Department News
Congratulations to Dr. Paul McBain!
The Department of Religious Studies is thrilled to announce that PhD candidate Paul McBain successfully defended his dissertation, “A Drunken Bee: Sunthorn Phu and the Buddhist Landscapes of Early
Professor Butler: "Religion Won't Save Us from the Sin of Racism" (Podcast Interview)
Associate Professor Anthea Butler recently spoke with the America Magazine podcast Jesuitical. A description and link to the episode are below.
Professor Thomas on Understanding Death at the Penn Today Podcast "Understand This"
In a recent episode of Penn Today’s ‘Understand This ...’ podcast series, assistant professor of Religious Studies Jolyon Thomas and Director of Pastoral Services James Browning explore dialogues a
Congratulations to Dr. Jillian Stinchcomb!
The Department is thrilled to congratulate Dr. Jillian Stinchcomb, who successfully defended her dissertation last week!
Prof. Butler Quoted in New York Times Article about Liberty University
Prof. Butler has been quoted in a New York Times article published this week about the suspension of Jerry Falwell, Jr., at Liberty University.
Prof. Robb gives lecture at Rare Book School
The digital recording of Professor Robb's invited lecture "Print and the Urdu Public" on 23 July 2020 to the Rare Book School has been released.
Prof. Thomas Publishes in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion
Professor Thomas has just published a co-authored article in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion titled "Why Scholars of Religion Must Investigate the Corporate Form." Here's t
Prof. McDaniel Named Kahn Professor
The Department is delighted to announce that Prof. Justin McDaniel has been named the Edmund J. and Louise W.
Congratulations to Dr. Chijioke Azuawusiefe!
Congratulations to Dr. Chijioke Azuawusiefe, who successfully defended his dissertation last week!
Department Congratulates Two Recent Hires
The Department of Religious Studies is delighted to announce that current PhD candidate Jillian Stinchcomb and recent PhD graduate Matthew Chalmers have both accepted new positions for the coming f
With particular strengths in the study of Christianity, Judaism, American religions, Islam, secularism, Buddhism, and other Asian religions, the Department of Religious Studies emphasizes descriptive, historical, and theoretical approaches to the study of religion.
Faculty Bookshelf
Buddhist Narrative in Asia and Beyond
Publication of the proceedings of the conference "Buddhist Narrative in Asia and Beyond" at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, August 2010, edited by Peter Skilling & Justin McDaniel.
Architects of Buddhist Leisure: Socially Disengaged Buddhism in Asia’s Museum, Monuments, and Amusement Parks
Buddhism, often described as an austere religion that condemns desire, promotes denial, and idealizes the contemplative life, actually has a thriving leisure culture in Asia.
Religious Affects: Animality, Evolution, and Power
In Religious Affects, Donovan Schaefer challenges the notion that religion is inextricably linked to language and belief, proposing instead that it is primarily driven by affects.
The Evolution of Affect Theory: The Humanities, the Sciences, and the Study of Power
Across the humanities, a set of interrelated concepts - excess, becoming, the event - have gained purchase as analytical tools for thinking about power.
Solomon: The Lure of Wisdom
Tradition has it that King Solomon knew everything there was to know—the mysteries of nature, of love, of God himself—but what do we know of him?
On Wings of Diesel: Trucks, Identity, and Culture in Pakistan
Illustrated with beautiful colour photos throughout, On Wings of Diesel takes us on a journey through the fascinating world of Pakistani truck decoration.
Religion and the Self in Antiquity
Many recent studies have argued that the self is a modern invention, a concept developed in the last three centuries.
From Mulberry Leaves to Silk Scrolls: New Approaches to the Study of Asian Manuscript Traditions
From Mulberry Leaves to Silk Scrolls is a multidisciplinary consideration of Asian manuscripts.