<h4>Overview</h4> Students enrolled in religious studies classes that involve LRP are able to complete research that meets the course requirements and may be disseminated through the LRP web site. Typically, faculty design an assignment in which the local religion is something of a “lab” in which their interactions with individuals in local congregations and organizations provide a chance to test out what they have been learning in the classroom. In this respect, LRP is similar to other community-based programs on campus (e.g. Arrupe Center, internships). However, LRP emphasizes the research dimension of that experience, which the program supports and promotes through access to contacts with local religious congregations and organizations, assistance with field work, and publication on the LRP web site. LRP’s approach to research stresses the importance of personal contact at local sites: e.g., for documenting a congregation, students are encouraged to observe at least one worship service, observe a meeting or other community activity, and interview at least two leaders or individuals in the community. Students should therefore be prepared to multiple visits to one site. Students have found such multifaceted engagement with a community one of the most extremely useful and rewarding parts of their research. |
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