Religious Studies at Stanford

10/20/2022

Dinner on the quad

07/14/2022

04/14/2022

The view from the philosophy department.

Stanford's climate is "so friendly," the philosopher and psychologist William James said in 1906, during a stint as a visiting professor, "that every morning wakes one fresh for new amounts of work."

“The view from the philosophy department. Stanford's climate is "so friendly," the philosopher and psychologist William James said in 1906, during a stint as a visiting professor, "that every morning wakes one fresh for new amounts of work."”

07/15/2021

With great sadness we announce the death, on July 11, 2021, of Professor Emeritus Van Harvey, former Chair and one of the principal architects of our Department. For a tribute written by Professor Brent Sockness, see link below.

https://religiousstudies.stanford.edu/memoriam-van-austin-harvey

06/01/2021

Religious Studies course offerings for Summer 2021: RELIGST 86: Exploring the New Testament; RELIGST 117: Christianity, Race, and Gender in 21st-century America; RELIGST 135: Contemporary Islam and Muslims in America; RELIGST 152: Buddhism and the Family; RELIGST 212: Zhuangzi

05/10/2021

Barbara Pitkin, Senior Lecturer of Religious Studies, was recently interviewed by the New Books Network on her new book "Calvin, the Bible, and History" (Oxford University Press, 2020).

Listen to the podcast here: https://newbooksnetwork.com/calvin-the-bible-and-history.

Barbara Pitkin, "Calvin, the Bible, and History" (Oxford UP, 2020)

03/24/2021

Kathryn Dickason, PhD alumna of Religious Studies at Stanford, has written an article on Christian dance published in "The Conversation":

Despite opposition from the early church, dance was an integral part of Christian devotion for many centuries before falling out of favor.

01/05/2021

The Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University stands in solidarity with the Department of Religion at the University of Vermont. The academic study of religion is a critical discipline for these and any times, shedding light on past, present, and future ways in which religions shape our world. The proposed program cuts in the Humanities at the University of Vermont would come at the expense of the student body and the campus community who have been so well served by the faculty and staff of the Department of Religion. Similar cuts at other universities are equally of concern to us. Every day we see further evidence of the relevance and importance of understanding how religious commitments, cultures, and institutions affect daily life in the USA and beyond. We appeal to the University of Vermont to live up to its own mission - which has often featured faculty and students from the Department of Religion - to be “accountable leaders” with “an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct.” A “comprehensive commitment to a liberal arts education” includes building a campus community that values diversity, critical thinking, and empathetic understanding of our complex world.

https://www.uvm.edu/cas/religion/
https://www.uvm.edu/mission-and-vision

The Mission of the University of Vermont:To create, evaluate, share, and apply knowledge and to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work dedication to the global community, a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commi...

05/14/2020

Kirsti Copeland, Lecturer in Religious Studies and Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the School of Engineering on online instruction and learning in Building Heaven and Hell (RELIGST 147): https://news.stanford.edu/2020/04/06/stanford-faculty-students-connect-digital-classrooms/

The challenges –and opportunities –of Stanford University’s move to fully-online learning have been enormous. Faculty and students find themselves faced with...

04/30/2020

Summer Sessions 2020 enrollment begins today! "Contemporary Islam & Muslims in America" (RELIGST 26S) will be offered by Abiya Ahmed, Education doctoral candidate and Associate Dean & Director of the Markaz Resource Center.

https://summer.stanford.edu/courses/religst-26s-contemporary-islam-muslims-america

03/20/2020

Prof. Barbara Pitkin, Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies, interviewed in Palo Alto High School’s Verde Magazine: “The Role of Religion: Shifts in Student Faith and Identity”

TOURIST DESTINATION The grand Stanford Memorial Church, located in the center of Stanford University, attracts tourists and believers alike. Photos by Zoë Wong-VanHarenThe role of religion: Shifts in student faith and identity Avery Hanna and Naomi BonehFebruary 21, 2020 The sun streaming through t...