History of Religion Commons^™

Volume 16: Senses And Perceptions, Magda Teter

Early Modern Workshop: Resources in Jewish History

This year's theme, "Senses and Perceptions," encourages participants to historicize and theorize a domain of human experience that is often uncritically naturalized. How does the sensorial shape individual experience, social relations, and mutual perceptions of Jews and non-Jews? Topics might include, but are not limited to: the particularities of taste regarding Jewish cooking and food; olfactory experience and distinctive scents in daily life and in polemical imagination; the soundscapes of song, prayer, and instrumental music across confessions and in moments of leisure; vision, representation, and art; physical feelings of touch, as seen for example through fabric and dress, as well …

August 2019, Temple Shalom Synagogue Center

Newsletter Archive

Contents: Kiddish Levana; From the Rabbi; President's Message; Announcements; Book Group; Community Notices

Broken Households: Black And White Baptists And Methodists In Transition In Post-Emancipation Texas, Timothy "Ashton" Reynolds

History Theses and Dissertations

The end of slavery in Texas and the South undercut more than just the economic, labor, and social foundations in Texas. It undercut doctrinal certainty for white Baptists and Methodists and called into question two of their most valued beliefs: the biblical legitimacy of slavery and the divine appointment of white (and male) supremacy. This thesis asks and attempts to answer the question of how white Baptists and Methodists reacted when they were no longer able to practice slavery as a legally sanctioned religiously underpinned institution. By examining denominational documents, church minute books, writings by influential Baptist and Methodist figures, …

A Kingdom Of Co-Inherence: Christian Theology And The Laws Of King Magnus The Lawmender Of Norway, 1261-1281, Dillon Richard Frank Knackstedt

Masters Theses

This thesis explains a new interpretation of the law books written during the reign of King Magnus the Lawmender of Norway (1239-1280, crowned 1261, r.1263-1280). In the process it also teases out common themes in Norway’s early histories, Iceland’s early laws, and biblical exegesis and re-writes much of what is assumed about “church” and “state” in this era, beginning at Magnus’ coronation and ending with the fraught year following his death, 1281.

According to the new interpretation explored in these four chapters, the laws of Magnus the Lawmender were not an attempt at royal legitimization of the king’s exclusive right …

July 2019, Temple Shalom Synagogue Center

Newsletter Archive

Contents: Maine-ly Jewish Storytelling Festival; From the Rabbi; President's Message; Announcements; Book Group; Community Notices

Hate, Fear, Conformity- How The Pakistani Media Is Marginalizing The Persecuted, Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi

MSJ Capstone Projects

To say that Ahmadis are the most persecuted minority in Pakistan is not an exaggeration. For over four decades, the State has sided with the extremist elements to persecute the Ahmadis – the members of a community considered the most peaceful and which even banishes the concept of street protests against the prevalent abuse. The political and religious class though might accept that the minorities deserve equal opportunities in Pakistan. But, when it comes to the Ahmadis, they are not even ready to yield that to them, right away making them special citizens.

Carolingian Commentaries On The Apocalypse By Theodulf And Smaragdus, Francis X. Gumerlock

TEAMS Commentary Series

In the early ninth-century Theodulf of Orleans and Smaragdus of Saint Mihiel served as advisers to Charlemagne. This book provides English translations of a Latin commentary on the Apocalypse written by Theodulf and three homilies on the Apocalypse by Smaragdus. A comprehensive essay introduces these texts, their authors, sources, and place in ninth-century biblical exegesis.

Review Of Levis Sullam, Simon, The Italian Executioners: The Genocide Of The Jews Of Italy, Shira Klein

History Faculty Articles and Research

A book review of Simon Levis Sullam's The Italian Executioners: The Genocide of the Jews of Italy.

June 2019, Temple Shalom Synagogue Center

Newsletter Archive

Contents: Shavout with Rabbi Erica Asch; From the Rabbi; President's Message; Announcements; Book Group; Community Notices

Texas Indian Holocaust And Survival: Mcallen Grace Brethren Church V. Salazar, Milo Colton

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

When the first Europeans entered the land that would one day be called Texas, they found a place that contained more Indian tribes than any other would-be American state at the time. At the turn of the twentieth century, the federal government documented that American Indians in Texas were nearly extinct, decreasing in number from 708 people in 1890 to 470 in 1900. A century later, the U.S. census recorded an explosion in the American Indian population living in Texas at 215,599 people. By 2010, that population jumped to 315,264 people.

Part One of this Article chronicles the forces contributing …

J. Michelle Molina. To Overcome Oneself: The Jesuit Ethic And Spirit Of Global Expansion, 1520-1767, Anh Q. Tran, Sj

Journal of Hispanic / Latino Theology

No abstract provided.

Translation Of "Three Jewish Men Are Accused Of Sodomy (Rome, 1624)", Shira Klein

History Faculty Books and Book Chapters

A translation of "Three Jewish Men Are Accused of Sodomy (Rome, 1624)", testimony of captain Jacobus Spellatus. Dr. Klein is responsible for the translation, but did not author the editor's note at the top of the first page.

Co-Opted, Cults And The Classics: Highlighting The Magna Mater Cult In Rome, Janessa Reeves

Honors Projects

This paper argues for a more critical approach to classics, pushing for the de-sanctification of classical antiquity and deconstruction of ‘western civilization’ as a tool able to be co-opted by white supremacist agendas. In the latter part of the paper, I demonstrate what I hope this will look like through analysis of Roman reception of the Mother of the Gods cult, known in Rome as the cult of Cybele or Magna Mater, or the Phrygian cult, and how Roman reactions to the cult reveal xenophobic sentiments and toxic masculinity within the social fabric. Throughout this work, I engage with questions …

Dmt And “The Man Box:” Provoking Change And Encouraging Authentic Living, An Arts-Based Project, Steven Reynolds

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explores the mind-body experience through an arts-based research approach to examine, and redefine the emotional capacity and usefulness of males through societal determinants that limits and hinders men from living their authentic selves. Through the lens of a metaphoric “Man Box” 112 men participated in a workshop recreating their personal narratives of socialization through, style of dress, coping mechanisms, belief systems and who they should be as men through society's standards. In the “Man Box,” male bonding, and emotional feelings are discouraged, while the objectification of women, material property and physical/emotional strength are encouraged. This research investigates the …

The Knights Templar: The Course Of God And Gold, Aaron Wozniak

Young Historians Conference

The creation and expansion of the Knights Templar exemplifies the power of religious organizations during the time of the Crusades. However, it is the dissolution of the Templars that makes the order’s existence stand out among other knight orders. While the legal accounts of King Philip IV condemn the Templars for heresy, modern scholars and the political context suggest the possibility of exploiting the order for its significant financial holdings. This paper follows the history of the Templar order, from its creation to its demise, to evaluate how the Templars drifted far enough from their initial mission to provide royals …

When The Courts Were Tripping: An Analysis Of Employment Division V Smith And Its Impact On Oregon Law, Lucy C. Adams

Young Historians Conference

A member of the Native American Church named Al Smith was fired from his job for using Peyote during a religious ceremony. He sued, and Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith was opened. Surprisingly, when the Supreme Court heard the case, they abandoned precedent for determining whether religious actions were permissible and ruled in favor of the state. The ruling was a setback for religious freedom, and particularly harmed minority religions. Other agencies stepped in to prevent Smith from decimating religious rights, but the Oregon Supreme Court officially accepted the Supreme Court’s ruling on the case, despite having ruled in …

Gothic Cathedrals: A Shift In Christians' Relationship With God, Matthew D. Latham

Young Historians Conference

The emergence of Gothic cathedrals marked a revolutionary shift from previous architectural styles. Designers, such as Villard de Honnecourt, sought to represent Christian ideas in the architecture of Gothic cathedrals. Secular rulers, like King Henry III, personally led the construction of religious buildings. Laypeople contributed voluntary donations to help finance the building of Gothic cathedrals. The ability for individuals to personally contribute to their religion marks a shift in Christians’ perceived relationship to God. The development of Gothic cathedrals reflects the idea of individualism, a theme typically credited to the Renaissance time period. Examining Gothic cathedrals through the lens of …

From Mantra To Prose: The Influence Of The Mundaka Upanishad On Western Poetry And Writing, Walter B. Greene

Young Historians Conference

Written sometime between 300 and 100 BCE, the Indian text known as the Mundaka Upanishad contains some of the earliest philosophical inquiries into the concepts of suffering, the self, rebirth, and humanity’s place in the universe. This paper examines the influence of the Mundaka Upanishad and argues for the value of its study, addressing how the text offers historians a valuable opportunity to look into some of the most influential ideas behind Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Indian schools of thought. This paper also examines the cross-cultural influence of the text, tracing its diffusion from India and its influence on contemporary …

Translation Wars: The Influence Of Semantics And Translation On The More-Tyndale Polemic, Annika H. Marshall

Young Historians Conference

The More-Tyndale polemic was one of many debates during the Protestant Reformation, a time of great religious change and conflict. Because of this, many scholars who examine the lengthy debate view it as a pure reflection of the typical Reformation arguments of the century, and assume it to be a debate of ubiquitous opposing religious ideals. This paper, however, argues that while many of these Reformation topics were present, the polemic was primarily fueled by clash over semantics and the topic of Biblical translation. Through this unique approach to a classic debate, one may better understand Christian theology’s inherent struggle …

May 2019, Temple Shalom Synagogue Center

Newsletter Archive

Contents: Lag B'omer; From the Rabbi; President's Message; Announcements; Book Group; Commmunity Notices

Film Review: The Impure: An Abolitionist Documentary Film Of The 19th Century Traffic In Jewish Women, Caroline Norma

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Representation Of Caṇḍālas In The Jātakas, Chandrabhan P. Yadav

Articles

Excerpt:

"Out of 547 Jātaka stories, eight describe the caṇḍālas.1 Out of these eight stories, half contain passing references about this social class, but at least four are stories where the protagonists themselves are caṇḍālas. In those four stories which are centred around this class, three are comparatively longer stories, including the famous Mātaṅga-Jātaka (No. 497). These are probably the most elaborate descriptions of this social group from the early historic period. Since the Mātaṅga-Jātaka is more elaborate and complex than the other stories and needs to be discussed separately, I will only discuss the rest of the seven stories …

Children Of A One-Eyed God: Impairment In The Myth And Memory Of Medieval Scandinavia, Michael David Lawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using the lives of impaired individuals catalogued in the Íslendingasögur as a narrative framework, this study examines medieval Scandinavian social views regarding impairment from the ninth to the thirteenth century. Beginning with the myths and legends of the eddic poetry and prose of Iceland, it investigates impairment in Norse pre-Christian belief; demonstrating how myth and memory informed medieval conceptualizations of the body. This thesis counters scholarly assumptions that the impaired were universally marginalized across medieval Europe. It argues that bodily difference, in the Norse world, was only viewed as a limitation when it prevented an individual from fulfilling roles that …

April 2019, Temple Shalom Synagogue Center

Newsletter Archive

Contents: Café shalom; From the Rabbi; President's Message; Announcents; Book Group; Community Notices

The Shaping Of Islamic Culture, Briella Hargrove

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

the discussion of the Ridda Wars is one which needs more light shined upon it. These wars are not often mentioned, however, they are a series of wars that most historians know occurred. Those who focus on Islamic studies often debate about whether these series of wars was a religious or political movement, I say they are both. Abu Bakr gained several enemies which lead to the series of wars that make up the Ridda Wars or Wars of Apostacy. How did these wars shape Islamic culture? The Wars of Apostacy began the line of the Caliphs and people being …

When A Stone Is Not A Stone: Memories Of Clerical Abuse, Charles V. Sords

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

From the fourth to the sixth grades, Charles V. Sords suffered traumatic sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. He suppressed these memories, yet the pain of what happened impacted every aspect of his life. As an adult, several strong, sensory experiences brought the truth of his childhood into focus. He confronted the Church—and the system that protected clerical criminals. This memoir is an account of childhood sexual abuse, the particularly shameful nature of being raped by priests, and how the Catholic Church’s method of handling this and similarly horrifying revelations has re-traumatized survivors.

The Complicated Cases Of Soghomon Tehlirian And Sholem Schwartzbard And Their Influences On Raphaël Lemkin's Thinking About Genocide, Steven Leonard Jacobs

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

The article is an examination of the persons and trials of Soghomon Tehlirian and Sholem Schwartzbard, their political assassinations as acts of vengeance for genocide and pogroms, their trials and subsequent acquittals. It is also an examination of the influences of these two events on the evolved thinking of Raphael Lemkin on his conceptualization of the needs for an international law contra genocide. Finally, it also elaborates on what information is now available on both men and their associations, and what was known and unknown to Lemkin and whether or not these two cases remained centrally important to his understandings.

The New British Christianity Of C.S. Lewis, Thomas Kemp

LSU Master's Theses

The emergence of C.S. Lewis as a popular author known for Christian content during the second half of the twentieth century provides an ideal case study for the transformation of religiosity within Britain. As religious behavior shifted from institutional adherence to private experience, Lewis became a ‘popular theologian’ who represented Christianity both for Christians – who looked to him for spiritual inspiration– and for non-Christians – who treated his views as representative of contemporary Christianity. By analyzing the reception, representation, and use of Lewis (his figure and his work) throughout the twentieth-century and into the twenty-first, it becomes clear that …

Piety And Practicality: The Virginity Of Rome's Vestal Priestesses, Jennifer Wright

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Bartered Bodies: Medieval Pilgrims And The Tissue Of Faith, George D. Greenia

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In ‘The Bartered Body,’ George Greenia disentangles the complex desires and experiences of religious travellers of the High Middle Ages who knew the spiritual usefulness of their vulnerable flesh. The bodily remains of the saints housed in pilgrim shrines were not just remnants of a redeemed past, but open portals for spiritual exchange with the living body of the visiting pilgrim.