Explore the RSP Archive

Sufism

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27 April 2015

In this interview, Milad Milani discusses the basic orientation and history of Sufi thought. He also speaks about the diverse national variations of Sufism, particularly with respect to Iranian (or “Persianate”) Sufism. The interview concludes with a few critical remarks on the questionable appropriation of Sufism in contemporary Western discourses on religion.

Featuring

Jack Tsonis

 

Milad Milani

 

Religion as an Evolutionary Organism

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20 April 2015

In this interview, David Sloan Wilson gives an overview of his research studying religious groups as adaptive units, specifically discussing his work directing the Binghamton Religion and Spirituality Project. He introduces the field of evolutionary religious studies, explaining that 'all aspects of humanity can be understood, in some sense, as a product of evolution'.

Featuring

Thomas J. Coleman III

 

David Sloan Wilson

 

The Critical Study of Religion

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13 April 2015

Professor Bruce Lincoln from the University of Chicago discusses a variety of topics including werewolves, critical theory, pedagogy, and self-imposed estrangement from the academic study of religion. In this interview, Professor Bruce Lincoln from the University of Chicago Divinity School discusses a variety of topics including werewolves, critical theory,

Featuring

Bruce Lincoln

 

Brad Stoddard

 

God’s Mind, Your Mind, and Theory of Mind

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6 April 2015

What do God's mind and your mind have in common? A core tenet of cognitive science of religion (CSR) is that the folk-psychological ability to explain human behavior in terms of beliefs, desires and intentions – known as theory of mind (ToM) – is also a system that makes us receptive to belief in the supernatural.

Featuring

Thomas J. Coleman III

 

Will Gervais

 

Social Constructionism

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30 March 2015

What is social constructionism, and how is it important to the study of religion? Titus Hjelm explains how approaches which see social realities as built from discourses challenge how we think about ontology, epistemology and power.What is social constructionism, and how is it important to the study of religion? In this interview,

Featuring

David G. Robertson

 

Titus Hjelm