I love teaching, whether I am in a classroom at Elon or in less traditional settings.

The courses I teach at Elon cover topics that interest me personally and provide opportunities to consider how religious commitments, ways of thinking, and practices shape our worlds. I’m especially interested in how biblical and early Christian writings impact current perspectives on gender, sex, sexuality, family, race, ethnicity, and power. I find that my enthusiasm for the course material generates interest and excitement among my students.

I learn best when I can think about the topic in a variety of different ways, through texts, images, film, music, etc. Because of this, my teaching incorporates a wide range of media and caters to diverse learning styles and preferences. I wish I could take all of my students across the world to learn (I do take some to Italy and Turkey). In lieu of that, I bring the world into my classroom through images, maps, inscriptions, and videos. For me, teaching is truly multi-media.

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My Courses

REL 3230 SATAN AND THE SUPERNATURAL

This course explores beliefs, traditions, and practices related to supernatural beings within the cultures of the Mediterranean world (e.g. ancient Judaism, Roman paganism, emerging Christianity, early Islam). Special attention will be given to the character of Satan, including how the character functions in communal contexts. This course primarily employs literary and historical approaches to the study of religion. While historical in focus, this course will give some attention to contemporary constructions of the supernatural and/or the satanic. 

REL 3250 THE APOCALYPTIC IMAGINATION, ANCIENT AND MODERN

This course examines the enduringand widespread fascination with apocalypse studying the ancient genre of apocalyptic literature (Jewish and Christian) as a response to specific historical and social concerns and modern interpretations of the ancient. While a variety of ancient and modern texts will be read within this course, special attention will be given to the Book of Revelation as a political-religious response to the Roman Empire.

REL 3260 SEX LIVES OF SAINTS: SEX, GENDER, AND ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN RELIGIONS

Ancient writings on sex and gender have had an enormous influence on modern Euro-American perspectives. This course explores how ancient Mediterranean religious traditions, including first century Judaism and early Christianity, constructed and regulated gender and sexuality. While the main focus is upon reading ancient primary sources, students will be introduced to contemporary gender theory as well as some of the ways in which ancient traditions continue to impact modern views on gender and sexuality.

REL 3270 MESSIAHS, MARTYRS AND MEMORY

This course examines ancient Jewish and Christian messianic movements and the ways these traditions inspire the practice and idealization of martyrdom. In addition to exploring the ancient practice of memorializing through death, this course addresses some of the ways messianic figures and martyrs are remembered and memorialized in modern contexts.