Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · 4d

Is entrepreneurship a divine calling? @boniukinstitute.bsky.social postdoc @josiahtaru.bsky.social shared with our BI-RPLC scholars how Pentecostal Xians in Zimbabwe view it not just as a survival tactic, but as a divine calling that provides spiritual security, hope, and networks for business.

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · 8d

"Black and Hispanic Christians are often DOUBLY MARGINALIZED - racially and religiously - at work."

New #ReligionUnmuted episode with Ecklund, Daniels & Scheitle: youtu.be/k0QFYb1CU0s?...

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · 11d

Do whiter churches change how members see racial discrimination?

Providence College sociologist Brandon Martinez unpacked the data with @boniukinstitute.bsky.social Scholars and reveals how church contexts frame how we understand racial inequality.

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · 14d

"People bring their religions with them to work - whether orgs want it or not." - Elaine Howard Ecklund

New #ReligionUnmuted podcast episode with Ecklund, Daniels & Scheitle

🎧Listen: youtu.be/k0QFYb1CU0s?...
#FaithAtWork

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · 17d

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · 18d

@ruthbraunstein.bsky.social joined the @boniukinstitute.bsky.social-RPLC Scholars Mtg for an interesting & practical convo about the content of her book "My Tax Dollars" and the methods used to write it. A fantastic lesson in public scholarship for our BI Scholars!

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 9

Last night our Religion & Public Life Center kicked off its Fall 2025 Religious & Civic Leader Gathering at TX Southern U. Jason Shelton joined Todd Ferguson for a conversation on The Contemporary Black Church—and how shifting demographics & faith identities shape U.S. public life.

key takeaways from Monday's Religious and Civic Leader Gathering

RPLC director Todd Ferguson with sociologist Jason E Shelton

Shelton and Ferguson in conversation at Monday's Religious and Civic Leader Gathering

Jason Shelton's new book "The Contemporary Black Church"

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 9

BI Sr Scholars Marla Frederick, @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @johninazu.bsky.social have shaped the narrative on religion+civil life. Nom the '27 Senior Scholar & recognize outstanding contributions to the public understanding of religious pluralism and tolerance. lnkd.in/gZPka3Sc

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 8

BI director Elaine Howard Ecklund wrapped up her week @cornelluniversity.bsky.social with the Faith and Work Accelerator convening at Chesterton House where she participated on panels about faith and academic work, sharing the research of @boniukinstitute.bsky.social with a wider academic audience!

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 8

What's the real cost of diversity initiatives? And who pays the price when they fail?

In the newest episode of #ReligionUnmuted, Oneya Okuwobi discusses these vital questions.

Tune in to hear how we can create more equitable systems. youtu.be/B1pqHhetGmA?...

Quote from sociologist Oneya Okuwobi from the Religion Unmuted podcast.

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 5

In this week’s Scholars Meeting, Todd Ferguson presented his forthcoming Socius article: “Religion and Racial Bias in AI Large Language Models.”
The study asks: Do LLMs replicate religious bias the way they replicate race, gender & sexuality bias?
#BiasInAI #AIethics

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 29

🎉 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🎉
Check out "Why Diversity Efforts Fail," the new episode of Religion Unmuted w Rachel Schneider & @oneyaokuwobi.bsky.social. Explore diversity, equity & the challenge of creating change
🎧 religionunmuted.libsyn.com/site/when-di...

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 28

So happy to be back with our @boniukinstitute.bsky.social friends! Today was our first Scholars Mtg of the fall semester, and we are excited to welcome new faces and old friends as we explore research on religion from different angles/disciplines/methods! Learn more boniuk.rice.edu/scholars-mee...

Scholars of the Fall 2025 Boniuk Institute-Religion and Public Life Center Scholars Meetings

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 26

Today is the day! "Working for Better" is now available from @ivpress.bsky.social. Read it. Rate it. Review it!

Find it on Amazon or wherever books are sold!
www.amazon.com/Working-Bett...

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 25

In this quick video, @josiahtaru.bsky.social discusses his newest article which finds that people creatively blend scientific imagination with spiritual meaning when contemplating life's end. 👉 Watch it below! Read the full article: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 22

You can also watch this video as well as others with commentary and insights by Elaine Howard Ecklund on the @boniukinstitute.bsky.social YouTube channel. Check it out: youtu.be/Um8jpUsTqY0?...

Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith, Work, and Human Flourishing

YouTube video by Boniuk Institute

youtu.be

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 22

🥳 NEW BOOK COMING SOON!
In "Working for Better," we explore how people of faith can help build inclusive, values-driven workplaces.

Here's author Elaine Howard Ecklund with a quick preview of what's inside.
#WorkingForBetter #FaithAtWork #Leadership #BookPreview

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 20

Most people - religious AND non-religious - see science and religion as partners at the end of life:
1) science eases pain
2) religion or spirituality eases fear

doi-org.ezproxy.rice.edu/10.1177/0034...
#PalliativeCare #GoodDeath

Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 20

In a new article, @josiahtaru.bsky.social finds that even non-religious people often hold afterlife beliefs (like becoming stardust or merging with the universe) that mirror religious ideas. doi-org.ezproxy.rice.edu/10.1177/0034...
#GoodDeath #EndOfLifeCare #ScienceAndReligion

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 15

A new article by @josiahtaru.bsky.social and Elaine Howard Ecklund finds that (non)religious people often blend science + religion at life's end. Peaceful passing = pain managed by medicine, fear eased by faith or spirituality. doi-org.ezproxy.rice.edu/10.1177/0034... #GoodDeath #PalliativeCare

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 12

Such an important book! If you haven't read it already, order it!

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 11

"Religion in a Changing Workplace" explores how people navigate faith on the job. What did our distinguished critics - @oneyaokuwobi.bsky.social, @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social, and @evanstewart.bsky.social - have to say about it?

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 11

At the ASA/ ASR annual meeting in Chicago, Elaine Howard Ecklund, Denise Daniels, & Chris Scheitle discussed their book "Religion in a Changing Workplace" alongside a panel of expert critics. How does faith fit into today's diverse work culture? #ASA2025 #ReligionAndWork

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Boniuk Institute @boniukinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 8

The Boniuk Institute Senior Scholar Award honors scholars shaping public understanding of religion.

We’re proud to include Marla Frederick, Tariq Modood – and now John Inazu – in this distinguished group.
#SeniorScholarAward #ReligiousPluralism

John Inazu, the 2026 Boniuk Institute Senior Scholar