Blessings:Reprise–Chance the Rapper, Religion, and the Senses

Posted on by Maya Clare

Students in Dr. Richard Newton's Signifying Religion: An African American Worldview course were invited to employ tools and theories from religious studies to explore how meaning making works. Miriam Balasundram took a phenomenological approach to consider religion and the senses. She was taken by the rhythms of Chance the Rapper and reflected on what led her to … Continue reading Blessings:Reprise–Chance the Rapper, Religion, and the Senses

Real Talk: Reading the Academic Conference Terrain

Posted on by Richard Newton
Picture of scholars Aaron Hughes, Jason Blum, Mike Altman, Tara Baldrick-Morrone, and Richard Newton

My last post responded to a question about whether presenting conference papers is worthwhile. Readers weighed in with some great points that must be factored into such deliberations. Dr. Josh Brockway noticed that I had used the annual meetings of the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature as my frame of reference. Thinking … Continue reading Real Talk: Reading the Academic Conference Terrain

“Better Know a Religion Blog” and “The State of the Study of Religion”

Posted on by Richard Newton

  Looking to add some substantial religious studies scholarship to your blog diet? The North American Association for the Study of Religion has you covered with their fantastic new series, "Better Know a Religion Blog." This has been a great way for us to keep track of what our colleagues are doing in the field. Last … Continue reading “Better Know a Religion Blog” and “The State of the Study of Religion”

Locations of Interpretation: Scriptures and Fear in America

Posted on by Richard Newton

Ekaputra Tupamahu discusses Marlee Schwalm’s foray into the history of religion in the American Pacific WWII theater. He surfaces resonances between Post-Pearl Harbor Japanophobia and Post-9/11 Islamophobia.

Incarcerated in the “Land of the Free”

Posted on by mschwalm30

After the recent LA Times mea culpa regarding two published letters rationalizing Japanese-American internment, we take a concerted effort at examining an aspect of WWII history that is often overlooked: religion. Marlee Schwalm (Elizabethtown College '18) surfaced a struggle between Shinto and Christianity in the Pacific conflict. Written before the LA Times imbroglio, her piece is a … Continue reading Incarcerated in the “Land of the Free”