuk Institute Reading Religion Salon, BI Graduate Scholar Akpan Ubong-Abasi introduced the book “Religion in a Changing Workplace,” an accessible and practical book which provides tools for organizational leaders looking to productively manage religious diversity in their organization.

After an overview of the book, Ubong-Abasi led an interview with authors Elaine Howard Ecklund, Denise Daniels, and Chris Scheitle, who emphasized the impracticality of shutting faith out of the workplace. They key, they said, is “thoughtful, nuanced support [of religious expression], not suppression.”

Workers benefit from bringing their whole selves to work in ways that are valuable and meaningful to them; this includes religious expression. Religious expressing at work can be thoughtfully managed in an appropriate and uniform way which values workers of all (and no) faiths).

Religious diversity already exists in US workplaces and can be managed for the benefit of all. Purchase a copy of “Religion in a Changing Workplace” by Elaine Howard Ecklund, Denise Daniels, and Chris Scheitle here: https://www.amazon.com/Religion-Workplace-Scheitle/dp/0197675018

At today’s RPLC Scholars Meeting, BI Postdoctoral Associate Josiah Taru presented research on the African Pentecostal Church and its relationship to entrepreneurship and (economic) resilience among its membership. This presentation is part of his larger project: “Pentecostal Christianity as lived religion in postcolonial Zimbabwe: coping and resilience in times of economic uncertainties.”

In this research, Taru finds both church-initiated entrepreneurial programs and intrinsic resources within the APC community. APC provides startup business funding for members; curriculum and seminars to develop business skills; promotion of a mindset of (financial) success; and encourages business dealings and networking within the APC community.

Among APC members, Taru encountered an attitude of professional advising and mentorship; a community of clients and customers where members of the church support each other’s businesses; a shift in mindset from one focused on miracles to one of hard work and planning; and an organizational structure where professionals bring expertise and direction to leadership positions.