Department News
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
Prof. Butler on Religion, Politics, and Mask-Wearing
Professor Butler wrote on political rallies, religious leadership, and the moral obligation to wear a mask over at NBC Think. Here's the way her piece starts:
New Book from Alum Leah Comeau (PhD, 2013)
PhD alum Leah Comeau (2013), Associate Professor of Religion at the University of the Sciences, has a new book with Bloomsbury Press. Here's a description:
Two Religious Studies graduate students win FLAS Fellowships
Two doctoral students in Religious Studies have won Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships for the next academic year (2020-21).
Ali Noori wins Janet Lee Stevens Award
Religious Studies doctoral student S. Ali Noori is a 2020 recipient of the Janet Lee Stevens Award.
Professor Robb at Stanford Conference "Before & Beyond Typography"
Dr. Megan Eaton Robb is speaking at a virtual conference hosted by Stanford University.
Fall 2020 - Fulfilling Undergraduate Requirements
FALL 2020 Religious Studies Courses Fulfilling Sector and Foundational Approaches
Professor Butler on "Becoming Less Racist" at the Religion News Service
Professor Butler featured as the first guest on a new series with the Religion News Service called "Becoming Less Racist: Lighting the Path to Anti-Racism." Host Simran Jeet Singh describe
Professor Thomas Interviewed at the Religious Studies Podcast
Professor Jolyon Thomas was interviewed by Brett Esaki for the Religious Studies Project Podcast.
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
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.
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.
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.
Feeling Modern: The History of the Emotions in South Asia
A special issue of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, co-edited by Megan Robb with Elizabeth Chatterjee (Queen Mary, London) and Sneha Krishnan (Oxford).
Gathering Leaves and Lifting Words: Histories of Buddhist Monastic Education in Laos and Thailand
Gathering Leaves and Lifting Words examines modern and premodern Buddhist monastic education traditions in Laos and Thailand.
Faking Liberties: Religious Freedom in American-Occupied Japan
Religious freedom is a founding tenet of the United States, and it has frequently been used to justify policies towards other nations.
Drawing on Tradition: Manga, Anime, and Religion in Contemporary Japan
Manga and anime (illustrated serial novels and animated films) are highly influential Japanese entertainment media that boast tremendous domestic consumption as well as worldwide distribution and a
The Lovelorn Ghost and the Magical Monk: Practicing Buddhism in Modern Thailand
Stories centering on the lovelorn ghost (Mae Nak) and the magical monk (Somdet To) are central to Thai Buddhism.