Max K. Strassfeld on the importance of religious studies:
"As a scholar of trans studies and religion, it is clear to me that the current moment demands nuanced, critical, and complex analyses about the role gender and religion are playing in our political lives."
#TalkAboutHumanities
Anne Hathaway bought the rights to a novel about a tradwife influencer who wakes up in 1855 and has to actually live the life she's been selling online. The book is called Yesteryear. It came out 3 days ago. The film rights were already sold to Hathaway, who will produce and star.
Holy shit, I have NEVER been more excited for a movie.
Headline: We Need Humanities Research. "Society needs specialized humanities research—research that delves deeply into literary, linguistic, or cultural topics. Just as medical research cannot progress without basic scientific research, so social and cultural criticism needs deep research before it can 'go public.'" Paula M. Krebs, Executive Director, MLA; Modern Language Association logo, #TalkAboutHumanities
"Society needs specialized humanities research—research that delves deeply into literary, linguistic, or cultural topics," says @paulakrebs.bsky.social. We need to invest in humanities research for the advancement of society. #TalkAboutHumanities
Emilie M. Townes on why we need more ethicists:
“More often than not, when someone finds out I am a college professor and asks what I teach, and I reply ‘ethics,’ there is a roll of the eyes and a somewhat hopeful sigh.
They then say, ‘Oh, we need you today!’ Exactly.”
#TalkAboutHumanities
south Asian man sitting in chair; wearing navy suit, white button down shirt, and tan/blush colored turban; same quote as used in the caption
Simran Jeet Singh on why we need more scholars of religion:
“We need more religious studies scholars because every major conflict in the world today has a religious dimension — and you can't solve what you don't understand.
#TalkAboutHumanities @acls1919.bsky.social
"New Data: Most Republicans Now Hold a Favorable View of Christian Nationalism"
"Holding a favorable view of the term “Christian nationalism” is strongly correlated with holding racist conspiracy theories toward immigrants and support for concentration camps on U.S. soil."
Thanks, Robert P. Jones
"The problem with the Trump administration isn’t merely the indiscriminate use of religious expression in political speech, it’s the way it’s used, stripped of its integrity and returned as a tool of humiliation."
"It’s easier to censor critical thinking about society on the charge that it’s “woke” than to seek to understand how society operates – for good and for ill." www.acls.org/news/communi...
On Tuesday, March 3 at 12 PM ET, join us for “Representing Religion in Museums,” the second webinAAR in our “Religion and America at 250” series that engages central questions around the intersection of religion, America, and the 250th anniversary of the United States: aarweb.org/event/repres...
"It’s very concerning that sanctions continue to have such a broad deterrent effect on speech that is undoubtedly protected by the first amendment,”
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Register now! Featuring panelists including @robertpjones.bsky.social, @chiprotolo.bsky.social, and Kathleen Sands!
The 2026 AAR Book Awards cycle is now open and you will notice several changes we’ve made to the program to clarify and expand our book award categories, including a new award category, Best Work in Applied, Public, or Pedagogical Approaches. Apply by March 9: aarweb.org/news/2026-bo...
Andrew Mark Henry wins the 2026 Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion. Dr. Henry is creator and host of 'Religion for Breakfast' (youtube) and founder of the community, The Religion Department. Congratulations! aarweb.org/news/andrew-...
Emily Bailey of Towson University is the 2026 recipient of the AAR Katie Geneva Cannon Excellence in Teaching Award. Congratulations! aarweb.org/news/emily-b...
“The Church of Stop Shopping” with William Talen as the Reverend Billy, directed by Savitri D, is the 2026 Winner of the AAR Religion and the Arts Award. Congratulations! revbilly.com www.instagram.com/revbillytalen/ (photo: John Quilty) aarweb.org/news/church-...
Join us for "Religion and America at 250," an AAR webinAAR series that will engage central questions around the meaning of religion, the meaning of America, and the intersections of those terms, with special consideration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. aarweb.org/events/event...
AAR exists to support spaces in which members convene, network, and flourish. The values we uphold — academic freedom, critical inquiry, diversity, inclusion, and transparency — are under attack.
To continue to exist is to resist, and we need your support.
We are more than two-thirds of the way toward our fundraising goal, and we hope that today, on #GivingTuesday, we can collectively push past the finish line. AAR exists for our members and is sustained by our members. We ask for your support to ensure AAR’s future. Donate now: aarweb.org
Home Depot wanted holiday cheer, got a whole-ass choir calling out their partnership with ICE instead…
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.
With Liberty and Justice For All: Recentering Our Work as Scholars of Religion
Standing from left to right: Emilie Townes, Megan Robb, Jacob Robinson.
Wonderful introduction by Megan Robb and great organizing by Jacob Robinson.
Emilie Townes seated behind a table speaking into a microphone, pointing with her right hand.
Dr. Emilie Townes delivers the final lecture in the 2025 series of the American Lectures in the History of Religion. Brilliant lecture, thoughful discussion, and genuine engagement. What a pleasure and privilege to learn from her.
I hate to ask, but what is the next stage (and how can we hide from it?)
For anyone who knows Melissa Wilcox and/or her work, please consider supporting her and her family during this critical time.
As part of the Fall Fridays Scholarship WebinAAR Series, this webinar examines the complex relationship between modern universities and academic theology in the 19th century, and its implications for the study of religion in 21st century universities. Register now: aarweb.org/event/theolo...
