The Eurasian Steppe is a belt of flat grasslands extending thousands of miles from Northern China to Central Europe. It is one of the most consequential pieces of geography in history and for thousands of …
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Definitions — Sarah Eckhardt
One of my aims for this fellowship was to formalize a definition of religion that explains why I was drawn here initially, and why I followed through with it.. Every week I discuss traditions that …
Winter Break – Most Impactful Parts of Taglit — Emerson Cronheim-Strasser
Over Winter break I had the privilege of traveling to Israel for 10 days with Jewish students from Wisconsin and Maryland on a trip known as Taglit [תגלית]. Growing up, my family’s vacations consisted of …
Religion and Health Care: As Seen in Grey’s Anatomy — Noelle Van Straten
My favorite TV show of all time is Grey’s Anatomy and I have watched it way too many times. Some of the most thought provoking episodes are the ones that include the role of spiritual …
The State of Religion in China and Chinese Folk Religion — Jiaming Xie
Looking back at its history, China is a country that was once filled with various religions since its beginning, and there has been a complex and ever-changing relationship between the Chinese state and these religions …
Beyond the Dichotomy of Religion in the Diaspora — Zayna Tubeishat
Long ago, gods had homes. They had favorite foods and origin stories that were unique to their locality, and did not exist beyond their birthplaces. The onset of migration, imperialism, and other events shifted this …
Tie Your Camels, and Trust God — Rida Ali
At a time in my academic career where doubts and uncertainty about the future threaten to eat me alive, the concept of tawakkul keeps me going and brings me a sense of peace like no …
An Environment of Prayer — Allyson Mills
During the pandemic, my faith life was completely upended, as everyone’s busy lives of work, school, and socializing were forced to come to a pause. As someone who values human connection greatly as part of …
Five Hundred Miles and a Stranger on the Sidewalk — Ben Charnecki
I was sixteen. It was a dull damp winter. The weather felt empty and restless. I was in the middle of my existential crisis. At the time, I was convinced that life was meaningless. A …
What Halloween Teaches us About Religious Evolution — Sarah Eckhardt
On this week of Halloween, it is worth reflecting on the history of the holiday and what it means for religious tradition. Today, Halloween in the United States is a joyful celebration with candy, bonfires, …