Who were the “Puritans”? The short answer is, a party within the two state churches (Scotland and England) dissatisfied with anything short of a “thorough” or “perfect” Protestantism that eliminated every trace of “idolatry,” curtailed the authority of the monarchy in matters of religion, and set a high standard for being a “sincere” Christian. A...

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Genesis 3 is classically understood in Christian tradition as the biblical account of the Fall of humanity from divine grace, resulting in humanity’s general sinful condition. As John Milton began his epic poem, Paradise Lost: "Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit/ of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast/Brought Death into the World, and all...

There has long been a popular misconception that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is driven by religion. This is historically inaccurate, but religion is having an increasing impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today. In this talk, Professor Dov Waxman will explore the growing role of religion in the conflict, and the implications of this...

"Hate speech" is as contested as it is distressingly common in contemporary public discourse. It poses dilemmas that extend beyond political and legal debates about how it should be regulated. For professional historians - particularly scholars of religion in its historical dimensions - it also raises questions of classification and academic ethics. Is "hate speech"...

Please join the Study of Religion IDP on Thursday, February 6th, for a Student and Faculty Social! Refreshments will be served.   RSVP Below:  

The Museum of the Bible on D.C.'s national mall was founded and funded by the billionaire owners of Hobby Lobby. From the start, the museum has been controversial in the national press and in the field of biblical studies. Through a close examination of the museum’s exhibits and its collection of archaeological and historical objects,...