Religious Studies News

2005-2006 Interreligous Symposium

Conversations within the Abrahamic Traditions
—Jewish, Muslim, Roman Catholic

More Information and Video of the sessions
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Dr. James Lewis Featured in Fall 2005 Focus, Bethel Alumni Magazine

We've heard the saying, "If you want to recognize the counterfeit, get to know the real thing." Bethel Professor James Lewis believes the adage is valid in its context, but he contends that knowing Truth in Christ needs to be complemented by a basic understanding of other faiths. Lewis, a former Christian and Missionary Alliance teacher in India and Vietnam, heads up a relatively new 21-credit minor in religious studies in the College of Arts & Sciences that explores the world's major Western, Eastern, and new religions. A devout disciple of Christ, he also is a firm defender of religious freedom and backs it up with activism in the plight of persecuted Hmong Christians in the highlands of Vietnam. Recently Lewis discussed his work with a Focus editor.

See the rest of the Interview >>

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Yale University Professor Lectures on Religion at Bethel College - 3/9/04

Dr. Lamin Sanneh, D. Willis James Professor of World Christianity, lectured on "Whose Religion is Islam?" in Dr. Lewis's class "Western Religious Traditions." Among the comments he said: "The West is seen as an obstacle to the fulfillment of Islamic militants since its social and political ideals hinder a pan-Islamic revival of primitive and 'pure' Islam." Dr. Sanneh also lectured as guest of the College's Convocation Committee on the topic of "War and Peace in Western and Islamic Thought." Dr. Sanneh teaches at Yale in both the university and the Divinity School and was recently appointed to serve on the "World Economic Forum" of one hundred specialists to carry on a dialogue with contemporary Islam.

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Minneapolis StarTribune Religion Editor speaks to Bethel religion class - 1/22/04

Martha Sawyer Allen, veteran religious news journalist reported fascinating data about Minnesota attitudes toward religion in the "J Term" course "New Religious Movements." Among the responses of 1047 persons polled in 2003 it was learned that a significant shift in state religious minorities has taken place since 1990. Though Christians are still a hugh majority, Muslims are now the second largest ahead of Buddhists who have replaced Judaism which has dropped to fourth place. An interesting question was: "Can a person be a good Christian and not go to church?" 50% of lay respondents answered "yes" while only 2% of clergy could agree. Allen's appearance in Dr. Lewis's religion classes signals a desire to expose students to vocational opportunities in the field of religious journalism.

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Profile of Dr. James F. Lewis, Religious Studies Professor
Clarion Campus Newspaper article

"Faculty profiles: getting to know new faces
Religious Studies minor spearheaded by new professor James Lewis"
byJanelle Fuller, Staff Writer (10/10/03)

When I first walked into James Lewis’ office, I knew nothing of the religious studies program at Bethel; when I left I felt like adding on a minor in religious studies.
Lewis grew up in Iowa. He received his bachelor of arts and bachelor of divinity from Bethel College and Seminary, went on to do graduate studies at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Teaching at other Christian liberal arts colleges, the most recent being Wheaton College in Illinois, Lewis was invited back to Bethel to head up the new religious studies program.
photo by Alicia Torgerson
Dr. Lewis instructs students Adam Arnold, Clayton Lott, Joe Pruden, and Heidi Jerhaus (left-right)
The faculty supported this program, because they felt the program has a lot of potential. As Lewis stated, “Bethel could become the premier religious studies program amongst evangelical colleges across the country.” Currently, religious studies is offered as a minor and is housed in the biblical and theological studies department.
This semester, Lewis teaches teaching Eastern Religious Traditions, Asian Civilizations: India, and Christian Theology.
When I asked Lewis what he felt was important about religious studies, he gave me a long multifaceted answer. The purpose of religious studies is to prepare the student for a “multi-religious” world and help them to be able to deal with the
“religious marketplace” while being faithful to the gospel, he explained. Lewis pointed out that we are called to be salt and light in this world. The rationale behind this program is , “Things we don’t understand, we fear. Things we fear, we avoid. Therefore, if we understand other religions, we won’t fear, and therefore we won’t avoid.”
Religious studies is about two main things, Lewis said: understanding that results in civility, and understanding that promotes conviction. Lewis stated, “When we understand other religions, it doesn’t erode our faith, but has the paradoxical capacity to strengthen it.” This program was created to be a leadership program, he explained. Many of the tragedies of the world have been the result of religious conflict, and therefore by being educated about other religions, students can contribute to a better world as a Christian.
Lewis is married and has three children. Their youngest son, Tim, is married to a school teacher in Plymouth. His daughter, Amy, works at St. Paul Radiology, while their oldest son, Daniel, is a senior medical student at the University of North Dakota. When asked about how he planned to impact religious studies at Bethel, Lewis stated, “I intend to take a young, new, good program and make it a primo program.”
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