Mis/remembering Peoples Temple — Before we begin, I want to say that my presentation includes frank and unsettling discussion of white supremacist violence, culminating in the mass murder of Black women and children. Their lives matter too much for me to soft-pedal what happened to them. But as Toni Morrison taught us, we are…

what we’re doing this semester, when, and why — “Cult” is a word that gets used a lot, but what exactly IS a cult? Most often, cult describes beliefs we don’t like or that make us uncomfortable, practices we think are stupid or exploitative, and groups we worry are dangerous. But is religion dangerous? Or do we use religion…

what to read/listen to and when — (17 JAN) What’s religion? KI101 S1E1: What the Heck is Religion and What the Heck is this Podcast KI101 S1E6: You Might Be Done with Religion, but Religion Is Not Done with You (24 JAN) What’s a cult? US Constitution, Article VI Clause 3 and the first amendment KI101 E110, “Cults” Barker, from Making of a Moonie Moore, “The…

Prof. Megan Goodwin — Prof. Megan Goodwin (she/her/hers) is a scholar of American religions, race, gender/sexuality, and politics. She is the author of Abusing Religion: Literary Persecution, Sex Scandals, and American Minority Religions (Rutgers 2020). With Prof. Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst, she co-hosts Keeping It 101: A Killjoy’s Introduction to Religion Podcast and is currently cowriting Religion Is Not Done with You (Beacon 2024).

what we’re doing this semester, when, and why — America is a nation that prides itself on religious diversity but has been deeply shaped by Christianity. Understanding these tensions is crucial for an informed and engaged electorate. …

what to read/listen to and when — (17 JAN) What’s religion? KI101 S1E1, “What the Heck is Religion and What the Heck is this Podcast” KI101 S1E6, “You Might Be Done with Religion, but Religion Is Not Done with You” KI101 S2E5, “Gender, sexuality and religion in what’s now the US” (19 JAN) What’s race? KI101 S2E5, “Race and religion in what’s now the US” …

Prof. Megan Goodwin — Prof. Megan Goodwin (she/her/hers) is a scholar of American religions, race, gender/sexuality, and politics. She is the author of Abusing Religion: Literary Persecution, Sex Scandals, and American Minority Religions (Rutgers 2020). With Prof. Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst, she co-hosts “Keeping It 101: A Killjoy’s Introduction to Religion Podcast” and is currently cowriting Religion Is Not Done with You (Beacon 2024).

Islam is on the side of mercy — The big takeaway for today? There is no one Islamic position on abortion, but — as Dr. Ayubi teaches us — Islam is on the side of mercy and compassion. What we’re reading Jalalzai, “Please Stop Using Islam to Critique the Abortion Ban” Ayubi, “No One Islamic Interpretation on Abortion” Ayubi, “Authority and…

what’s on Muslim women’s minds (and not just on their heads) — Even folks who know nothing about Islam are often convinced that they know everything they need to know by looking at Muslim women who cover. This is extremely tiresome and incorrect. So let’s get into it. What we’re reading/watching: Mustafa, “My Body is My Own Business” Hoodfar, “The Veil in their Minds and…