Vol. 26
No.3
Fall 2003
|
|||||||||||||
This issue is also available in Adobe Acrobat format.
| NEWS FROM PCR MEMBERS |
Rick Jarow (Vassar College) recently published Tales for the Dying: The Death Narrative of the Bhagavata-Purana (SUNY, 2003). The book explores the centrality of death and dying in the narrative of the Bhagavata-Purana, India's great text of devotional theism, canonized as an intgegral part of the Vaisnava bhakti tradition. The text grapples with death through an imaginative meditation, one that works through the presence and power of narrative. The story of the Bhagavata-Purana is spoken to a king who is about to die, and it enables him to come to terms with his own passing. The work does not isolate dying as an issue; it treats it on many levels. Rick is also devoting considerable thought these days to the relationship of capitalism and consciousness, and he is interested in the development of a course on "The Psychology of Value (Money)." Carrie Doehring (Iliff School of Theology) has recently moved from Boston to take a faculty position at Iliff in Denver. Congratulations, Carrie! For more on her activities, see John McDargh's news below. Bonnie Miller-Mclemore (Vanderbilt Divinity School) reports the following: "My book, Let the Children Come: Reimagining Childhood from a Christian Perspective (Jossey-Bass, 2003) just appeared in print a few weeks ago. Although the title may sound more "Christian" than some PCR folks, the book really hopes to reconstruct outmoded (e.g., innocent, sinful) and prevalent destructive views of children (e.g., commodities, consumers, burdens), using but also challenging psychology, feminism, and Christianity. I suggest reclaiming views of children as gift, as the labor of love, and as spiritual and moral agents (and, yes, as sinful also, as tricky as that is). (Between you and me: I think it's a much needed book and still like it even after it's in print—not always the case for me!). I also co-edited a book with Herbert Anderson, Robert Schreiter, and Edward Foley that should be out by the AAR, entitled Mutuality Matters: Faith, Family, and Just Love (Sheed & Ward) that should be out by the AAR. It's a great collection of essays on the challenge and potential of enacting mutuality, equal regard, and just love in families and includes chapters by a few other PCR members (Don Browning, Pamela Couture, James Poling). I'd also like to share news from a reinvigorated Association of Practical Theology. With renewed interest in religious practices, Lilly Endowment funding new doctoral programs, and other related developments in theological education, the Association is undertaking a serious reassessment of the field as a field of study and its problems, needs, and contributions. A pre-session of the AAR (that unfortunately conflicts with the PCR Sat. pre-session) will address the question of the place of practical theology in terms of institutional and professional aspects (panel with D. Browning, C. Dykstra, E. Bounds, D. Andrews). There will also be a biennial meeting April 16-18, 2004 at Louisville Seminary to consider research and teaching aspects of the place of practical theology (with speakers D. Bass, M. Battle, K. Cahalan, J. Fowler, E. Conde-Frazier, R. Franklin). For more information or to update membership information or status, contact Gordon Mikoski <gordon.mikoski@ptsem.edu>." Hendrika Vande Kemp (Argosy University) shares this news: "These days I find myself thinking about ...In the last year I focused much of my energy on thinking about the personal experience of the therapist with mental illness. I wrote a lengthy paper on Harry Stack Sullivan, who apparently suffered at least one psychotic episode, his influence on O. H. Mowrer, and his mutually enhancing relationship with Anton Boisen (there is as much Boisen in Sullivan as there is Sullivan in Boisen!). The paper will appear in The Psychotherapy Patient in a special issue on the saints and rogues of psychotherapy. I learned some fascinating things about Sullivan's homosexuality, and am at work on a second paper that will explore his more general contributions to psychology. I am also at work on an autobiographical chapter for a book on narrative psychology edited by George Yancy. What we need is a good course in ... I am currently teaching "History & Systems of Psychology" at Argosy University in Arlington, and find it much easier with Wayne Viney and Brett King's textbook to include religion in my teaching of history. [Students are very interested in religion and spirituality, which was a nice surprise. Syllabus is available] Have you seen? ... Vande Kemp, H. (2002). Making the history of psychology clinically and philosophically relevant. History of Psychology, 5, 224-239. This article has a theological focus as well. Vande Kemp, H. (2002). James's Varieties and the Gifford Lectures on Natural Theology. Streams of William James, 4,1-7. Vande Kemp, H. (2003). Three decades of historical and archival research on psychology and religion. In D. Baker (Ed.), A Festschrift in Honor of John A. Popplestone and Marion White McPherson (pp. 108-122, 190-199). Akron, OH: University of Akron Press. Vande Kemp, H., Chen, J. C., Nagel Erickson, G., Friesen, N. (2003). ADA accommodation of therapists with disabilities in clinical training. In M. E. Banks (Ed.), Women with visible and invisible disabilities: Multiple intersections, multiple issues, multiple therapies (pp. 155-168). New York: Haworth Press. General information ... I am continuing to market my private psychotherapy practice in Annandale, VA, and welcome referrals." John McDargh (Boston College) has this to say for himself: "I am gratefully returning from a Spring sabbatical, the highpoint of which was a much-needed eight day vipassana retreat at the Insight Meditation Center in Barre, Massachusetts over one bitterly cold March week and a day. At the end of the sabbatical in May I had three professional opportunities which were both challenging and tremendous learning opportunities. At the annual Harvard Medical School Conference on Men and Boys led by Dr. William Pollock I gave a talk on "The Spiritual Challenges and Possibilities of Growing Up Male." It was a set of reflections that came out of my work for the festschrift in honor of our senior colleague Jim Dittes that is coming out as a special edition of Pastoral Psychology in November. The whole edition, a labor of love by Don Capps and Bob Dykstra, will be well worth reading. My own piece is entitled, "Reveling in complexity: Dittes' male metaphors and their bearing on the crisis of clergy sexual abuse." The second opportunity introduced me to the first time to a remarkable professional organization that should be of real interest to many PCR folks: the Society for Research in Pastoral Psychology, a collaboration of scholars from the United States and Canada, and particularly French speaking Canada. Their annual meeting was held this year at the University of Sherbrook in Quebec, and Ana Maria Rizzuto was invited to be the keynote speaker as the theme of the conference was research on the Image of God. I had the great pleasure of driving from Boston to Sherbrook with Ana Maria and our colleague Carrie Doehring, now on faculty at Iliff School of Theology. Dr. Rizzuto's address, elegantly delivered in both French and English, was a tour de force. As that last phrase about exhausts my French, Carrie and I delivered our own joint presentation in English. It was a psychoanalytic and theological exploration of the Scots film, "Breaking the Waves," as a case study in the dynamic processes of religious representation in the psyche of the heroine. Finally, this fall, in the week between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I had the pleasure of co-teaching a workshop at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology on "Forgiveness and Accountability: Jewish and Christian Perspectives" with Joel Ziff, a neo-Hasidic clinical psychologist who wrote the book, Mirrors in Time: A Psycho-Spiritual Journey Through the Jewish Year (Aaronson, 1996). Kelly Bulkeley (Graduate Theological Union) has been appointed Associate Professor and Director of the Dream Studies Program at John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California. "Needless to say, this is a `dream job' for me in that I get to work with highly motivated M.A. students who are interested in connecting dream research to education, counseling, and the arts. I will be maintaining my ties with the GTU, but doing most of my teaching, advising, etc. at JFKU."
|
|
Suggestions
for Next Year's Call for Papers? |
If you have suggestions for next year's PCR Call for Papers, please let us know! The presession meetings will provide an opportunity to contribute your thoughts to the initial planning for the 2004 meeting. |
|
|
Other AAR/SBL Sessions of Interest |
Religion and the Social Sciences Section: Neuro-Physical Understandings of the Brain A29 Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm Rebecca Sachs Norris Kelly Bulkeley Alice Maung-Mercurio David A. Hogue
Critical Theory and Discourses on Religion Group: Critical Views of Cognitive Science of Religion A125 Sunday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm Michael T. Bradley, Jr. Matthew C. Day Jonathon S. Feit Robert N. McCauley |
|
|
| ||
SBL Sessions of Interest |
The Bible and Human Transformation Sunday, November 23, 9:00-11:30 am Lyn M. Bechtel Walter Wink Wayne G. Rollins
Methods and Explorations in Psychological Criticism
Tuesday, November 25, 9:00- 11:30 AM Ilona N. Rashkow David G. Garber, Jr. Neil Douglas-Klotz Daniel B. Mathewson Petri Merenlahti Halvor Ronning Copies of papers are available on the psybibs website |
|
|
|
||
|
Upcoming Conferences |
CALL FOR PAPERS: SYMPOSIUM ON RELIGION AND POLITICS April 29-May 1, 2004 The Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics is pleased to announce its second biennial Symposium on Religion and Politics to be held on April 29- May 1, 2004 at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. This symposium is held in the spring of even numbered years. The symposium is open to both scholars and graduate students across different disciplines of study (e.g., political scientists, sociologists, historians). Those interested in presenting a paper on any aspect of the relationship between religion and politics (whether it be in terms of political philosophy, public policy, political history, comparative politics, electoral politics, constitutional law, or the sociology of religion) should submit a one-page proposal by February 15, 2004. The abstract should outline the nature of the proposed paper, and it should include the title of the proposed paper, author(s), mailing address, email address, and institutional/organizational affiliation. Send to Corwin Smidt, The Henry Institute, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 or email: smid@calvin.edu. After February 15, proposals will be considered on a space-available basis. Notification of inclusion on the program will be made as the program is developed, but no later than early March, 2004. To view the program of the first symposium, visit our website at: http://www.calvin.edu/henry/schedule/symppro2.pdf
The Center for Inquiry at State University of New York at Buffalo invites applications for one-semester research fellowships at the post-doctoral or senior level to be awarded for the academic year 2004-2005. The Center for Inquiry is an interdisciplinary research center at SUNY-Buffalo that explores the philosophical, social, cultural, and public policy implications of the methods and cosmic outlook of the sciences, as well as the latest findings and techniques in the field of scientific and technological literacy. Preference will be given to projects falling within one of the following areas: (1) Science and Philosophical Naturalism; (2) Anti-science and the Public. All relevant disciplines are welcome. Fellowships include an appointment in the relevant department at SUNY-Buffalo and a stipend of $15,000 per semester plus health benefits and accommodations. Candidates should send a project proposal (1,000-1,500 words),
CV, two references (for recent Ph.Ds), and a writing sample to
the Fellowship Committee via email at adacey@centerforinquiry.net or Center for Inquiry; PO Box 741; Amherst, New York 14226. Deadline:
January 30, 2004. For more information, visit www.centerforinquiry.net/fellowships.html. |
|
| PCR
Commentary:
|
How do paper proposals get selected anyway? The PCR steering committee agreed to meet at the Food Court, located beneath the Toronto Sheraton in a subterranean maze of mall-like tunnels built by clever Canadians to avoid inclement weather. I confess that it was my idea to meet at the Food Court and I don't believe I will be asked for my suggestions in the future. I had been dreaming of Sam's Souvlaki Station all morning. Others chose from sushi, pizza, eggrolls and burgers, befitting the diversity of our steering committee. It was at this meeting that Pamela and I were chosen as Co-chairs (after a brief discussion that went something like "Sorry, I can't," "don't look at me" and "no way, my wife would kill me") and the 2003 Call for Papers was crafted—a smorgasbord in its own right. "That wasn't so bad," I remarked. "Wait until March," I heard someone reply. The names of chairpersons and newly elected
committee members were forwarded to the AAR for special access
to the online paper
submission system, "OP3." I have been told by former
steering committee members that this system, though imperfect,
is a great improvement over the days of photocopying, mailing and
assembling for a long conference call. Committee members read the
proposals blind. Chairs may or may not choose to keep their eyes
open. Pamela and I agreed to a blind reading, at least until we
completed our evaluations. (All right, so I peeked a few times,
big deal. I'm only one vote and I never squealed.) As we read each
proposal, we rate it on a scale of 0-6. A rating of "0" is
value free, it is supposed to designate papers that are not appropriate
for our group rather than those of poor quality but this distinction
often gets blurred. Ratings 1—6 represent ascending levels
of greatness. Then there is a box where one has the option of typing
in a comment or two. Some of us can be a bit blunt, especially
those of us who are reading proposals in the wee hours. Others
use the opportunity to show off their rapier wit (Franz, we miss
you!). Those who can stay on task confine their comments to the
matter at hand, referring us back to the Call for Papers and suggesting
ways in When all of the ballots were finally cast, Pamela and I made plans to meet in person at a location midway between my home in Madison New Jersey and hers in Philadelphia. We chose Princeton. No food courts here! Our plan was to talk over lunch, wander over to the Seminary library and get to work sorting things into piles. "Wander" turned out to be the operative word, since neither Pamela nor I knew our way around. Fortunately, after only about forty five minutes in the rain, we bumped into it. A kind librarian showed us to a conference room and we made ourselves at home. Equally fortunate was the fact that we had many, many good proposals. We averaged all of the scores, ranked the papers accordingly, and made some tough choices based mostly on which papers could be grouped together for sessions that corresponded to our original Call for Papers. The process for selecting pre-sessions material is a bit more fluid and our criteria favors experiential, interactive events that reinforce a sense of PCR community. Sometimes the PCR membership, including friends and extended family, offer the steering committee a fully conceived panel presentation. This year's Don Browning panel is a great example of that type of good fortune. Once Pamela and I sketched out a program, based on the group's collective evaluations, we e-mailed our suggestions to the full committee for their response. Compromises were brokered, schedules were tweaked, presiders were chosen and OP3 was deployed to inform the various proposal authors of their fates. At last the 2003 PCR itinerary was forwarded to AAR staff for publication in the Program Book. All we need now are the completed papers so that they may be posted to our website for pre-circulation. The Person, Culture and Religion group is different in this respect from other AAR groups. We strongly discourage (yes, even forbid!) the reading of papers. PCR audiences look forward to attending a lively discussion, rather than a monotonal presentation, of people's work. This is why we make the papers available on our website, so the audience can be prepared to participate actively and intelligently in the discussion. All of us on the steering committee look forward to the papers selected for
the Atlanta meeting. We worked hard to bring you the cream of the crop! |
| PCR NEWS Volume 26 No. 3 Fall 2003 |
Editor: Kelly Bulkeley Layout: D. Andrew Kille |