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McMaster Religious Studies

@mcmasterreligion.bsky.social
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The Department of Religious Studies at McMaster University, the oldest graduate program in religious studies in Canada.

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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Congratulations to Josh Ereshefsky on successfully defending his dissertation, “The Mount Sumeru Cosmos: Japanese Buddhist Apologetics in Bukkoku rekishōhen!,” written under the supervision of James Benn. Well done, Dr. Ereshefsky!
Announcement celebrating Joshua Ereshevsky's successful dissertation defense, showing a smiling headshot of Joshua, the dissertation title "The Mount Sumeru Cosmos: Japanese Buddhist Apologetics in Bukkoku rekishōhen," and McMaster University/department branding."About the research" banner over an antique Japanese map.
The text reads: “The Mount Sumeru Cosmos: Japanese Buddhist Apologetics in Bukkoku rekishōhen” explores the Buddhist Mount Sumeru cosmos—a flat world centered on a towering mountain and orbited by celestial bodies—and the Japanese monk Fumon Entsū (1754–1834), who fought to prove its physical reality. 

In 1810, Entsū published a five-volume work using detailed calculations, diagrams, and arguments to validate this ancient vision of the universe. Rather than inventing new theories, Entsū argued that he was recovering the true description of the cosmos according to early Buddhist scriptures. 

This project traces the presence of Mount Sumeru imagery in Japanese Buddhism, the arrival of Christian-European astronomy, and Entsū’s subsequent defense of the Buddhist cosmos. Particular attention is given to Entsū’s astronomical explanations, examined here in new detail—accounting, for example, for daily and seasonal changes in sunlight
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
SAVE THE DATES! The Department of Religious Studies is hosting (and co-hosting) an excellent range of public talks, guest lectures, workshops, and information sessions in the coming weeks. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more updates. Questions? Send us an email at askrs@mcmaster.ca
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Anne Létourneau from Université de Montréal for a guest lecture titled "Shared Agency and Affect: Women and Companion Species in the Hebrew Bible." 📆 Friday, Nov. 26 @ 1:30 p.m. 📍 UH 122 This event is open to the McMaster community. No registration required.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
On October 13th, Ellen Amster will give the keynote address entitled “What about Tuskegee? Reckoning with Histories of Race and Colonialism in Public Health and Medicine" for the Public Health Speaker Series here at McMaster University. See attached poster for how to attend!
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Check out Miriam DeCock's (Ph.D. 2019) latest article (co-written with Katarina Pålsson), "Exegesis and Ascesis: Origen and Jerome on the Ideal Scriptural Exegete," out in Vigiliae Christianae! brill.com/view/journal...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Online Book Launch of Eileen Schuller and Carol Newsom's The Thanksgiving Scroll, the newest volume of The Oxford Commentary on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Register for the 1-hour event, which will take place over Zoom on 13 October, 2026, 11am EDT/4pm BST/6pm IDT. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Congratulations to Catherine Sweet (MA 2005) on the publication of her article, “Considerations of equity and ethics in telerehabilitation for speech and language pathology: A rapid review” in Digital Health! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Yesterday, grad students, staff, and faculty enjoyed the inaugural Bread Break, enjoying good conversation, along with some local bread, cheese, and jam!
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Yesterday, Hanna Tervanotko and Jeremy Cohen led a group of students and faculty on a trip to Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, ON. There they toured the Church of St. Joseph, saw the relics of the Canadian Martyrs, including the skull of St. Jean de Brébeuf, and visited Our Lady Undoer of Knots Grotto.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Congratulations to Katharine Fitzgerald (PhD 2023) on the publication of her book, Women in Greco-Roman Jewish Novels (300 BCE–100 CE)! sheffieldphoenix.com/product/wome...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Adele Reinhartz (PhD 1983), Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa, recently published an article entitled “Shared Scriptures, Shared Questions: Jewish Readings of the Christian Testament” in the Irish Theological Quarterly. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Check out Janine Nicol’s very positive review of Stephanie Balkwill’s (PhD 2015) 2024 book, The Women Who Ruled China: Buddhism, Multiculturalism, and Governance in the Sixth Century! journal.equinoxpub.com/BSR/article/...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Justin Klassen (Ph.D. 2009) reflects on the abiding significance of Wendell Berry, who passed away on August 31, 2026, in The “Indispensable Justice” of Vocation: Remembering Wendell Berry. vocationmatters.org/2026/09/22/t...
vocationmatters.org
The “Indispensable Justice” of Vocation: Remembering Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry, who died at 92, was a profound thinker advocating for a redefined understanding of work, economy, and personal calling. His insights emphasize the importance of affection and meaning…
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Check out current PhD student Amir Abbas Salehi's new article, "Mediated Legitimacy and the Recalibration of Religious Authority in Post-2022 Iran," in a special issue of *Religions* devoted to the topic of Religion and Media Cultures in the Digital Public Sphere! www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/17...
mdpi.com
Mediated Legitimacy and the Recalibration of Religious Authority in Post-2022 Iran
This article develops the concept of mediated legitimacy to examine how Shiʿi religious authority becomes credible, fragile, or contestable under platformed conditions in post-2022 Iran. Rather than…
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Check out Ali Imrie’s (BA 2017; Osgoode JD 2022) latest article, “Prov[ing] What You Already Know’: The Overreliance on Medical Evidence in Adjudicating Ontario Disability Support Program Applications,” in the Journal of Law and Social Policy! digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/jlsp/vol38/i...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Congrats to Benjamin Goldstein on successfully defending his dissertation, “Weaving Lifetimes Together,” an intertextual study of Jātaka anthologies composed by Tibetan masters that investigates the transmission of the Indian Buddhist narrative universe into Tibet. Well done, Dr. Goldstein!
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Reposted by McMaster Religious Studies
Matt Thiessen @mattthiessen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The average class size for Religious Studies at McMaster this Fall is 97 students/class! The kids know Religious Studies isn't dead or irrelevant.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Eileen Schuller (Professor Emerita) recently participated in an online panel review of Rebecca L. Harris’s Religious Experience and Divinization in the Sectarian Dead Sea Scrolls, which was hosted by the Catholic Biblical Association!
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Max Kennel’s (PhD 2021) book, Ontologies of Violence, is the subject of an online symposium hosted by Syndicate. You can read the thorough interactions with the book and Max’s responses to those interactions here: syndicate.network/symposia/the...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Shayne Clarke recently presented “Preliminary Observations on a Tibetan Verse Anthology: Bsod nams rin chen’s Las kyi me long,” at Workshop: Texts surrounding the Vinayapiṭaka hosted by the University of Tokyo.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Congratulations to Adrienne Tondreau on successfully defending her MA thesis (supervised by Dr. Hanna Tervanotko) entitled “The Martyr Saint Munditia: Women’s Veneration of a Female Catacomb Saint”!
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Liyakat Takim reflects on the question, "Where was God on 9/11?" broadview.org/where-was-go...
broadview.org
Where was God on 9/11? | Broadview Magazine
A Muslim scholar reflects on tragedy, faith and the unexpected acts of compassion between people
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Wishing all students, staff, and faculty a great start to Academic Year 2026-2027!
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Current PhD student Pema Sherpa recently presented “Reconstruction of the Biography of Mtsho sna na (Tsonawa) Shes rab bzang po (Sherap Zangpo)” at International Association of Tibetan Studies.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Shayne Clarke recently presented “On an Unnoticed Tibetan Sūtra Translation from Chinese: The ’Phags pa tshul khrims nyams pa’i rnam par smin pa lci yang bstan pa’i mdo and its Chinese Source (犯戒罪報輕重經)” at the International Symposium: The Forefront of Buddhist Vinaya Studies at Otani University.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
MA student Ryan Brown was just awarded a Tanaka Fund Grant! This grant will allow Ryan to conduct an ethnographic study of the pilgrimage to Ikeyama Shrine, a mountain Shintō shrine in rural Muroto, Kōchi Prefecture, where rain prayer rituals are central to local religious life.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
You can read his article here: thecjbs.org/wp-content/u...
thecjbs.org
https://thecjbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Benn_Reflections-on-Teaching-Graduate-Seminars_20.pdf
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
James Benn recently contributed an article entitled “Reflections on Teaching Graduate Seminars in Buddhism and East Asian Religions at McMaster University” to a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada....
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
A warm welcome to Dr. Rine Vieth (McGill PhD), who will join the Department of Religious Studies on a Contractually Limited Appointment as assistant professor! You can learn more about their research here: rinevieth.com
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
You can read her article here: thecjbs.org/wp-content/u...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Yongshan He (MA, University of Toronto PhD, 2024), assistant prof. at the University of Winnipeg, contributed an article entitled “In-class Micro Experiential Activities for Buddhism Courses” to an issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Adele Reinhartz (PhD 1983) recently published a fascinating article on Mircea Eliade, “Should Eliade Be Canceled? A Response to Bruce Lincoln’s Secrets, Lies, and Consequences,” in History of Religions! Read it here: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Chris Jensen (PhD 2019) just edited a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies, focusing on teaching Buddhism in Canada. You can read his editor’s introduction, “Buddhist Studies Pedagogy in Contemporary Canada—A Snapshot of the State of the Field": thecjbs.org/wp-content/u...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Congratulations to Eileen Schuller (Professor Emerita) on the publication of her book (co-written with Carol Newsom) The Thanksgiving Scroll in the Oxford Commentary on the Dead Sea Scrolls Series! global.oup.com/academic/pro...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Congratulations to Lan Li (PhD 2024) on being appointed co-editor for The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies! thecjbs.org
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Congratulations to Matthew Walsh (PhD 2016) on being appointed to the Payzant Chair of Biblical Studies at Acadia Divinity College.
acadiadiv.ca
Dr. Matthew Walsh Appointed to the Payzant Chair of Biblical Studies - Acadia Divinity College
Acadia Divinity College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Matthew Walsh to the Payzant Chair of Biblical Studies.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Check out Michael Gabizon’s (PhD 2022) recent article, “Stay Together for the Kids: Paul on Mixed Unions and Their Children in 1 Cor 7:12–16” in A Hebrew of Hebrews: Exploring Pauline Theology Within and Beyond Judaism . wipfandstock.com/979838522393...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Marc Lagace (PhD 2025) recently published a profile for the World Religions and Spirituality Project on the Science of Identity Foundation: wrldrels.org/2026/08/09/s...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Congratulations to Fady Mekhael (PhD 2024) on being appointed research fellow at McMaster Divinity College for the 2026–2027 academic year! mcmasterdivinity.ca/news/four-sc...
mcmasterdivinity.ca
Four scholars join the Research Fellowship program | McMaster Divinity College
MDC is delighted to welcome four new research fellows for the 2026–2027 academic year. Beginning in September, these fellows will
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Congratulations to James Benn on being awarded a SSHRC Insight Grant over six years for his project entitled “Locating Chinese Religions in the Verse of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE)”!
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Congratulations to Adele Reinhartz (PhD 1983) on being elected president of the Society for New Testament Studies. Her presidential address, which she delivered at the annual meeting, was entitled “Old Wine into New Wineskins? The New Testament and/within Jewish Studies.”
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Michael Johnson (PhD 2019), together with Noam Mizrahi, co-edited a special issue of the Journal of Ancient Judaism dedicated to Susanna and the Elders today. Check it out here: brill.com/view/journal...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Congratulations to Anne Crosby, who successfully defended her dissertation, “Spirit Writing and Technological Innovation at Taiwan’s Beigang Wude Gong,” yesterday. Congratulations, *Dr.* Crosby!
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Matthew Trafford (MA 2023) reviews John Gray’s The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism for the Philosophical Inquiry in Education. www.erudit.org/en/journals/...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Congrats to Andy Perrin (PhD 2013) on being awarded a SSHRC Insight Grant for a new research project, "Daniel in Ancient Jewish Scribal Imagination"! The project will re-examine the formation, development, and shape of the Daniel tradition in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls discoveries at Qumran.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
PhD student Xiaowen Zhou presented a paper entitled “The Demons Within: Reinterpreting the Fifteen Demon-Deities in Late Ming Jiangnan” at the Asian Studies Conference Japan (ASCJ) 2026, held at Sophia University in Tokyo in early July.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Check out Ralph Korner's (PhD 2014) newest essay, “Paul’s Ekklēsia Communities: Are They Imitative or Transgressive of Dēmokratia in the Greek East?” in Early Christianity in Civic Space! www.peeters-leuven.be/detail.php?s...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Marwan El Gaddafi, a doctoral student in Religious Studies, has just published an article, “Québec’s Bill 9 doesn’t just ban symbols — it bans obligations,” in The Conversation: theconversation.com/quebecs-bill...
theconversation.com
Québec’s Bill 9 doesn’t just ban symbols — it bans obligations
Québec’s Bill 9 demands the public sphere be free of visible religion, even when expressions of religion take are obligations its adherents cannot set aside.
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Check out Ralph Korner’s (PhD 2014) recently published essay, “Is the Grandson of Ben Sira the Tendentious Translator of LXX Isaiah 23–27 into an Actualized Prophecy that is an Ideological Critique of Ptolemaic Oniad and Seleucid Worldviews?” www.peeters-leuven.be/detail.php?s...
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McMaster Religious Studies @mcmasterreligion.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Congratulations to Marc Lodge Andrew Lagace (PhD 2025) on the publication of his book, Hare Krishna in China, in the Routledge Religion in Contemporary Asia Series! www.routledge.com/Hare-Krishna...
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