Rice houses two important journals for scholars of religion, theology

Rice houses two important journals for scholars of religion, theology

BY JENNIFER EVANS
Rice News Staff

Rice is now home to two important journals for those studying religion and theology, and Elias Bongmba, associate professor of religious studies, adds “managing editor” to his title.

The offices of the Council of Societies for the Study of Religion (CSSR) moved to Rice this summer, where Bongmba will oversee the production of its quarterly journals, Religious Studies Review and the CSSR Bulletin.

“Rice University is a very good home for us,” said Nadine Frantz, executive director of CSSR and professor of theology at Bethany Theological Seminary, who was in charge of the search for CSSR’s new base of operations. “We were looking for an environment with all religions and methodologies, as well as a graduate studies program, and we found that here.”

The council offices, which are set to remain at Rice for at least five years, previously were based at Valparaiso University.

CSSR is a federation of several learned societies in religion and aims to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas about the academic study of religion, which it does, in part, through these two journals.

The Religious Studies Review is a review of publications across the whole field of religious studies and related disciplines. Reviews of more than 1,000 titles appear annually, as well as bibliographies and an ongoing registry of dissertations completed or in progress.

The Bulletin features articles about research and teaching in the field of religion, religious studies and theology, as well as information about the work and programming of the 10 constituent societies, grant programs available, upcoming seminars and other announcements.

Bongmba will be responsible for the journals’ production, from editing to distribution of books to reviewers to prepress production. Mary Ann Clark, who recently earned her Ph.D. in religious studies from Rice, will oversee the administrative running of CSSR at Rice.

Members of the Rice community are invited to an open house celebrating CSSR’s arrival Thursday, Nov. 3, in the Humanities Courtyard from 3 to 5 p.m.