Religious Studies…It’s Complicating!

To work in religious studies is to constantly ask, "What are we talking about again?..Who's doing what?...How does that work?" There's been a lot of cool stuff in the news showcasing what many of us think the discipline is about. Kate Blanchard of Alma College shares the type of issues that keep us up at … Continue reading Religious Studies…It’s Complicating!

“The Gospel According to America: Black Demons and the Original Sin of Slavery”– #EtownEngage

In (WCH) REL 226: The New Testament, I gave a talk called “The Gospel According to America- Black Demons and The Original Sin of Slavery?” Our conversation began with a twist on the debate, “Is America a Christian Nation?” Instead, students paired up and named reasons why people argue “yes” and “no.”

Inside the Scholar’s Studio with #SBLAAR14 Bingo

Like all conferences of the elite, the annual meetings of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature are theater. There's a level of make-believe that goes into transitioning from our quotidian concerns to those befitting the sacred gathering. The #sblaar14 Twitter feed bears witness to participants changing in and out of … Continue reading Inside the Scholar’s Studio with #SBLAAR14 Bingo

“Gradating” Understanding in the Religious Studies Classroom

The idea is to create an environment where students are encouraged to learn from their mistakes and to get help when they can't figure something out on their own.