Religion and Science Program

Online Master’s Degree in Religion and Science offered by Global Ministries University in collaboration with

The Institute of Science and Religion, Aluva, India

Indian Institute of Science and Religion, New Delhi, India

 IRDIS, Tangaza University College, Nairobi, Kenya

The cohort of 40+ international students started on June 15. Lee McCoy, GMU's Registrar, states, "We have students from three continents, men and women, ranging in age from 20s to 60s! A very diverse group!" Half of the students in the new cohort of the Religion and Science program are receiving financial support from GMU Board of Trustees members. These new students are located in Africa and India and have important pastoral roles In their countries. The GMU Kenyan Fund is also providing scholarships for students.

The Harmony Foundation in Kenya is funding scholarships for several Muslim students in the Religion and Science program and is also supporting the participation of Professor Reginald Nalugala of Tangaza University as a member of the GMU delegation at the Parliament of the World's Religions.

Father Augustine Pamplany of the Science and Religion Institute in India will also join GMU at the Parliament of Religions.

Religion and Science Program is Open to US Students until September 1, 2021

Tuition:

• $3000 for a 2-year M.Th. Program for students from North America, Australia and Europe.

• $500 for a 1-year Certificate Program for students from North America, Europe, and Australia.

Engage in the inspiring convergence of science, technology, and sacred traditions!

The program at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions brings together faith and religious leaders, academics, industry experts, institutions and grassroots organizers committed to interfaith dialogue and action.

GMU will chair a panel presentation on "Interfaith and Multicultural Perspectives on Religion and Science: Global Climate Crisis" on August 14 from 5:30 - 7 PM in Room E253a as part of the Science and Religion track. President Grudzen and Marita Grudzen will be joined by Dr. Reginald Nalugala, of Tangaza University, Kenya, and Fr. Augustine Pamplany, Director of the Institute of Science and Religion in Kerala, India.

GMU will also co-sponsor Booth 306 Level 3 with Harmony Institute of Kenya during the Parliament highlighting the online university's commitment to interfaith dialogue, equality, diversity, and inclusion.

President Grudzen will host a dinner in Chicago on August 13 for GMU board members, faculty, students, and supporters who are attending the PoWR. Please let us know if you are going to the PoWR and would like to join the dinner.

President Gerald Grudzen hosted a Zoom interfaith event on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 4 PM Pacific Time recognizing the contribution of Hans Kung to the Global Ethic movement of the Parliament of the World's Religions. 

Kung played a key role in the restarting of the Parliament in 1993 and GMU will have a delegation of 12 at the upcoming Parliament in August of 2023.

Pacifica Institute in California promoted the event with GMU. Doctor Recep Dogan, an Islamic theologian, was a member of a panel along with Doctor Sterling Harwood, GMU faculty member and author of books on ethics. Doctor Harwood and President Grudzen met with Hans Kung at a week-long seminar on global ethical issues at Santa Clara University in 2005.

The presentation was free and open to all. You can view it here or on the GMU YouTube Channel.

As a follow-up to the June 21 presentation and as a lead-up to the Parliament of the World's Religions, President Grudzen will be offering a second presentation on Hans Kung on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 4 PM PDST on Zoom. The focus will be on Kung's consideration of the compatibility of religion and science. Kung wrote the book for the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona, Spain.

Once again, the event is free and open to all but you must register to receive instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting.

Access the book for free on the Internet Archive, Free Public Library

Background articles:

Liberal theologian makes peace with science

Hans Küng, celebrated and controversial Swiss theologian, has died

Read Present's Grudzen's paper on the connection between Ecology and Ethics as developed by the Parliament of World Religions with its Declaration of a Global Ethic. The paper also includes reflections on the role of Pope Francis' environmental encyclical letter, Laudato Si.

President Grudzen's presentation on Religion and Science has been accepted by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) for its conference in Costa Rica in November 2023.

Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, Professor Emeritus of Social Work Education & Peace Studies at CSU Fresno, CA, will conduct a 4-week series on "Mahatma Gandhi and Building a Just Peace" on Zoom beginning Monday, October 2, 2023, to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday and the International Day of Non-Violence. The cost is $100 for the entire series plus $25 application fee. You can also join individual Zoom sessions for $25 each. Learn more.

"Life is not a contest or a conquest. It is a struggle and a quest to find the best in each and every one of us."

~ Sudarshan Kapoor

President Gerald Grudzen will interview Dr. Kapoor in September 2023. Stay tuned for updates.

Need a book or journal article your library doesn’t have? 

As you’re doing academic research, it often happens that you find a book or article title in one of our online databases, or you read about or hear about it, or see it in a bibliography. It looks perfect for your topic. So, you look it up in your local library’s online catalog, but, Oops! nothing there. Your library doesn’t have it.

In today’s information-seeking world, almost everything is ultimately available. Even if you live in a remote area, you can contact your local library for help locating almost anything. Nearly all libraries, world-wide, participate in Interlibrary Loan, a collaboration between libraries that lets you request materials from other libraries. That means you can get your hands on all sorts of goodies like books, articles, theses, and more, even if they're not in your own library's collection. 

In the United States, most libraries offer a service called Link+, a consortial borrowing program that allows users to request materials from participating libraries. Often, you can request items on Link+ and Interlibrary Loan online, without needing to go into the library. Some libraries will mail the books to you, make them available electronically (eBooks) or send PDFs of journal articles.

Contact me, or your local library, for more information and assistance. Happy researching!

~Judy Clarence, M.L.I.S., GMU Librarian

GMU's Cyber Security Protocol and Policies

GMU's IT Director, Rick Silvestri, has ensured online safety and security for GMU students, faculty and staff, and all those who visit the GMU website. Read it here.

Do you conduct weddings and/or funerals?

It’s not a good idea to ‘wing it.’

The Center for Celebrant Training trains you to conduct professional, personal ceremonies and services that your clients will always treasure:

• Offered Completely Online

• Can Be Completed in Just a Few Weeks

• Work at Your Own Pace

• Affordable Tuition

The Sophia Dialogues is an ongoing, monthly subscription course providing Sacred Feminine wisdom from a variety of sources including; saints, mystics, poets, mythological figures, artists, thinkers and visionaries. Each monthly Sophia Dialogue will be sourced from ancient to contemporary wisdom. Each month you'll receive access to a fresh focus and associated materials to provide a hive of spiritual and creative inspiration.

An optional monthly one-hour Zoom Circle will provide the opportunity for dialogue and sharing. 

The intention of The Sophia Dialogues is to provide Sacred Feminine wisdom to pollinate your prayers, spiritual and creative practices, and understanding.

Please take a moment to answer the questions in our survey. It will only take a minute or two and will help GMU respond to not only your needs but the needs of future students as well. Thank you so much for your help!

Paying It Forward...

Have you benefited from the excellent education at Global Ministries University? Would you like to help others succeed as well? Now you can! GMU is launching a major Fund Drive this coming October to enable scholarships for those needing financial assistance to pursue their educational goals. Please consider making a contribution to this appeal. Thank you for your generosity.

Why scholarships are important.