The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

David M. Reis

Wells College
Mapping the Religious Landscape of the Fingerlakes Region of Central New York

In conjunction with The Pluralism Project at Harvard University, the Wells College Pluralism Project seeks to map the religious landscape of Central New York. An initial survey of this region has revealed a striking religious diversity: in addition to communities affiliated with the major religions of the world (e.g. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam), the Fingerlakes region is also home to active Baha'i, Interfaith, Jain, Native American, Pagan, and Sikh communities.

Our project follows the Pluralism Project's mission to "develop and enhance our understanding of contemporary American religious communities, especially those of post-1965 immigrants." In an effort to increase awareness of the religious pluralism in our region, we have thus decided to document the history, beliefs, and practices of groups that are either lesser known or, in some cases, misunderstood. This project will unfold in two phases. First, students in Wells College's "Introduction to World Religions" class will visit various religious sites, attend services, and interview community members. Videotapes, pictures, and interviews will then be formatted to CD-ROM for student presentations. The second phase will focus on creating a website to display this research.

Center Profiles

Hindu Temple of Rochester Inc. (2006)

Masjid Al-Nur (2002)

Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies (2002)

Zen Center of Syracuse (2011)