Religious Studies | Penn Today

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The Divine Comedy’s ‘universal message’

Seven centuries years after Dante Alighieri's death on Sept. 14, 1321, his “Divine Comedy,” a poem in which an autobiographical protagonist journeys through hell, purgatory, and paradise, is still widely influential.

Three people stand in front of Cohen Hall

Archiving empire with religious studies’ Megan Robb

A long-unseen archive centered on an 18th-century Mughal woman will soon be publicly accessible, thanks to the work of religious studies professor Megan Robb of the School of Arts & Sciences and a team of Penn students.

Gina Stewart becomes first woman elected to lead US Black Baptist organization

Anthea Butler of the School of Arts & Sciences commented on Gina Stewart’s selection as president of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society. “I think it is significant, important, and past time for a woman to be in leadership in Black Baptist circles, missions or otherwise,” said Butler. “Women are the fundraisers and foundation of the church.”

Anti-vaxxers are claiming centuries of Jewish suffering to look like martyrs

Simcha Gross of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about how clothing was used to separate religious groups in the Middle Ages. “In Islam, distinction of clothing was part of a range of regulations that differentiated between Muslims and certain kinds of non-Muslims, which have their own lengthy and complicated history,” he said.

An American flag flaps in front of the tip of a white church steeple topped by a cross, with a blue sky and clouds in the background

Nationalism, American evangelicals, and conservatism

Historians Anthea Butler and Heather J. Sharkey and political scientist Michele Margolis share their thoughts on the history of American evangelicals in politics, Trump’s appeal, and what it means for the future of the GOP.

Different religious leaders support racial justice movement

Integrating tough questions about the intersection of race, religion, and politics

Through student discussions and outside lectures, one SNF Paideia Program course examined the Jewish experience, the history of prejudice, and intersectionality in Jewish identity, among other topics.

Newshour

Heather Sharkey of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about the history of interreligious contact in Iraq. “What we’ve seen in the last 20 years since 2003 has been very acute, and there were challenges that led to the slight attrition of Christians steadily over time, which reduced their numbers in the long run,” she said. “But by and large, it is a history of people getting along well and that bodes well for the future of different religious communities in Iraq.”

Historical mugshots of 15 people wearing signs around their necks that say, "Police Dept. Jackson, Miss., 7.2.61" along with prison identification numbers

‘Then and Now: Black-Jewish Relations in the Civil Rights Movement’

Professor of religious studies Anthea Butler gave an overview of shared history and discussed next steps in “Then and Now: Black-Jewish Relations in the Civil Rights Movement,” an event hosted by the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies.

Pope Francis supports same-sex unions

The Catholic Church has long stated that marriage is between a man and a woman, a position Pope Francis supports. Melissa Wilde and Anthea Butler discuss the Pope’s recent support of civil unions that ensure legal rights for same-sex couples.

Woman in a red jacket standing at a podium with two microphones.

Across U.S. Catholic archdioceses, child protection policies vary widely

A report from CHILD USA, led by Professor of Practice Marci Hamilton, found that such policies lack uniformity, aren’t comprehensive, and often don’t take a victim-centered approach.

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