Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education

The mission of the Center for Religious Understanding at The University of Toledo is to promote a deeper understanding of religion on campus, in the greater Toledo region, in the nation and in the world.

Objectives and Programs

We accomplish our mission through four objectives, and past/present programs that realize them: 

Creative education about religion

We provide creative education about religion through our signature annual lecture series. The series offers intellectually stimulating lectures by UT scholars and national experts on Jewish, Catholic, Muslim and Eastern religious thought. The lectures are always free and open to the public, and available on WGTE's Knowledge Stream website whenever possible.

• The Annual Philip Markowicz Lecture in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies, Dr. Barry Jackisch
• The Annual Murray/Bacik Lecture in Catholic Studies, Dr. Peter Feldmeier
• The Annual Imam Khattab Lecture in Islamic Studies, Dr. Ovamir Anjum

Multi-faith Dialogue 

We also lead a multi-faith dialogue between both students and members of the wider community through our:

• Small-Group Multifaith Cafe Forums for UToledo students from different perspectives about religion to talk firsthand regularly. There is nothing like real relationships to build true understanding. 
• Annual Jewish-Christian-Muslim (Abrahamic) Dialogue, to discuss topics of common interest to these traditions, from the basis of their shared history and monotheistic theology.

UToledo Service Learning: A Multifaith Experience

A team of students and community members from different perspectives on religion together provide an after-school program and college awareness for at-risk youth in grades K-8 at a Toledo Public School. Co-sponsored with Rocket Career Center, the UToledo College of Health and Human Services, and the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio.

National-level and locally-engaged research

We see research as a long-term gift that can transform assumptions and lives.