Skip to main content

Religion and Human Flourishing Conference

Thursday, September 24 - Friday, September 25

This unique conference, held on September 24 and 25 at the Hinckley Center at Brigham Young University, will bring together scholars, students, religious leaders, and the general public to learn about religion's central role in human flourishing. Conference sessions will be run by expert researchers and will touch on a wide range of topics, including:

  • The connection between religion and human flourishing
  • Religion's impact on mental, physical, and social health
  • Religion's influence on the family
  • The state of religion in the United States
Bryon Johnson, dressed in a dark blue suit and a pink and white checkered, button-up shirt, smiles at the camera. A giant copper globe serves as the backdrop behind him.

Opening Keynote

The conference's opening keynote will be given at 7pm on September 24 by Byron Johnson, Director of the Institute for Global Human Flourishing at Baylor University. His remarks, titled "The Role of Faith in Human Flourishing: Highlighting Findings from the Global Flourishing Study" will ask what it truly means to flourish—and how can societies help people achieve it. Drawing on groundbreaking data, Dr. Johnson will explore the links between faith, well-being, and human flourishing, revealing surprising insights about purpose, relationships, and the pathways to a thriving life. The lecture will be held in the Hinckley Center Assembly Hall.

Conference Schedule
Day 1, September 24 7:00 PM Opening Keynote
Title: The Role of Faith in Human Flourishing
Dr. Byron Johnson (Baylor University)
Day 2, September 25
9:00 – 9:15 AM Welcome and Opening Plenary
Dr. Paul Lambert (Religion & Human Flourishing Initiative Director, Wheatley Institute)
9:15 – 10:00 AM Session 1: State of Religion in the U.S.
Dr. Justin Dyer (Wheatley Institute)
10:00 – 10:50 AM Session 2: Conference Keynote
Speaker: Dr. Harold Koenig (Duke University Medical Center)
10:50 – 11:10 AM Break
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM Session 3: Religion and Health
Dr. Shima Baughman (Wheatley Institute)
Dr. Jared Robbins (Duke University School of Medicine)
Dr. Loren Marks (Wheatley Institute)
12:15 – 1:15 PM Lunch and Networking
1:15 – 2:15 PM Session 4: Religion, Spirituality, and Thriving
Dr. Pamela King (Fuller Seminary)
Dr. Mike Goodman (Brigham Young University)
Dr. Sam Hardy (Brigham Young Univeristy)
2:00 – 3:00 PM Session 5: Religion and Flourishing among Specific Groups
Dr. Antonius Skipper (Georgia State University)
Dr. Loren Marks (Wheatley Institute)
Dr. Ty Mansfield (Brigham Young Univeristy)
3:00 – 3:15 PM Break
3:15 – 4:00 PM Session 6: Religion and Human Flourishing
Dr. Sam Wilkinson (Yale School of Medicine)
4:00 – 4:15 PM Conference Close

Speaker List

The conference will feature remarks from a number of industry experts from several universities, including:

Shima Baughman

Wheatley Institute

Justin Dyer

Wheatley Institute

Michael Goodman

Brigham Young University

Sam Hardy

Brigham Young University

Byron Johnson

Baylor University

Pamela King

Fuller Seminary

Harold Koenig, MD

Duke University Medical Center

Paul Lambert

Wheatley Institute

Ty Mansfield

Brigham Young University

Loren Marks

Wheatley Institute

Jared Robbins, MD

Duke University School of Medicine

Antonius Skipper

Georgia State University

Samuel Wilkinson

Yale School of Medicine

Registration

Registration is now open. Please register by September 18.

Travel Logistics

If you are needing to book a hotel for your visit to Provo, we would recommend the Provo Marriott Hotel, which is located in downtown Provo and is only a six minute drive from the Hinckley Center.

Sponsors

The conference is co-sponsored by Wheatley Institute, Brigham Young University's College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences, and College of Religious Education.

Tags