Francis J. Beckwith Receives Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion

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WACO, Texas (Sept. 2, 2016) — Francis J. Beckwith, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and church-state studies and co-director of the Program in Philosophical Studies of Religion in the Institute for Studies of Religion, will receive the Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion: Constructive-Reflective Studies from the American Academy of Religion (AAR). Beckwith will be honored for his book, “Taking Rites Seriously: Law, Politics, and the Reasonableness of Faith.”
The AAR recognizes new scholarly publications that are of distinctive originality, intelligent, creative and make significant contributions to the study of religion.
"I am humbled and honored to have had my book chosen to receive this prestigious award from such an august body of religious scholars, who represent a wide spectrum of opinion across a variety of academic disciplines,” Beckwith said. “Given the nature and current relevancy of the subject matter of Taking Rites Seriously — the place of religious belief in law and politics on certain contested public issues — I cannot imagine a stronger affirmation that I made the right decision in pursuing this project."
The awards will be presented at the AAR’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Nov. 20, in San Antonio, Texas.
For more information on the AAR, click here.
For more information on Beckwith, visit his personal page.

by Kelsey Dehnel, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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