REBECCA MOORE

 

3553 Eugene Place

San Diego, California 92116

619/584-1841

 

 

EDUCATION

 

Ph.D.               Marquette University, Religious Studies (1996)      

M.A.                Marquette University, Theology (1992)

M.A.                The American University, Film (1980)

B.A.                 Antioch College, Communications (1974)

 

Dissertation: "Jewish and Christian Relations in the Life and Thought of Hugh of St. Victor."

 

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

 

History of Christianity, especially Jewish and Christian Dialogue

New Testament and early Christianity

Religion in America, especially New Religious Movements

 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

July 2008-Present

PROFESSOR, Department of Religious Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

 

Teach undergraduate courses in western religious traditions, religion in America, and alternative religious traditions. Serve on university and departmental committees. Chair since Fall 2006

 

 

June 2003 - June 2008

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, Department of Religious Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

 

Teach undergraduate courses in western religious traditions, religion in America, and alternative religious traditions. Serve on university and departmental committees. Departmental Advisor until Fall 2006, Chair since Fall 2006

 

 

August 1999-June 2003

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Department of Religious Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

 

Teach undergraduate courses in western religious traditions, religion in America, and alternative religious traditions. Serve on university and departmental committees. Departmental Advisor.

 

 

August 1996 ‑ June 1999

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Department of Philosophy and Religion, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

 

Taught undergraduate courses in history of western religious traditions and ethics. Serve on university and departmental committees.

 

August 1995 ‑ May 1996

INSTRUCTOR, Department of Theology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.

 

Taught courses in historical theology and ethics to upper division undergraduates.

 

January 1992 ‑ May 1996

INSTRUCTOR, Department of Theology, St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI.

 

Taught courses in christology and in historical theology, two of seven required core courses in the Master of Theological Studies Program, a graduate program for adult working students.

 

May 1994 ‑ August 1996

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, Health Arts Program, The College of St. Francis, Joliet, IL.

 

Taught courses in religion in America and ethics to health care professionals in Bachelor of Science degree program.

 

January 1991 ‑ June 1995

TEACHING ASSISTANT, Department of Theology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.

 

Lectured to undergraduate classes in religious studies as needed, graded papers and tests, met with students concerning questions and problems. Assisted faculty members in research and writing projects, grants, and curriculum development.

 

September 1981 ‑ December 1985

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Department of Film/Television Production, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.

 

Taught TV theory, writing and production courses, and developed new curricula. Advised students. Produced programs that aired on public and commercial TV stations in Montana and Utah. Successfully wrote grants. Served on university committees.

 

NEW COURSES ADDED TO RELIGIOUS STUDIES CURRICULUM

 

REL S 358 Death, Dying, and the Afterlife*
REL S 390A-B Religion and American Institutions**
REL S 395 New Religions
REL S 530 Religion and Revolution

 

*Accepted for Cultural Diversity, Fall 2007
**Fulfills University American Institutions requirement

 

 

TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS

 

2007                Outstanding Faculty Member for Department of Religious Studies.

2005                Nominee, Exemplary Academic Advising Award.

2004                Outstanding Faculty Member for Department of Religious Studies.

2002-2003       Interim Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, New Faculty Mentor.

2002                Outstanding Faculty Member for Department of Religious Studies.

2002                "Effective Technology with Teaching," Co-organizer of faculty workshop co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning, LARC, Instructional Technology Services, and the Office of Academic Affairs, 10-11 January.

2001                "Teaching and Learning in Our Diverse Classrooms," Co-organizer of faculty workshop sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning, 4 and 11 October.

2001                "Plagiarism, Free-Riding, and Moral Hazards," Organizer and Facilitator of teaching workshop for Department of Economics, 5 November.

2001                "Pareto-Improving Ways to Include Writing in Your Economics Courses," Organizer and Facilitator of teaching workshop for Department of Economics, 12 September

2001                Outstanding Faculty Member for Department of Religious Studies.

2001                "Working With Large Classes," Co-organizer and Co-facilitator of faculty workshop sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning, 24 January.

2000                "Beyond the Lecture: Encouraging Active Learning," Co-organizer and Co-facilitator of faculty workshop, co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Letters and the Center for Teaching and Learning, San Diego State University, 30-31 May.

2000                Reunion for "Encouraging Active Learning," Co-organizer and Co-facilitator, San Diego State University, 20 October.

2000                "Using Interactive Learning in the Large (and Small) Classroom," Panel member, San Diego State University, 23 March.

2000-2002       Teaching Fellow, Center for Teaching and Learning, for College of Arts and Letters, San Diego State University.

1998‑1999       Teaching Fellow, American Academy of Religion/Lilly Foundation, Upper Midwest American Academy of Religion.

1996‑1997       Alice T. Clark Mentoring Fellow, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

1985                National Journalism Teaching Award, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, St. Petersburg, FL.

1982                Award for Excellence in Teaching, The Montana State University Alumni Association and the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce, Bozeman, MT.

 

 

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

April 1987 ‑ July 1990

COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Reno, NV.

 

January 1986 ‑ April 1987

PRODUCER, KNPB‑TV, Reno, NV.

 

January 1980 ‑ September 1981

CULTURAL AFFAIRS PRODUCER, South Dakota Public Television, Vermillion, SD.

 

January 1975 ‑ December 1979

EDITOR, Televisions Magazine, Washington, DC.

 

 

BOOKS (peer reviewed)

 

A Portable God: How Early Jews and Christians Read the Bible, with R. L. Kohn. Lanham, Md.: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007.

Voices of Christianity: A Global Introduction New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Peoples Temple and Black Religion in America, co-editor. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 2004.

 


ADDITIONAL BOOKS

 

Understanding Jonestown and Peoples Temple, under contract with Praeger/Greenwood Press, accepted for publication

Jews and Christians in the Life and Thought of Hugh of St. Victor, Atlanta: Scholars Press and University of South Florida Center for Judaic Studies. 1998.

The Need for a Second Look at Jonestown, co editor. Lewiston N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989.

New Religious Movements, Mass Suicide, and Peoples Temple, co editor. Lewiston N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989.

In Defense of Peoples Temple. Lewiston N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1988.

The Jonestown Letters. Lewiston N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1986.

A Sympathetic History of Jonestown. Lewiston N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1985.

 

 

ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS (peer reviewed)

 

“Jonestown in Literature: Caribbean Reflections on a Tragedy.” Literature and Theology, accepted for publication.

“O Mother, Where Art Thou? In Search of the Authentic St. Monnica.” In Feminist Interpretations of Augustine, ed. Judith Stark, 147-66. University Park, Penn.: Penn State University Press, 2007.

“The Transformation of Peoples Temple in California: From Pentecostal Church to Political Movement.” In Pacific Beliefs: Religious and Cultural Transformations in California, ed. Brian Froese. Logan, Ut.: Utah State University Press, status = accepted for publication.

“‘Drinking the Koolaid:’ The Cultural Transformation of a Tragedy.” Nova Religio 7, no. 2 (October 2003).

“Reconstructing Reality: Conspiracy Theories About Jonestown.” Journal of Popular Culture 36, no. 2 (Fall 2002): 200-20.

“Is the Canon on Jonestown Closed?” Nova Religio (October 2000): 7-27.

“St. Monica and the Mystical Gift of Tears,” Magistra 4,2 (Winter 1998): 61-88.

“Hugh of St. Victor and In Threnos Ieremiae,” Journal of Religious History 22,3 (October 1998): 255-269

“The Jews in World History According to Hugh of St. Victor,” Medieval Encounters 3,1 (1997): 1-19 .

“Social Redemption and Individual Liberty: Walter Rauschenbusch’s Challenge to Henry George,” American Baptist Quarterly 11,3 (Sept 1992): 259 270.

 

 

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARLY ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS

 

“Millennialism from A to Zvi: Action, Reaction, and Interaction.” In The Oxford Handbook on Millennialism, ed. Catherine Wessinger. New York: Oxford University Press, status = accepted for publication.

“Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Information and the National Security State.” CrossCurrents, status = accepted for publication.

“Rethinking Sectarian Judaism: The Centrality of the Priesthood in the Second Temple Period,” with Risa Levitt Kohn. In Sacred History, Sacred Literature: Essays on Ancient Israel, the Bible, and Religion, ed. S. Overton. Winona Lake, Ill.: Eisenbrauns, status = accepted for publication.

“Where is God? Divine Presence in the Absence of the Temple,” with Risa Levitt Kohn. In Milk and Honey: Essays on Ancient Israel and the Bible, ed. S. Malena and D. Miano, 133-53. Winona Lake, Ill.: Eisenbrauns, 2007.

“Peoples Temple: A Typical Cult?” In Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America, Vol. 2, ed. Eugene V. Gallagher and W. Michael Ashcraft, 113-34. Westport, Conn: Greenwood, 2006.

“A Framework for Understanding Fundamentalism.” In Religion and News Writing, ed. Claire Badaracco, 87-99. Waco, Tex.: Baylor University Press, 2005.

“Reconstructing Reality: Conspiracy Theories About Jonestown” In Controversial New Religions, ed. James Lewis, 61-78. New York and London: Oxford University Press, 2005. Reprint of article in Journal of Popular Culture.

“Jewish Influence on Christian Biblical Interpretation: Hugh of St. Victor and the Four Daughters of God.” In Of Scribes and Sages: Studies in Early Jewish Interpretation and Transmission of Scripture, vol. 2, ed. Craig A. Evans, 148-58. London: T&T Clark International, 2004.

“A Demographic Study of Black Involvement in Peoples Temple: What the Numbers Say.” In Peoples Temple and Black Religion in America, ed. Rebecca Moore, Anthony B. Pinn, and Mary R. Sawyer, 57-80. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 2004.

“Using the Web in Religious Studies Courses.” In Theological Librarians and the Internet: Implications for Practice, ed. Mark Stover, 139-50. New York: Haworth Press, 2001.

“Using the Web in Religious Studies Courses,” Journal of Religious and Theological Information Vol. 3, Nos. 3/4 (2001): 139-50.

“American as Cherry Pie: Peoples Temple and Violence in America,” in Millennialism, Persecution, and Violence: Historical Cases, ed. Catherine Wessinger, 121-37, Syracuse N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 2000.

 

   

REVIEWS, DIGESTS, ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLES

 

The Insight of Unbelievers: Nicholas of Lyra and Christian Reading of Jewish Text in the Later Middle Ages, by Deeana Copeland Klepper. Reviewed for Church History 77, no. 2 (June 2008).

"Luther on Eve, Women and the Church," by Mickey L. Mattox. Abridged for Luther Digest 14 (2006): 82-85.

"Peoples Temple Revisited: A Review Essay." Nova Religio 10, no. 1 (August 2006): 111-118.

"Jim Jones." Article in The Encyclopedia of African American Folklore. Anand Prahlad, ed. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Publishing, 2005.

"Father Divine." Article in The Encyclopedia of African American Folklore. Anand Prahlad, ed. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Publishing, 2005.

 "Jim Jones." Article in The Encyclopedia of Religion, 2d edition. Lindsay Jones, ed. New York: Macmillan Reference, 2005.

 "Aquinas and Luther on War and Peace: Sovereign Authority and the Use of Armed Force," by James Turner Johnson. Abridged for Luther Digest 13 (2005): 48-51.

"Fighting Like a Christian: The Ottoman Advance and the Development of Luther's Doctrine of Just War," by Gregory J. Miller. Abridged for Luther Digest 13 (2005): 54-57.

 "Luther on his Opponents," by Mark U. Edwards Jr. Abridged for Luther Digest 13 (2005): 137-140.

 "Mistakes of the New Perspective on Paul," by Paul F. M. Zahl. Abridged for Luther Digest 12 (2004): 38-40.

"Catholic or Heretic: Martin Luther as Rebel and Reformer," by John Arthur Maxfield. Abridged for Luther Digest 12 (2004): 144-147.

 "Making and Breaking the Marriage Bond, According to Bucer and Luther," by Matthieu Arnold. Translated and abridged for Luther Digest 12 (2004): 42-46.

 "A Life for Theology — A Theology for Life," by Gerhard Ebeling. Translated and abridged for Luther Digest 10 (2002): 160-164.

"Melanchthon and Luther/Luther and Melanchthon," by Timothy Wengert. Abridged for Luther Digest 10 (2002): 221-228.

"'The Sweat of the Brow is of Many Kinds:' Luther on the Duties of Adam and His Sons," by Kristen E. Kvam. Abridged for Luther Digest 10 (2002): 30-32.

"Peoples Temple." Article in The 21st Century Encyclopedia of the World Religions, ed. J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 2002.

"Sri Chinmoy International Organization." Article in The 21st Century Encyclopedia of the World Religions, ed. J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. New York: ABC-Clio, 2002.

"Peoples Temple." Article in The Encyclopedia of Religions in Canada, ed. James A. Beverley (Toronto: HarperCollins Canada, forthcoming).

Toleranz im Mittelalter, ed. Alexander Patchovsky and Harald Zimmermann. Reviewed for Church History 69,4 (December 2000): 881-883.

"Peoples Temple." Article in Encyclopedia of Millennialism and Millennial Movements, ed. Richard Landes, 305-308, New York and London: Routledge, 2000.

"Jubilee, Year of." Article in Encyclopedia of Millennialism and Millennial Movements, ed. Richard Landes, 213-215, New York and London: Routledge, 2000.

"The Ontology of Deification," by Dennis Bielfeldt. In Caritas Dei: Beiträge zum Verständnis Luthers und der gegenwärtigen Ökumene, ed. Oswald Bayer, Robert W. Jenson und Simo Knuuttila, 90-113, Helsinki: Luther-Agricola-Gesellschaft, 1997. Abridged for Luther Digest 8 (2000).

"Christus finis omnium: Eine Studie zu Luthers erster Psalmenvorlesung," by Leif Grane. Translated and abridged for Luther Digest 8 (2000).

"Loi et Évangile chez Luther et Cranach," by Jérôme Cottin. Translated and abridged for Luther Digest 7 (1999): 2-9.

"Luther et Calvin Commentateurs de l'Épître aux Romains: Une Comparaison," by Hubert Goudineau. Translated and abridged for Luther Digest 7 (1999): 10-18.

Giordano Bruno and Kabbalah: Prophets, Magicians and Rabbis, by Karen Silvia de Léon-Jones. Reviewed for Church History 68, 1 (March 1999): 179-181.

"The Authority of Scripture: Luther's Approach to Allegory in Galatians," by Timothy H. Maschke. Abridged for Luther Digest 6 (1998): 8-10.

The Ladies of Zamora, by Peter Linehan. Reviewed for Church History 67,1 (March 1998): 141-142.

"Health, Education, and Welfare in the Protestant Reformation: Who Cared?" by Rebecca B. Prichard. Abridged for Luther Digest 5 (1997): 59‑61.

"La Raison chez Luther," by Pierre E. S. Metzger. Translated and abridged for Luther Digest 5 (1997): 117‑120.

 "Luther et sa conception de l'homme. Regards sur le Commentaire de la Genese (1535 a 1545)," by Marc Lienhard. Translated and abridged for Luther Digest 3 (1995): 32‑34.

 

PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES (Peer Reviewed)

 

“Naming Names: Identifying and Memorializing the Jonestown Dead.” Paper to be given November 2008 at the American Academy of Religion, Chicago, IL.

“The Power of Cultural Opponents: The Case of Peoples Temple.” Paper given December 2007 at the International Symposium on Cultic Studies, sponsored by the Institute of World Religions: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shenzhen, China.

“The Global Culture of Hellenism,” “Judaic Religions in the First Centuries B.C.E. and C.E.,” and “The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Origins.” Lectures given at three-day seminar on “Rediscovering the Dead Sea Scrolls,” for the Biblical Archaeology Society, 3-5 August 2007, San Diego, CA.

"Representations of Jonestown in the Arts." Paper given August 2006 at the International Conference on the Arts in Society, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.

"Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Information: The Problem of Government Secrecy and Document Classification." Paper given July 2006, at the CESNUR Conference, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

"Progressive Politics and Peoples Temple: California Dreamin'." Paper given March 2006 at the American Academy of Religion, Western Region, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA.

"Secrets and Lies: The U.S. Government and Jonestown." Paper given at "Religion, Secrecy and Security: Religious Freedom and Privacy in a Global Context," an Interdisciplinary Conference at Ohio State University, April 2004.

"Where Did God Go? God's New Dwelling Place in the Absence of a Temple." Paper given March 2004 at the Western Jewish Studies Association, San Diego, CA.

"The Early Christian Mishna: The Idea of Dual Torah in the New Testament." Paper given March 2004 at the Western Jewish Studies Association, San Diego, CA.

"Race and Family in Jonestown: What the Numbers Say." Paper given November 2002 at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Salt Lake City, UT.

"'Drinking the Koolaid:' The Cultural Transformation of a Tragedy." Paper given March 2002 at the Western Regional American Academy of Religion, Moraga, CA.

"Reconstructing Reality: Conspiracy Theories and Jonestown." Paper given March 2001 at the Western Regional American Academy of Religion, Claremont, CA.

"The Four Daughters of God: Jewish Influences on Christian Interpretation of Psalm 85. " Paper given November 2000 at the Society for Biblical Literature, Nashville, TN.

"Against the Tradition: Hugh of St. Victor and the Efficacy of Sacraments before the Incarnation," Paper given May 2000 at the 35th International Congress of Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI.

"The State of the Question in Jonestown Research: Is the Canon on Jonestown Closing?" Paper given November 1999 at the American Academy of Religion, Boston, MA.

"Henri de Lubac and Hugh of St. Victor: A Cautionary Tale," Paper given May 1999 at the 34th International Congress of Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI.

"Evaluating the Intelligence Gathered on Peoples Temple Before 18 November 1978," Paper written for June 1999 conference on "Millennialism and Jerusalem at 2000: The Local-Global Challenges that Apocalyptic Traditions Pose to Civil Society," Jerusalem, Israel.

"Unexamined Questions About Peoples Temple," Paper given November 1998 at the American Academy of Religion, Orlando, FL.

"Sigebert of Gembloux and the Jews: A Short Course in Historiography," Paper given May 1998 at the 33rd International Congress of Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI.

"Hugh of St. Victor and In Threnos Ieremiae," Paper given May 1997 at the 32nd International Congress of Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI.

"The Jews in World History According to Hugh of St. Victor," Paper given May 1996 at the 31st International Congress of Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI.

"Uses of the Patrologia Latina Database in Research on Hugh of St. Victor," Paper given April 1995 at the American Catholic Historical Association Spring Meeting, Milwaukee, WI.

 "Twelfth‑Century Curricula and the Seven Liberal Arts: A New Approach to the Debate over Chartres," Paper given September 1994 at the Medieval Association of the Midwest, Emporia, KS.

"Christian and Jewish Interpretations of Genesis 1:26‑27: Dialogue and Polemic in Twelfth Century Exegesis," Paper given November 1993 at the Society for Biblical Literature, Washington, DC.

 

GRANTS RECEIVED

 

Spring 2008 National Endowment for the Humanities, “The History of War and Peace in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,” a Faculty Humanities Workshop for Secondary School History and English Teachers, co-author, $29,982

Spring 2008 President’s Leadership Fund, “MAPP (Metropolitan Area Pluralism Project,” $11,406

Spring 2001    California State University, Judaic Studies Consortium, "Jewish and Christian Origins Online Course," $5000.

Fall 2000         CAL MicroGrant awarded for "Editorship of Nova Religio," $450.

Spring 2000    Office of International Programs, "Study Travel to Israel," $5000.

Spring 2000    Lawrence Baron Fund for Ethics in Education, "Jewish and Christian Origins" Course, $3000.

 

UNIVERSITY and DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEES

 

2007-2008 Member, University Senate Task Force on Retention, Tenure, and Promotion

2007-present Chair, Faculty Affairs Committee of the University Senate

2006-present   Chair, Department of Religious Studies, San Diego State University

2006-2007       Committee on Committees, University Senate Committee member

2006                Chair, Periodic Review Committee, Department of Religious Studies

2006                Chair, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department of Religious Studies

2005-present   University Senate Representative for CAL

2005                CAL Building Committee Member

2005                Chair, Periodic Review Committee, Department of Religious Studies

2005                Search Committee Member, Department of Religious Studies

2004                Search Committee Member, Department of Religious Studies

2004                Review Committee Member for Selma Reed Evaluation

2004                Awards Committee Member, Advising and Evaluations Department

2002                Search Committee Member, Department of Religious Studies

2002                Search Committee Member, Division of Undergraduate Studies

2002-present   Interviewer, Preprofessional Health Student Evaluation Committee

2001                Search Committee Member, Department of Religious Studies

2000-present   Library Representative, Department of Religious Studies, San Diego State University.

2000-2006       Academic Advisor, Department of Religious Studies, San Diego State University.

1999-present   Member, Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies, Executive Committee, San Diego State University.

 

 

SERVICE TO UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY

 

2008                “A Christian Nation? Religion and Politics in the United States,” presentation at OASIS, adult education program, August 13, San Diego

2008                “Religion and Politics: Must They be Separate,” Moderator, Debate sponsored by Humanist Fellowship of San Diego, 27 July, San Diego

2008                “The Sacred and the Profane in Wilson Harris’ Jonestown,” Presentation given at Crsis Carnival 2008, 20 March, San Diego State University

2008                “Religion in America: Our Society, Our Politics,” Presentation given at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, 14 March, San Diego State University

2008                “A Portable God,” presentation given to Congregation Dor Hadash, 14 March, San Diego

2008                “Parents or Children? The Origins of Judaism and Christianity,” presentation given to the Senior Center, Beth Jacobs Synagogue, 24 January, San Diego

2007                “A Portable God: The Origin of Judaism and Christianity,” the 22nd Annual Robert Siegel Memorial Lecture, at the San Diego Jewish Book Fair, 4 November, La Jolla

2007                “Cross-Cultural Forms of Memorialization,” presentation for “Funerary,” an exhibit of funerary art at the Sharp Gallery, 2 November, San Diego

2007                “Does God Have a Sense of Humor,” panel discussion for “The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged),” San Diego Repertory Theatre, 25 October, San Diego

2007                "The Secular Divide: Where Religion Meets Humanism," presentation to the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego, August 12, San Diego

2007                "Paul the Jew," presentation given at Torrey Pines Christian Church, August 9, La Jolla

2007                "Jesus the Jew," presentation given at Torrey Pines Christian Church, August 8, La Jolla

2007                "The Global Culture of Hellenism," "Judaic Religions in the First Centuries B.C.E. and C.E.," and "The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Origins," lectures given at three-day seminar on "Rediscovering the Dead Sea Scrolls," for the Biblical Archaeology Society, 3-5 August

2007                "Gnosticism, II: The Judas Gospel," presentation at OASIS, adult education program, April 19, San Diego

2007                "Gnosticism, I: Fact and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code," presentation at OASIS, adult education program, April 12, San Diego

2007                "Jesus the Jew," presentation at OASIS, adult education program, April 11, Escondido

2007                "Jesus the Jew," presentation at OASIS, adult education program, April 2, San Diego

2007                "The Gnostic Gospels," three-week course at San Diego School for Christian Studies, March 8, 15, 22, San Diego

2007                "Academic Study and Thematic Approaches to Teaching About World Religion in Public Schools," presentation at two-day symposium on Teaching About World Religions in Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, February 27, Downey, California

2007                "When in Rome: Jews and Christians in the Roman Empire," presentation at OASIS, adult education program, January 12, San Diego

2006                "Christianity," presentation at Conference on Teaching About World Religions in Public Schools, co-sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education, in collaboration with the California 3R's Project, the International Studies Education Project, and the Department of Religious Studies at SDSU, November 7.

2006                "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple," dir. Stanley Nelson, panel member for post-film discussion October 28, Los Angeles

2006                "Revisiting Jonestown Three Decades Later," presentation to class on New Religions, October 24, University of California, Riverside

2006                "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple," dir. Stanley Nelson, panel member for post-film discussion October 12 at University of California, Los Angeles

2006                Organizer and host, CESNUR Conference, an international conference for scholars studying new religions, July 13-16, San Diego State University

2006                "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple," dir. Stanley Nelson, moderator, panel discussion on film at San Diego State University, July 13, San Diego

2006                "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple," dir. Stanley Nelson, panel member for post-film discussion at Los Angeles International Film Festival, June 26, Los Angeles

2006                "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple," dir. Stanley Nelson, panel member for post-film discussion at world premiere, January 22, Salt Lake City, Utah

2006                "The Judas Gospel," June 17, lecture for Temple Emanu-El, San Diego

2006                "When in Rome: Jews and Christians in the Roman Empire," May 26, lecture at the Senior Citizens Center, Beth Jacobs Synagogue, San Diego

2006                "Violence in Early Judaism and Christianity: Jewish Nationalism and Constantinian Christianity," paper presented at the Conference on Violent Religious Extremism, sponsored by the FBI Counterterrorism Division, Counterterrorism Analysis Section, May 3-4, McLean, Virginia

2006                "Exploring Jewish and Christian Origins: Varieties of Beliefs and Practices 200 B.C.E. – 200 C.E.," three lectures given for the Biblical Archeology Society, April 27-29, San Diego.

2006                "Classroom Politics and Teaching Controversy," April 13, panel discussion at the National Conference on Academic Freedom, University of California, San Diego.

2006                "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple," January 22, panel discussion on Peoples Temple, Salt Lake City

2005                "Beyond Belief: Religious Commitment and Extremism," May 21, moderator for panel as part of The Peoples Temple Dialogues, Berkeley Repertory Theater

2005                "Descendants of Abraham: Panel Discussion," May 18, for Agency for Jewish Education

2005                "Who Wrote the New Testament?" 3, 10, 17 March, three-week lecture series for San Diego School of Christian Studies

2005                "Jesus the Rabbi," 17 February, lecture at the Senior Citizens Center, Beth Jacobs Synagogue

2005                "Peter, Paul, and Mary: The Formation of Early Christianity," 15 December, for lecture series on "Descendents of Abraham: The Common Roots of 3 Great Religions," for Agency for Jewish Education

2004                "Jesus the Rabbi," 17 November, for lecture series on "Descendents of Abraham: The Common Roots of 3 Great Religions," for Agency for Jewish Education

2004                "SDSU Family Weekend," 15 October, interviewer of Guest Lecturer Ann Fadiman

2004                "The Journey of Abraham," 9 September, panel member for "Stories of Faith" series sponsored by San Diego Public Library

2004                "Origins of Judaism and Christianity," 16 August, The Sillman Series, La Vida Real Senior Center

2004                "Bringing the Word to the People: The Evolution of the Bible as a Book," 26 May, San Diego Public Library, Wangenheim Room Exhibit Lecture

2004                "Jewish and Christian Origins, " April-May, Agency for Jewish Education, two 4-week courses co-taught with Professor Risa  Levitt Kohn

2004                "Fanatics, Fundamentalists, and the Future of Religion," 21 April, presentation to the Heritage Society and the Tower Society, San Diego State University

2004                "Religious Views of Same-Sex Marriage," 18 March, panel sponsored by the Society of Gay-Lesbian Journalists and the Association of Asian Journalists, San Diego Union-Tribune

2004                "The Passion and the Gospels," 11 March, presentation to Navajo Interfaith Clergy Association

2004                "The Gospel According to Mel Gibson," 11 March, panel presentation at California State University, San Marcos

2004                "From Jesus to The Passion of Mel: The History of Jewish-Christian Relations in the New Testament," 1 March, San Diego Agency for Jewish Education

2004                "The Gospel According to Mel Gibson: Historical and Religious Perspectives on The Passion, 1 March, Forum co-sponsored by SDSU History Department, SDSU Religious Studies Department, and the Lipinsky Institute

2004                "Jonestown and the Conflictual Model," 12 February, presentation to POL S 370 Political Violcence, taught by Prof. Dipak Gupta

2004                "From Jesus to Mel (Gibson): 2000 Years of Jewish and Christian Relations," 8 February, Temple Adat Shalom

2003                "Building Bridges of Understanding: An Interfaith Response to September 11th," 1, 8, 15, 22 October, at La Mesa United Church of Christ

2003                "Teaching Faculty Experience," 21 August, presentation to New Faculty Orientation for the Love Library

2003                "Jonestown in California History," 23 April, presentation to HIST 445 California History Since Statehood, taught by John Putman

2003                "Jonestown and Religious Violence," 12 March, presentation to RelS 379 Religious Violence and Nonviolence," taught by Linda Holler

2003                "Jewish and Christian Origins, " 6-27 March, San Diego School of Christian Studies, 4-week course co-taught with Professor Risa Levitt Kohn

2003                "Fundamentalism, Modernism, and a Post-Modern Future," 24 February, Biever Guest Lecturer at Loyola University, New Orleans

2002                "Jonestown in California History," 2 December, presentation to HIST 445 California History Since Statehood, taught by John Putman

2002-present   Associate Editorial Board Member, New Religious Movements Website (http://www.religiousmovements.org)

2002                "Jews and Christians: A Troubled History," 20 September, OASIS presentation to older adults at Robinsons-May Company, Mission Valley

2002                "New Religions in San Diego," guest appears on KPBS' "These Days," 20 August

2002                Preprofessional Health Advisory Committee, San Diego State University

2002                "Religion and Revolution," 20 February, Society for the Academic Study of Religion

2002                "Fundamentalism and the Abrahamic Faiths," 13 February, Lipinsky Institute Lecture, San Diego State University

2001                "Harmony Through Understanding: Christianity," 29 November, Hewlett-Packard

2001                "After September 11th: Reflecting on the Past, Imagining the Future," 12 November, co-organizer and facilitator of SDSU teach-in

2001                Faculty Evaluation Committee for CUHRE (Collegiate Union for Health Related Education)

2001                "The Disputation," 4 April, Lipinsky Institute Lecture, San Diego State University

2001                "Origins of Satan," 28 February, Lecture to the Society for the Academic Study of Religion, San Diego State University

2001-present   Technical Advisor, After Jonestown, a documentary film produced by Paul VanDeCarr and Pamela Harris, San Francisco

2001-present   Technical Advisor, The Jonestown Project, a theatrical production commissioned by The Z Space, San Francisco

2001-present   Co-General Editor, Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions

2000-present   Associate Editor, Luther Digest, published annually by the Luther Academy (USA), St. Louis, Missouri

2000                "Jewish Influences on Christian Biblical Interpretation," 8 November, Lipinsky Institute Lecture, San Diego State University

2000                "Personal Reflections on Jonestown and New Religious Movements," and "New Religious Movements and Their Opponents: A Deadly Combination," Wright Lecturer, 28 February, Morningside College, Sioux City, IA

2000                "Religious Ethics," 8 February, Guest Lecturer, Honors Seminar, Thurgood Marshall College, University of California San Diego

1999                "Martin Luther: Friend and Foe of Women and Jews," 28 October, German Club Colloquium, San Diego State University

1999                "Jews in Christian Apocalyptic Thinking," 20 October, Lipinsky Institute Lecture, San Diego State University

1999                "Millennium Fever," October-November, four-week course taught at San Diego School of Christian Studies, First United Methodist Church, San Diego, CA

1999-present   Lecturer (quarterly), "The Challengers Adult Education Class," First United Methodist Church, San Diego

1998-present   Site Manager and Organizer, "Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple," http://jonestown.sdsu.edu

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

 

American Academy of Religion

            AAR New Religious Movements Group, Steering Committee, 2002-present

            AAR Millennial Studies Group, Panel Respondent, November 2000, Nashville TN

AAR New Religious Movements Group, Co-author of survey report on millennial violence, November 1999

AAR New Religious Movements Group, Consultant with FBI on New Religious Movements, 1998-2000

American Academy of Religion, Western Region

            Regional Representative, 2005-present

            Section Co-Chair, Religion in America 2001-2005,2008-present

Society for the Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages, 1996-2001 President 2000-2001

Society of Biblical Literature, Steering Committee, Section on History of Interpretation, 1997-2001

 

 

THESIS READER, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

 

Rosemary Benya, M.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (Thesis Committee Chair) (in progress), “Cultural Diversity and End of Life Issues: Critical Care in a Hospital Setting”

Kimberly Scott, M.A. Anthropology (in progress)

Lindsay Spikula, M.A. History (in progress)

Kelly Crampton, M.A. History (in progress), “Savior on the Silent Screen: The King of Kings and American Culture”

Marci Nielsen, M.A. History (in progress)

Ryan Treff, M.A. Sociology (in progress)

Marie Soriano, M.A. English Literature (in progress)

Marianne Castellaw, M.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (in progress)

Antonio Eduardo Acevedo, M.A. History (2007), "A Time for War and a Time for Peace: Evolving Ideals of Peace and Violence in Lactantius"

Mae Halleck, M.A. Latin American Studies (2007), Thesis Committee Examiner

Darren Iammarino, M.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (2006), (Thesis Committee Chair), "Creating An Enriched Hermeneutic of Ultimate Reality and the Aim of Life: An Integration of the Philosophies of Alfred Whitehead and Mencius."  

Lisa N. Miller, M.A. History (2005), "Gnostic Women and Heresy: Identifying the Nature of the Gnostics' Heresy from the Second to the Fourth Centuries" 

Eric D. Wilson, M.A. Philosophy (2005), "On the Impossibility of all Theoretical Proofs for the Existence of God"

Timothy Collins, M.A. Philosophy (2005), "Wilderness and Morality: The Relationship Between Animal Welfare Theory and Environmental Ethics"

Lisa Randall, M.A. Gerontology (2005), "Existing and Potential Health Promotion Service in San Diego: A Survey of Religious Institutions"

John D. Ford, M.A. English (2005), "A Quiet, Disquieting Presence: The Politics of the New Assembly of the Thessalonians"

Jessie Woolley, M.A., Rhetoric and Writing Studies (2004) "Empowering Students and Teachers with Religious Worldviews in the Writing Classroom"

Barbara Fish, M.A. Linguistics (2003), "'God said, "Let There be Light," and There was Light': A Speech Act Theory Analysis of Biblical Miracles"

Harvey Rocky Silvers, M.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (2003), "Two Sixteenth-Century Women of Valor: An Imaginary Dialogue" (Chair)

Carolyn Passig Jensen, M.A. Rhetoric and Writing (2003), "The Spiritual and Feminist Rhetoric of Hester Ann Rogers, An Early Methodist"

Joshua T. Hermsmeier, M.A. History (2002), "Black Power and the White Church: The United Presbyterian Church United States of America Responds to the 'Black Manifesto'"

Shana A. Heinricy, M.A. Communication (2002), "Searching for Enlightenment in a Yoga Ashram: The Complexities of Self-Disclosure"

Melissa B. Gentzkow, M.A. Communication (2000), "Pastoral Immediacy as a Predictor of Pastoral Effectiveness"