Colonial Violence, Sacred Power, and Gods of Indian Country: 7 Questions for Jennifer Graber
Jennifer Graber A crucial part of the Kiowa survival story is that they survived American occupation and ritual interactions with sacred power–as well as adaptation of those rituals.
The Fantasy of Analytics: Religion, Fantasy Sports, and the NFL Draft
L. Benjamin Rolsky In this sense, it may behoove us as scholars of American popular culture and religion to begin considering sport fandom more from a Catholic model of religious studies rather than the more common Protestant model that has overdetermined much of the study of religion since its inception according to the motif of “choice.”
Sifting Through Hip Hop, Literature and Religion: 7 Questions for Alejandro Nava
Alejandro Nava Besides resurrecting ancient poetic traditions of the bard or griot, and adopting the creative vernacular of black folklore, radio DJs, church preachers, street corner poets, and Jamaican artists, hip hop strikes a more ominous and apocalyptic tone.
Tortured for Christ in Trump’s America
Jason Bruner Wurmbrand’s fierce apologetics in Tortured for Christ against communism, which he called “a spiritual force—a force of evil,” weren’t countered with a full-throated endorsement of democracy.
Civil Religion and Foreign Policy: 7 Questions for Walter McDougall
Walter A. McDougall At length I gained insight, not because I somehow “figured it out,” but because the historical truth imposed itself on me.
Operation Mindcrimes: Heavy Metal Prophecy or Sign of the Times?
David Feltmate We should not be looking at this moment as somehow unique. In fact, it contains far too many similarities with past eras.
Exploring a Year in White: 7 Questions for C. Lynn Carr
C. Lynn Carr A major inspiration for me was anthropologist of religion Karen McCarthy Brown, particularly in her groundbreaking work Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn.
Guns, Again: Cars, Youth Culture, and Playing By the Rules
Louis A. Ruprecht Jr. Whose interests are served by the proposal that the best way to deal with the problem of guns in schools is more guns in schools?
Love and Monsters: Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water and its Horror Influences
Amy S. Li While the personalities and embodiments of these fantastical monsters vary from film to film, what ties them together is del Toro’s understanding of their potential to instill fear, but more importantly, to inspire love and empathy amongst humans.
Ethnic Christianities: 7 Questions for Prema Kurien
Prema Kurien My research showed that immigrant churches like the Mar Thoma face several challenges if they are to successfully institutionalize as an “ethnic” church in a context where Christianity is the majority religion.