Reflections on the ISS- Scriptures at Their Root

Posted on by Richard Newton

The Institute for Signifying Scriptures is an independent research organization focused on investigating the dynamics associated with "scriptures." The conversation takes serious the category's development and deployment in Western cultural politics, working to surface the very assumptions that it belays. Founded by Vincent L. Wimbush, the collaborative enterprise  has as its mission the "excavation of … Continue reading Reflections on the ISS- Scriptures at Their Root

Identity Cards & Identity Cost–Is it worth it?

Posted on by Richard Newton

Last June was a pretty raucous time for me. I was finishing up my dissertation on the politics of scriptures. I was packing boxes to move from LA to PA. And I was doing a lot of dreaming, not just about what was coming next, but also about what I would be leaving behind. It … Continue reading Identity Cards & Identity Cost–Is it worth it?

Religious Studies…It’s Complicating!

Posted on by Richard Newton

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!