Religious Studies | Penn Today

A black-and-white-image of a man with a hand on his heart

Faith in public life

In a conversation sponsored by the School of Social Policy & Practice, Ben Jealous discussed religion’s potential to transform society with Charles ‘Chaz’ Howard and David Saperstein.

NPR

The ReAwaken America tours unites conservative Christians and conspiracy theorists

Anthea Butler of the School of Arts & Sciences says that the ReAwaken movement represents a potent mix of religion, election denial, and anti-government conspiracy theory that the Republican party has largely embraced.

Philadelphia Inquirer

Can learning about ghosts help us cope with pandemic losses? This Penn professor says yes

In a Q&A, Justin McDaniel of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses how the pandemic has changed the way people think about ghost stories and the afterlife.

The Washington Post

Michael Flynn’s ReAwaken roadshow recruits ‘Army of God’

Anthea Butler of the School of Arts & Sciences says that Michael Flynn’s “spiritual warfare” rhetoric in support of Christian nationalism is dangerous.

Wes Matthews leaning in a doorway at the Kelly Writers House

Poet Wes Matthews combines writing, music, research, and service

College fourth-year Wes Matthews is combining writing, music, research, and service during his Penn experience. A former Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, the anthropology major and religious studies minor works at the Kelly Writers House and is a Wolf Humanities Center fellow.

A cut apple and pomegranate surround a honey jar with a wooden honey stick on top. An uncut apple and pomegranate are in the background.

Finding community in the Jewish High Holy Days

Three cultural and academic leaders at Penn consider how a return to experiencing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in person offered physical and spiritual healing.

USA Today

How protests in Iran over Mahsa Amini’s death ‘forever moved the debate’ over women’s rights

Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses Iran’s long history of mandating what women can wear and the power employed by its “morality police.”

Max Johnson Dugan leans against a tree in front of a halal food cart on the street.

Who, What, Why

Who, What, Why: Max Johnson Dugan’s research on halal food

A doctoral candidate in religious studies, Dugan focuses on halal consumption: “What we make, what we wear, what sort of things that we eat, what we do with our bodies.”

U.S. News & World Report

Iranian woman push back against compulsory hijab

Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet of the School of Arts & Sciences says that Iranian society still struggles with how much of a role religion has played in its pre- and post-revolutionary eras.