Initiatives
American Religious Sounds Project
Choirs singing. Monks chanting. The reading of religious texts. These are religious sounds. But so too are the creaking of church pews and the clanking of pots during the preparation of a communal meal. The American Religious Sounds Project (2014-2022) offers resources for studying and interpreting the diversity of American religious life by attending to its varied sonic cultures. The archive and website is intended for multiple audiences, including scholars, educators, students, and the general public. We hope it will inspire you to think in new ways about religion and its place in American life.
From 2014-2023, the Center for the Study of Religion served as the institutional home for the American Religious Sounds Project (ARSP), a collaborative initiative with Michigan State University (MSU), co-directed by CSR Director Isaac Weiner and MSU Professor of Religious Studies Amy DeRogatis.
Supported by a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, the ARSP aims to document and interpret the diversity of American religious life by attending to its varied sonic cultures. Faculty, staff, and student researchers created an extensive digital sonic archive, documenting the sounds of religious practice across a wide range of communities and spaces. Research is shared through a custom-built website, an online gallery, dynamic sound installations, and a poster exhibition produced in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Services. Scroll down to the next section for more information on how to host the exhibition.
The ARSP has concluded its active phase of research, but its resources continue to be available for research and teaching via the ARSP website. For more information, please contact the director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Isaac Weiner: weiner.141@osu.edu.
Go to the ARSP Website for the sound and image archive and more information on the project.
The Sounds of Religion poster exhibition explores how rituals and gatherings of religious communities create a complex soundtrack of religions in America that teaches us how people behave, how they’re different and how they’re alike. Any group or organization is invited to host this free Smithsonian exhibition exploring the complex soundtrack of religions in America. Through QR codes, viewers are invited to listen to eight contemporary recordings that serve as an audio portrait of the rich and dynamic differences that make religious life in the United States unique. The exhibition comes with everything you need to print and install 12 24x36" posters, plus instructions and educational resources. In addition, funds are available for printing and to support innovative programming and community engagement initiatives in conjunction with exhibiting the posters.
Go to this form to request funding for engagement activities and poster printing.
Working Religion Initiative
The Working Religion Initiative, housed at OSU’s Center for the Study of Religion, supports an emerging network of scholars with research interests in the study of religion, work, and business, who are committed to translating their scholarly work for stakeholders outside the academy. The Initiative supports new scholarly research, the development of innovative teaching materials, and various public engagement projects. We are especially interested in creating space for conversation and reciprocal learning among scholars, Human Resources professionals, and workers.
Activities to date include:
- An October 2023 symposium on religious accommodations in the workplace, which included scholars of religious studies and human resources in conversation with workplace compliance professionals and Employee Resource Group leaders. Topics addressed included: challenges faced at work by adherents of minority religions, barriers that prevent employees from coming forward with requests for religious accommodation, and strategies adopted by companies for addressing those challenges.
- A May 2025 colloquium for scholars of religion, work, and business. Topics addressed included: emerging research on religion and work, effective partnerships between humanities and business academic programs, and strategies for translating research for stakeholders outside the academy.
Visiting Scholar Program
The Center for the Study of Religion hosts a short-term visiting scholar program one or two times per academic year. Building on a successful pilot program held in March 2023, this initiative aims to support contingent and independent scholars by bringing them to campus for a short-term residency and offering opportunities to participate in the center’s intellectual community. During their stay, the visiting scholar will offer a public research lecture, visit with students and classes, and participate in other center initiatives, such as our regular writing and reading groups. Depending on the scholar’s interests, additional events may be scheduled, such as a community lecture for audiences beyond the university.
The application process is currently closed. The next round of applications will be announced in summer 2026.
Contingent and independent scholars may especially benefit from the opportunity to join our robust intellectual community. We expect the visiting scholar to be in residence at OSU for one week during February 2026. During that week, the scholar will offer a public research lecture, visit with students and classes, and participate in other center initiatives, including our regular reading and writing groups. Depending on the scholar’s interests, additional events may be scheduled, such as a community program for audiences beyond the university. Details will be arranged via consultation between the selected scholar and center director.
The visiting scholar will receive $3,000. Lodging, travel, and meals will also be covered. In addition, we can promise a warm, convivial intellectual community that will engage you and your work with openness, interest, and respect.
The area of specialization is open. This opportunity is open only to scholars with PhDs in hand who are not currently in a tenured or tenure-eligible faculty position. To submit a proposal, please compile the following materials into a single PDF and submit to religion@osu.edu.
- CV
- One-page summary of your research
- Tentative title and one-paragraph abstract for your research lecture
The review of proposals will begin in the summer of 2026 by a committee of faculty affiliated with the Center for the Study of Religion. Proposals will be evaluated based on their potential to stake out bold directions in the study of religion that will engage scholars across different areas of specialization.
You can learn more about the research and teaching interests of our faculty affiliates by visiting our website.
For more information, please contact the director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Isaac Weiner.
To read about the Spring 2024 visiting scholars and their events on OSU campus, follow this link.