Hope College will present the
conference "The Determinants and Effects of Religious
Activity: A Social Science Perspective" on Friday, March 9,
from 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Western Theological Seminary's
Semelink Hall.
Hope College will present the
conference "The Determinants and Effects of Religious
Activity: A Social Science Perspective" on Friday, March 9,
from 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Western Theological Seminary's
Semelink Hall.
The public is invited, and admission is free. No
advance registration is required.
The conference will include the presentation of
four papers concerning different dimensions of religious
activity. Examples include an examination of contributions,
attendance and the contribution of religious activity to
civic life.
The event is sponsored by the college's department
of economics and business administration. The conference is
being organized and will be moderated by Dr. John Lunn, who
is the Robert W. Haack Professor of Economics at Hope.
The conference will open with introductions at 1
p.m.
At 1:10 p.m., Dr. Robin Klay will present "An
Overview of the Financing of American Evangelism, 1800-
1996." Klay is a professor of economics and business
administration at Hope.
At 1:30 p.m., Dr. Roger Finke will present "Toward
Explaining Congregational Giving." Finke is a professor of
sociology at The Pennsylvania State University, and is co-
author, with Rodney Stark, of the book "The Churching of
America, 1776-1990: Winners and Losers in Our Religious
Economy."
At 2:05 p.m., Hope student Andrea Douglass will
present "Relationships Among Giving, Church Attendance, and
Religious Belief: The Case of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.)." Douglass is an economics student and senior from
Libertyville, Ill.
At 2:25 p.m., Dr. Corwin Smidt will present
"Religion and Civic Life in American Public Life." Smidt is
the Paul B. Henry Chair in Christianity and Politics, and
serves as executive director of the Henry Institute for the
Study of Christianity and Politics, at Calvin College.
Following a break, a panel discussion will begin
at 3:15 p.m. The panelists will include Dr. Don Luidens (left),
Dr. Todd Steen (center) and the Rev. Dr. Dennis Voskuil (right). Luidens is
professor of sociology and chair of the department at Hope.
Steen is an associate professor of economics. Voskuil is
president of Western Theological Seminary in addition to
serving as the Evert J. and Hattie E. Blekkink Adjunct
Professor of Religion at Hope.
The conference will conclude with a discussion
beginning at 4 p.m. that will involve the presenters,
panelists and those in the audience alike.
Additional information about the event may be
obtained by calling Lunn at (616) 395-7931.