See you in Baltimore.
Talk of the Town
Mike Altman, who teaches at the University of Alabama’s Department of Religious Studies, has been reading our recent exchanges on the use of the word “data.” In fact, he’s proposed that a working group at the American Academy of Religion, devoted to technology in the Humanities, think a little about their own use of the term.
Learn more here.
You Know You’re a Member of a Dominant Group When…
… you not only name your sports teams after the people your ancestors conquered but taunt the opposing high school football team with witty banners referencing events those vanquished peoples’ descendents consider to be terrible catastrophes inflicted upon their groups by your own predecessors. Continue reading “You Know You’re a Member of a Dominant Group When…”
We’ll Be Right Back…
With a conference in Baltimore followed immediately by a national Fall harvest festival where many of our members live (American Thanksgiving, that is), well, we figured that a brief hiatus is necessary while some of us eat, catch-up on email, and reshuffle the alphabet for more posts from the Edge in the future. Continue reading “We’ll Be Right Back…”
Find the Edge in Baltimore
Hoping to snag a button? Then find us in Baltimore.
Friday:
Craig Martin will be responding at North American Association for the Study of Religion Panel 2: Critically Engaged: Graduate Pedagogy in the Introductory Classroom (P22-209) on Friday, 1:30 – 3:30 pm in the Hilton Baltimore (Blake Room). Continue reading “Find the Edge in Baltimore”
I Like the Edge
We’re all near the Edge–but how close are you?
If you get an Edge button in Baltimore, during late-November’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature, then we’d like to see you proudly wearing it (only photos that grandma would approve of, please).
So send us a pic, tell us who you are, what you’re studying/working on, and what school you’re associated with (are you a student? faculty? internet start-up billionaire looking for a good investment?), and we may just post it on our Facebook page (you can tag yourself) or here on the blog.
Attach a digital pic and send it to edge@ua.edu.
Why Is the Study of Religion Important?
You can make a range of excellent arguments for the value of the study of religion. In my department, we have been highlighting the value of the critical and creative thought that many of our students develop in our courses, their understanding of human behavior and social formation, and the recognition of the power of labels to discipline action and construct identifications, to name a few. Continue reading “Why Is the Study of Religion Important?”
Crossin’ the Ts…
Yes, some of us are off to Baltimore in a few days, for a conference.
So we’re putting the final touches on our papers.
Are You Ready?
Culture on the Edge‘s Monica Miller is presenting at Skepticon 6, which is held annually in Springfield, Missouri. While there, she’ll be sending us her notes from the field.
Of course a conference like Skepticon, the largest free convention for Atheists, Freethinkers, and Skeptics would draw counter-demonstrations who believe that everyone here is destined for the fiery pits of hell. Continue reading “Are You Ready?”
“My Morality” Doesn’t Need Your God
Culture on the Edge‘s Monica Miller is presenting (this morning at 11) at Skepticon 6, which is held annually in Springfield, Missouri. While there, she’ll be sending us her notes from the field.
She uses her sweet, melodic, and soulful voice as a lyrical window into her journey from Judaism to Atheism and as a tool of activism to challenge the dogmatic confines of religion in society. Meet Shelly Segal: a Melbourne based singer-songwriter heavily involved in secular activism who serenaded us last night with some songs off her most recent album “An Atheist Album,” which, according to Segal, “is a passionate response to dogmatic belief, inequality, religious oppression and the idea that only the devout can be grateful and good.” Continue reading ““My Morality” Doesn’t Need Your God”