The Department of Religious Studies offers Richmond students the opportunity to study a broad range of religions from an academic perspective.
Our faculty and staff reject racial bias, hate speech, religious intolerance, and all other expressions of bigotry. The academic study of religion promotes a community founded on the values of inclusivity, equity, and diversity. Religious Studies courses help students understand the complex and sometimes volatile relations of difference, and we model substantive intellectual responses to it.
Faculty Highlights
- Kelly Published
Will Kelly ’07, Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, recently published How Prophecy Works:A Study of the Semantic Field of נביא and a Close Reading of Jeremiah 1:4–19, 23:9–40 and 27:1–28:17 through Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
- Cobb Published
Stephanie Cobb, Program Coordinator, Jewish Studies, recently published Suicide by Gladiator? The Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas in its North African Context by Cambridge University Press.
- Geaney Published
Jane Geaney, Professor of Religious Studies, published Language as Bodily Practice in Early China. Geaney offers new insights into three key themes: the notion of speakers’ intentions, the physical process of emulating exemplary people, and Confucius’s proposal to rectify names.
- Winiarski Awarded
Dr. Douglas L. Winiarski, Chair and Professor of Religious Studies and Professor of American Studies, recently won an essay award from the Communal Studies Association for his article, "Seized by the Jerks."
- Hanaoka Awarded Dr. Mimi Hanaoka has been awarded a Social Science Research Council Transregional Research Junior Scholar Fellowship: InterAsian Contexts and Connections New Paradigms Grant.
- Hanaoka Awarded Fellowship Dr. Mimi Hanaoka has been awarded a VFIC Mednick Fellowship for her book project, Views of the Asian Other: Educational Reform and Models of Modernity for Japan and Muslim Reformers.
- Eakin Award
Religious studies professor and master of liberal arts program chair Frank Eakin was awarded an Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, a publisher of biographical profiles.
- Winiarski New England Society Book Award
Religious studies and American studies professor Douglas Winiarski has been awarded a 2018 Book Award for nonfiction by The New England Society for his work, Darkness Falls on the Land of Light: Experiencing Religious Awakenings in Eighteenth-Century New England.
- Winiarski Book Wins Bancroft Prize
Religious studies professor Doug Winiarski's book Darkness Falls on the Land of Light: Experiencing Religious Awakenings in Eighteenth-Century New England won the 2018 Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy, presented by Columbia University.
- Winiarski Book Finalist for George Washington Prize
Religious studies professor Doug Winiarski's book, Darkness Falls on the Land of Light Experiencing Religious Awakenings in Eighteenth-Century New England, was named one of seven finalists for the 2018 George Washington Prize.
- White Anti-Racism DiscussionMar0812:00 PM - 1:00 PMOur discussion will focus on UR's Inclusive History efforts from a white anti-racist perspective. If possible, please... Continue reading
- Navigating Through Grief: MondaysMar082:15 PM - 3:45 PMA safe place to help manage the grief of losing a loved one (e.g., parent, other family member, friend, etc). Navigating... Continue reading
- CAPS ADHD Skills Program: MondaysMar084:00 PMResearch shows that students with ADHD can learn skills to manage their symptoms and meet their goals. This six-week,... Continue reading
- Local Government Excursion: Richmond City CouncilMar085:30 PM - 7:30 PMRichmond is a vibrant center for city and state government and public policy. UR Downtown is located just a few blocks... Continue reading
- [Virtual] I Had No Idea You Were Black: Navigating Race on the Road to Leadership: A Book Talk with President Ronald A. CrutcherMar085:30 PMJoin President Crutcher and Professor Manuella Meyer for this discussion of President Crutcher’s memoir, I Had No... Continue reading
- Managing Anxiety Program (MAP): Tuesdays and FridaysMar0912:00 AM - 12:00 AMMAP is a structured treatment approach, comprised of three weekly in-session modules, in conjunction with an online... Continue reading
- Spring 2021 Well-being SeminarMar0912:00 PM - 1:00 PMPlease join us for our Virtual Well-Being Seminars to learn ways to manage stress, calm emotions, and... Continue reading
- Spring 2021 Well-being Seminar: TuesdaysMar0912:00 PM - 1:00 PMPlease join us for our Virtual Well-Being Seminars to learn ways to manage stress, calm emotions, and... Continue reading
- Back to Basics: LinkedInMar0912:00 PM - 1:00 PMThe “Back to Basics” series is designed for those who have been in the workforce for a bit (or longer), and... Continue reading
- Survivor Support Group: TuesdaysMar091:00 PM - 2:30 PMThis is an 8-week virtual support group for student survivors of sexual or intimate partner violence. Please email the... Continue reading
Scholarship Repository Readership
The University of Richmond's Scholarship Repository shares faculty publications with a world-wide audience. The map below shows where articles from religion faculty are being read around the globe.
Faculty Highlights
- Kelly Published
Will Kelly ’07, Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, recently published How Prophecy Works:A Study of the Semantic Field of נביא and a Close Reading of Jeremiah 1:4–19, 23:9–40 and 27:1–28:17 through Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
- Cobb Published
Stephanie Cobb, Program Coordinator, Jewish Studies, recently published Suicide by Gladiator? The Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas in its North African Context by Cambridge University Press.
- Geaney Published
Jane Geaney, Professor of Religious Studies, published Language as Bodily Practice in Early China. Geaney offers new insights into three key themes: the notion of speakers’ intentions, the physical process of emulating exemplary people, and Confucius’s proposal to rectify names.
- Winiarski Awarded
Dr. Douglas L. Winiarski, Chair and Professor of Religious Studies and Professor of American Studies, recently won an essay award from the Communal Studies Association for his article, "Seized by the Jerks."
- Hanaoka Awarded Dr. Mimi Hanaoka has been awarded a Social Science Research Council Transregional Research Junior Scholar Fellowship: InterAsian Contexts and Connections New Paradigms Grant.
- Hanaoka Awarded Fellowship Dr. Mimi Hanaoka has been awarded a VFIC Mednick Fellowship for her book project, Views of the Asian Other: Educational Reform and Models of Modernity for Japan and Muslim Reformers.
- Eakin Award
Religious studies professor and master of liberal arts program chair Frank Eakin was awarded an Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, a publisher of biographical profiles.
- Winiarski New England Society Book Award
Religious studies and American studies professor Douglas Winiarski has been awarded a 2018 Book Award for nonfiction by The New England Society for his work, Darkness Falls on the Land of Light: Experiencing Religious Awakenings in Eighteenth-Century New England.
- Winiarski Book Wins Bancroft Prize
Religious studies professor Doug Winiarski's book Darkness Falls on the Land of Light: Experiencing Religious Awakenings in Eighteenth-Century New England won the 2018 Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy, presented by Columbia University.
- Winiarski Book Finalist for George Washington Prize
Religious studies professor Doug Winiarski's book, Darkness Falls on the Land of Light Experiencing Religious Awakenings in Eighteenth-Century New England, was named one of seven finalists for the 2018 George Washington Prize.
Upcoming Courses
- Aristotle & Aquinas: The Ethics
- The Bible as Literature
- Body/Sex in World Religious Literature
- Eco-Religion: Global Perspectives
- Buddhism in Indian & Tibet
- Dead Sea Scrolls: History & Scams
- Gods of the Pharaohs
- History of Israel: Ancient/Modern
- Varieties of Jewish Ethics
- Cultural History of Sex (FYS)
- Devil in the Details (FYS)
Contact Us
Mailing address:
Department of Religious Studies
Weinstein Hall, Room 102
231 Richmond Way
University of Richmond, Virginia 23173
Phone: (804) 289-8325
Fax: (804) 287-6504
Chair: Douglas Winiarski
Administrative Coordinator: Ellen Rozsa
- White Anti-Racism DiscussionMar0812:00 PM - 1:00 PMOur discussion will focus on UR's Inclusive History efforts from a white anti-racist perspective. If possible, please... Continue reading
- Navigating Through Grief: MondaysMar082:15 PM - 3:45 PMA safe place to help manage the grief of losing a loved one (e.g., parent, other family member, friend, etc). Navigating... Continue reading
- CAPS ADHD Skills Program: MondaysMar084:00 PMResearch shows that students with ADHD can learn skills to manage their symptoms and meet their goals. This six-week,... Continue reading
- Local Government Excursion: Richmond City CouncilMar085:30 PM - 7:30 PMRichmond is a vibrant center for city and state government and public policy. UR Downtown is located just a few blocks... Continue reading
- [Virtual] I Had No Idea You Were Black: Navigating Race on the Road to Leadership: A Book Talk with President Ronald A. CrutcherMar085:30 PMJoin President Crutcher and Professor Manuella Meyer for this discussion of President Crutcher’s memoir, I Had No... Continue reading
- Managing Anxiety Program (MAP): Tuesdays and FridaysMar0912:00 AM - 12:00 AMMAP is a structured treatment approach, comprised of three weekly in-session modules, in conjunction with an online... Continue reading
- Spring 2021 Well-being SeminarMar0912:00 PM - 1:00 PMPlease join us for our Virtual Well-Being Seminars to learn ways to manage stress, calm emotions, and... Continue reading
- Spring 2021 Well-being Seminar: TuesdaysMar0912:00 PM - 1:00 PMPlease join us for our Virtual Well-Being Seminars to learn ways to manage stress, calm emotions, and... Continue reading
- Back to Basics: LinkedInMar0912:00 PM - 1:00 PMThe “Back to Basics” series is designed for those who have been in the workforce for a bit (or longer), and... Continue reading
- Survivor Support Group: TuesdaysMar091:00 PM - 2:30 PMThis is an 8-week virtual support group for student survivors of sexual or intimate partner violence. Please email the... Continue reading