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The “Religious State of the 918” is a year-long project to promote awareness and understanding of religious diversity in the Tulsa area and its role in local history and culture. Led by Dr. Allen Culpepper, a �鶹��Ƶ faculty member, this experience is embedded in the �鶹��Ƶ Honors Program for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters.

The project also includes free community events where the public is invited to participate including a virtual roundtable discussion with local religious leaders at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.

“Regardless of one’s own religious views or lack of them, there’s no question that religion has played a significant role in local history, culture, and politics, so it’s important for our students and the public to be knowledgeable about it,” said Culpepper, associate professor of English and coordinator of the Honors Program at �鶹��Ƶ.

The September roundtable discussion will take place on Zoom with panelists Chris Moore of Fellowship Congregational, Robert Turner of Vernon African Methodist Episcopal, Dan Kaiman of B'nai Emunah, Kira Calhoun of Bristow First United Methodist Church, and Marlin Lavanhar of All Souls Unitarian. The public is invited to join in on the discussion through Zoom.

The religious-diversity theme is a major component of two �鶹��Ƶ Honors classes this semester. Students in Culpepper’s English Comp II and Professor Heather Wilburn’s Introduction to Philosophy will do reading, discussion, research, and writing related to the theme. The project also includes tours of local places of worship as well as a research symposium on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. Only students in the two associated classes may take the tours, but videos from those tours are available on the Honors Channel on YouTube. The symposium will be open to the public.

Views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the programming do not necessarily represent those of OH, NEH, the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation, the �鶹��Ƶ Honors Program, or �鶹��Ƶ.