Centre for Studies in Religion and Society

Our next SITS lecture on Oct 10th, 2024

Join our lecture of the 2024-25 SITS series online from our events page

Our next SITS lecture on Oct 10th, 2024

Apply for our 2025-26 fellowships!

Application for 2025-26 Graduate Student and Faculty Fellowships are now open. Apply now!

Apply for our 2025-26 fellowships!

Peter Beinart's lecture on October 29th.

Peter Beinart's lecture on October 29th. The registration links to in-person attendance and online attendance are available on our events page

Peter Beinart's lecture on October 29th.

Our 2024-25 Newsletter has arrived!

Pick one up in-person or read here.

Our 2024-25 Newsletter has arrived!

CSRS YouTube channel is here.

Watch our collection of past CSRS lectures on our YouTube channel.

Upcoming CSRS events


Welcome to the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society

The Centre for Studies in Religion and Society (CSRS) at UVic is a community of academics dedicated to the scholarly study of religion in relation to all aspects of human society, from law and politics to family and culture to history, the sciences and the arts.

Religion today

The study of religion raises challenging even more questions in this 21st Century. In such a religiously diverse society as Canada, where do we draw the boundary separating church from state? Is the number of Canadians who belong to a religion increasing, decreasing, or is the very idea of what it means to be religious itself in flux? For that matter, what is religion? A tool for social control, a perfect divine gift, an expression of one's cultural tradition? And what about human rights - do they include the right to wear religious symbols or to pray in public?

Who we are

The Centre for Studies in Religion and Society (CSRS) is a community of academics dedicated to the scholarly study of religion, spirituality, and secularity in relation to all aspects of human society, from law and politics to family and culture to history, the sciences and the arts. We have no affiliation with any religion and no religious agenda. We are equally interested in Eastern, Western, ancient and contemporary religions. The CSRS hosts a vibrant community of interdisciplinary scholars, researchers, students, artists, and community members through its diverse fellowship programs. Learn more about the people who make our centre unique.


Events

EUCE lecturer Monique Scheer

The CSRS is host to an array of events including lectures, conferences, symposia, field-trips and a film series. Detailed information about our current offerings is available on our events page.

Fellowships

Sedgewick building

A variety of students, faculty members, visiting researchers, and community sabatticants call the centre their home. Visit our fellowships page to learn more about becoming part of the CSRS community.

Research & publications

CSRS publications

Research and publishing are at the heart of centre activities. To learn more and find the most up-to-date information about CSRS book projects and research networks, visit the research and publications page.


Connect with us

The CSRS is located on the University of Victoria campus "inside the Ring" in the Sedgewick Building, Vandekerkhove Wing, Room B102. You can also reach us by phone, email, or fax:

Phone: 250-721-6325
Email:
Fax:250-721-6234

CSRS courier address:
Centre for Studies in Religion and Society
University of Victoria
3800 Finnerty Road
Victoria, BC V8P 5C2 Canada

CSRS mailing address:
Centre for Studies in Religion and Society
University of Victoria
PO Box 1700, STN CSC
Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada

Twitter: Come tweet with the CSRS - follow for info and events related to religion and society.
Facebook: Check us out on for news and events related to religion and society.
Vimeo: Catch your favourite CSRS lectures on Vimeo.
Soundcloud: Listen to past CSRS lectures on the CSRS SoundCloud page.