Religious Studies Professors Attend World Conference

OMAHA – Two professors from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) have been invited to present at the world’s foremost conference on the study of religion.

From Sunday, Aug. 23, through Friday, Aug. 29, Religious Studies Program Chair Paul Williams and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Curtis Hutt will present at the 21st World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions in Erfurt, Germany.

The conference, which began in 1900 in Paris, has been held every five years since 1960, and regularly hosts hundreds of scholars from more than 40 countries from across the world.

At the conference, Williams will present alongside Hutt on the inclusion of animal sacrifices in historical Christian teachings, including the conflict of Christian teachings with local rituals in Africa and an examination of whether animal sacrifices were abolished across Christianity – as well as Judaism and Islam – as early as is currently believed.

Hutt will also present on two other panels, including one on the philosophy of religion and another on the topic of Christian Zionism.

Williams is an expert on the cultural changes in religion and religious identity across geographic regions throughout history. He is an expert in African religions and is a member of UNO’s Islamic Studies faculty advisory committee.

Williams also serves as the editor for UNO’s Journal of Religion and Film, the world’s first academic journal dedicated to the topic.

Hutt, who primarily teaches Judaic Studies at UNO, is a scholar on the topics of the interactions between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In addition to a number of published papers, Hutt helps oversee UNO’s Islamic Studies program, is on the faculty advisory committee for Ancient Mediterranean Studies at UNO and is the moderator for UNO’s popular Middle East Forum series sponsored by the Natan and Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies.

The International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) is considered to be the top organization in the world focused on the study of religion. Founded in 1950, the organization also publishes the academic journal Numen, which regularly receives papers from experts in the field.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Become a fan of UNO on Facebook: www.facebook.com/unomaha and follow UNO's Twitter updates at http://twitter.com/unomaha.