Religion and Reason: Unifying Rationality and Spirituality

Religion and Reason: Unifying Rationality and Spirituality

United Protestant Campus Ministry (UPCaM)
Cleveland, Ohio

With a mutual respect for widely diverse views, Religion and Reason “seeks to open a dialogue between open-minded individuals in Cleveland’s religious and scientific communities, focusing on the shared bond of the awesomeness of life and the world in which we must learn to live with others in ways that are peaceful and just.” Beginning with a diverse core group of scholars and professionals representing a wide range of religious and scientific disciplines, increases in membership are pursued through outreach and invitation. This society hosts regular meetings of issue/book discussion group, guest speakers, and a widely publicized, open annual seminar. The group has created a speakers bureau to help include “a larger community in the discussion.” Critical issues are framed in lay terms to be accessible to those interested who come from outside of the two professional communities involved. The aim of group members is to become “mutually informed” through honest and respectful dialogue. Diverse topics are addressed including more extensive focus on scientific and religious perspectives on altruistic love done in partnership with the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. Matching funds are provided by multiple sources including the Murphy Family Foundation and Case Western Reserve University.