Centre for Studies in Religion and Society

Paul Bramadat, MA (McGill), PhD (McMaster), Director

The Centre for Studies in Religion and Society (CSRS) is an interdisciplinary research centre located in the Sedgewick Building on the University of Victoria campus. Its mission is to foster the scholarly study of religion in relation to any and all aspects of society and culture, both contemporary and historical. Since its formation in 1991, the CSRS has established itself as a leading centre in Canada for the investigation of themes and issues at the intersection of religion and public policy. It has been especially engaged in discussions and research related to the environment, globalization, ethnicity, ethics, health care, culture, science and technology, and the arts. The centre hosts collaborative research and publishing projects with Canadian and international scholars, sponsors fellowships for graduate students and visiting scholars, and hosts a dynamic annual program of lectures, seminars and conferences for the campus and local community.

Current areas of focus in the centre include research examining:

• Religion in a “securitized” environment post-9/11
• Religion and hospice care
• Religion and ethnicity in Canada
• Religion and cultural reasons for resistance to immunization
• Comparative approaches to religious diversity in India, Canada and China

The CSRS has a fundamental commitment to pluralism and dialogue, encouraging participation from scholars and others from any religious, academic, or secular perspective.

The CSRS is neither a teaching nor degree or diploma-granting unit. For further information please visit <www.csrs.uvic.ca> or contact the centre at 250-721-6325.