Abstract
It is purely by chance that I happen to hold the office of President of the CCSR during the 50th anniversary of its founding. Our organization has been served by many dedicated people who have sought to ensure its continued success and relevance for its member societies, the next generation of scholars and for its institutional members. Thank you to all of you, including the current executive committee, for your individual and collective work in building the CCSR.
Together, we share a scholarly interest in the study of religion, albeit from many different perspectives. It is those diverse perspectives that are our strength. The theme of diversity and inclusion is one that appears in the contributions to this special anniversary section of the journal. Our member societies are embracing the challenge to become more inclusive, addressing inequalities and acknowledging and responding to the legacy of colonialism.
The place of the study of religion in the academy is in transition. The alarming development, especially in Quebec, of the elimination of departments of theology and religious studies is cause for concern. So too is the quiet, slow extinguishing of departments by the failure of universities to fill positions left vacant by retirements and departures. Such developments potentially leave us intellectually impoverished and without the necessary tools to respond to the need for a robust understanding of diversity, equality and inclusion.
The articles that follow are unique: they offer insight into our member societies, their histories, struggles, accomplishments and the substantive content of their disciplines. This is a rare opportunity for us to spend a bit of time together to better understand each other, our areas of focus and our shared interests. Deepening our understanding will allow us to better engage with each other and to respond to the challenges of a complex future.