Professor Thomas's course, "The Religion of Anime," got a brief writeup in the "Three Questions" column in Omnia.
How can we better understand the role of religion in modern-day Japan, a place where few people describe themselves as religious despite traces of such practices everywhere, from roadside statues and large temples to rituals and ceremonies? Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jolyon Thomas thinks one avenue is through anime, a type of animation that originated there. He teaches a course on the subject, The Religion of Anime, one that he hopes broadens what his students know about Japan and, at the same time, sharpens their media literacy skills.