Old Masters and New Allies: The way forward for Studies in Religion. [The AASR Presidential Address 2003.]

Abstract

Last year in my Presidential Address I briefly plotted the waxing and waning fortunes of Studies in Religion in its history in the university, concluding with a suggestion for key alliances that would help Studies in Religion keep a place within the Australian university sector (Franzmann, 2002). In this final address of my presidency, I want to take up again a number of points from that earlier address, draw upon my own experience in teaching and research within Studies in Religion over nearly twenty years, and propose a possible way forward for Studies in Religion in Australia in its formal academic setting within the university and the secondary school sectors in particular. I shall plot a relatively simple way forward for Studies in Religion, supported by a claim that may seem touched with hubris - that Studies in Religion is unique within the disciplines which study religion within the context of human behaviours. From this position of uniqueness, I want to outline the alliances that will be positive for Studies in Religion into the future, and the processes by which such alliances might be strengthened.