History
The
vision of establishing an institute for the advanced study of religion
at the University of Chicago came from Joseph M. Kitagawa, the Dean of
the Divinity School from 1970 to 1980. Martin
E. Marty, a historian of modern Christianity, worked closely with
Dean Kitagawa to formulate the purposes and operation of the institute
within the context of the Divinity School's general mission of teaching
and graduate research. The Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion
officially opened in October 1979, with Professor Marty as its director.
Subsequent directors have been Bernard
McGinn (1983-1992), a historian of medieval Christianity; Frank Reynolds
(1992-2000), a historian of religions who specializes in Buddhist studies;
W.
Clark Gilpin (2001-2004), a historian of American Christianity and
theology; Wendy
Doniger (2004-2007), a historian of religion who specializes in Hinduism
and mythology; and William
Schweiker, who works in the field of theological ethics. In 1998,
the Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion was renamed the Martin
Marty Center, to honor its founding director for his singular distinction
as historian, author, and commentator on religion and public life.
