ASA News

ASAers in Print

A book by ASA/CSCA Fellow Bob VanderVennen, A University for the People: A History of the Institute for Christian Studies, has recently been published. It describes the 50 year history of the Institute for Christian Studies (ICS) in Toronto. ICS has pioneered Scripturally-directed teaching and graduate research. Its creative vision for Christian higher education sees all of reality as God’s creation, denying the possibility of secularity.

The book identifies the base of the curriculum and research not to be theology but a special philosophy which is infused with biblical wisdom. The Institute says that in philosophy one finds the defining issues of each discipline, and in philosophy are found the connections between all disciplines, reflecting the unity of creation. This viewpoint can lead the Christian community toward an effective ordering of its everyday experience.

The Institute’s pioneering vision carries over to leadership in all Christian thinking and the work of Christian colleges and universities. Over the years it has hosted many academic conferences where Christian academic leaders have presented their insights on Christian study. The Institute is a graduate school which awards only masters degrees and the Ph.D. in philosophy and in the philosophy of various academic fields. It is a stand-alone school which receives no government funding, and since classes are small and there is much individual consultation, tuition makes only a small contribution to income.

Bob has worked for the Institute for 25 years, first as Executive Director and later as Director of Educational Services. He set up a series of adult education correspondence courses at the Institute and organized and supervised the teaching of Christian perspective courses at public universities in southern Ontario. He arranged for the publishing of many books arising from Institute research and from papers given at its many academic conferences. The Foreword to the book on Institute history, published by Dordt College Press, was written by Richard Mouw of Fuller Seminary.

Becoming an ASA member while in graduate school in 1952, Bob was active in the start of local ASA chapters in Washington, D.C., and in Chicago. He chaired the board of the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation for about ten years. He has been Professor of Chemistry at Belhaven College, Jackson, Mississippi, and at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There are still some spots left in Duke University's Summer Research
Workshops
on Religion, Spirituality and Health.  The dates are July 21-25 and August
11-15, 2008.  Because of the intense nature of this training that includes
individual mentorship, positions in the workshops are limited, so it is
important to register early.  THERE ARE CURRENTLY 3 SPOTS LEFT IN THE JULY
WORKSHOP and 12 SPOTS LEFT IN THE AUGUST WORKSHOP. Please register
immediately
if you want to assure yourself a spot that includes mentorship.

These workshops, presented by Duke's Center for Spirituality, Theology and
Health, compress a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship into 5 days, and are the
only place in the world where specific training on how to conduct research
on
religion, spirituality and health can be obtained from people who have been
active in the field for nearly 25 years.  We strongly recommend these
courses
for both researchers early in their careers and seasoned researchers wishing
to
shift their work into this area, as well as students considering an academic
career in this area.  However, anyone interested in the area of religion,
spirituality and health will find that the information presented and
relationships established will be well worth their time. The workshops are
open
to all persons regardless of academic degree, level of training, or academic
discipline.

WORKSHOP CONTENT
Resources on spirituality and health
Review of previous research on religion, spirituality and health
Strengths and weaknesses of previous research 
Applying findings to clinical practice 
Spirituality of the health care provider 
Theological considerations and concerns  
Highest priority studies for future research 
Strengths and weaknesses of religion/spirituality measures 
Quantitative and qualitative research designs
Carrying out and managing a research project 
Writing a grant to NIH or private foundations 
Where to obtain funding for research in this area 
Writing a research paper for publication and getting it published 
Presenting research to professional and public audiences 
Working with the media 
Developing research and academic careers in this area

PLEASE LET YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, AND STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT THESE
WORKSHOPS. 
There will be a limited number of scholarships available for those
demonstrating extraordinary need and promising academic careers, although
these
will be on a competitive basis. 

More information on the workshops and on how to register can be found at:
http://www.dukespiritualityandhealth.org/education/summer-research/.  All
questions about the workshops should be directed to Harold G. Koenig
(koenig@geri.duke.edu).


Sincerely,

Harold G. Koenig, M.D.

Call For Papers