The small Religion Department at the University of Hawaii could be expanded into a full divinity school and become a major nonsecular resource for religious studies in the United States and Asia under a proposal by university President Evan Dobelle. Dobelle would like
to create major center
for religion studiesThe proposed school would
consolidate various disciplinesBy David Briscoe
Associated PressDobelle envisions a school that could have the stature of divinity schools at top private universities such as Yale and Harvard.
The proposal, which would be an unusual venture for a public university, is part of Dobelle's plan to transform the university system from "a good one to an exemplary one."
Among other major endeavors he has raised or endorsed since taking over the 10-campus system in July are building a four-year campus in West Oahu, expanding the two-year community college on Maui into a four-year university, reaching out to native Hawaiians and setting up a film school.
Dobelle said detailed plans for all changes will come from the university faculty in a strategic planning process initiated last week.
"I want to see an academic plan that is owned by the faculty, developed by the faculty. We will then build an administrative structure to implement it," he said Friday after presenting the idea of a divinity school at a session with several hundred university faculty, administrators and students.
Dobelle also declared his intention to involve the Legislature more in developing a strategic plan for the university, beyond just providing state funding. He said he would not ask for supplemental funding for any program until a strategic plan for the university's future is in place.
Some funding for a divinity school, he said, could be raised from private foundations that are funding major religious studies.
The nation's leading schools for religious study are at private universities, and some are tied to major religions. Dobelle's vision is a nonsecular school that would draw together all religions and other university disciplines such as political science, sociology, psychology and journalism.
"I think it could be a fabulous opportunity to bring people together from around the world," Dobelle said. "Where better than Hawaii that is so multicultural, interracial and has all the religions of the world?"
A divinity school at the public university likely would not ordain clergy, Dobelle said, although he said specific plans for the school would be left to the faculty.
Dobelle asked the faculty "to dream great dreams" and said he would work to get the funding.
"Think large, think strategic, think unified, think interisland, think international," he said he told the university community.
In outlining the possibility of a state divinity school, Dobelle said, "Given the state of the world, it seems to me that our Department of Religion needs to be underlined and have the capacity to have a full-blown school of divinity that will take a standing alongside the great schools like at Yale and Harvard, embrace the East and all the religions."
Such an academic institution would also be open to the ideas of agnostics and atheists, he said.
The department, which already capitalizes on Hawaii's unique culture, recently expanded its focus to include contemporary religions in the islands. It advertises studies that cover the "spectrum from ghosts to gods, magic to the meaning of life and witchcraft to women's role in various religious cultures."
According to the university, nearly 900 religious organizations are registered in the state, with many others unregistered. They include some practicing ancient Pacific island traditions, as well as new religions gaining followers in Asia and the Mideast.
UH Religion Department
