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Bridging the Cultural Divide: Story by Melissa Edler
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 Kent State University professors Dr. David Odell-Scott and Dr. Surinder Bhardwaj are not only colleagues who respect one another, but also close friends, despite coming from very different backgrounds. Bhardwaj, emeritus professor of geography, is a native of India, a practicing Hindu and a state-licensed minister. Odell-Scott, chair and professor of philosophy and coordinator of religion studies, grew up in Alabama during the civil rights era of the 1950s and ’60s and is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In spite of their differences, Bhardwaj and Odell-Scott share a willingness to learn from each other and respect the other’s ideas. Their relationship is a wonderful representation of what they are hoping to accomplish as co-directors of the Ohio Pluralism Project, which aims to map and monitor the development of religious communities in the state and offer opportunities for engagement between them. After viewing this photo essay, read the story in Kent State Magazine to find out more about how their efforts are helping Kent State students learn to respect and appreciate different religious cultures. In the image above, Dr. David Odell-Scott, chair of Kent State’s philosophy department and coordinator of religious studies, admires the new Buddhist monastery in a quiet Akron, Ohio, neighborhood. Odell-Scott also is co-director of the Ohio Pluralism Project, which maps and documents religious communities of post-1965 immigrants in Northern Ohio. Back to Kent State University Home Page |
For the full "Bridging the Cultural Divide" article visit the Fall 2005 Kent State Magazine If you enjoy this photo essay, take advantage of links directly to other photo essays:
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