Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty
Office: Santa Susana Hall 233
笔丑辞苍别:听818-677-2742
贰尘补颈濒:听xochitl.alvizo@csun.edu
Biography
Xochitl Alvizo is Associate Professor of Religious Studies in the area of Women and Religion and the Philosophy of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality. She dedicates her work to bringing a feminist and queer focus to theology and to the study of religion and does research in congregational studies, ecclesiology, and the emerging church.听
Dr. Alvizo is co-founder of听听(FAR) 鈥� an online project that brings together multiple feminist voices from around the world to dialogue about feminism in religion and at the intersection between scholarship, activism, and community. Her blog writing can be found on听听and can be reached on Twitter听.
Education
- Ph.D., Practical Theology, Boston University School of Theology, 2015
- M.Div., Boston University School of Theology, Summa Cum Laude, 2007
- B.A., Religion, University of Southern California, East Asian Studies minor, 2001听
Research Interests: Feminist and Queer Theologies, Congregational Studies, and the Emerging Church.听
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
In press:听鈥淭he Emerging Church Movement: Possible Futures and Trajectories鈥� in upcoming,听The Emerging Church, Millennials, and Religion Volume 2: Curations and Durations, co-authored piece with Rachel Schneider and Terry Shoemaker in co-edited volume with same (Cascade Books).
2018听听听 鈥淓merging Out of Patriarchy? The Emerging Church Movement from a Feminist Practical Theological Perspective,鈥� co-authored with Gerardo Mart铆. In听The Emerging Church, Millennials, and Religion, eds. Randall Reed and Michael Zbaraschuk (Cascade Books)听
2018听 听 鈥淩adical Economics and Wesleyan Congregations in the U.S.,鈥� co-PI on study and co-authored results with Bryan Stone, The Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies,听.
2017听 听 鈥淚 Dream Myself a Revolutionary,鈥� authored piece 颈苍听, and co-editor of volume with Gina Messina (Feminist Studies in Religion Press).
2017听 听 鈥淭o Be Comrades听en La Lucha,鈥澨�, 17-21.
2016听 听 鈥淧yrotheology, Post-Evangelicalism and the Logic of the 鈥極ne鈥欌�澨�(Liverpool University Press), Volume 57 Issue 4, 377-389.
2016听 听 鈥淎 Feminist Analysis of the Leadership Structures of the Emerging Church鈥� 颈苍听The Emerging Church: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, eds. Mike Clawson and April Stace Vega (Pickwick Publications) 92-119.
2016听 听 鈥淭he Listening Guide: A Practical Tool for Listening Deeply to the Body of Christ鈥� 颈苍听, Spring.听
2015听 听 鈥淧articipating for Transformation in Online Space,鈥澨�, pp. 163-167.
2014听 听 鈥淏eing Undone by the Other: Feminisms, Blogs, and Critique鈥� 颈苍听Feminism and Religion in the 21st Century: Utilizing Technology to Expand Borders听ed. Rosemary Radford Ruether and Gina Messina-Dysert (Routledge).
MEMBERSHIPS:
American Academy of Religion
National Women's Studies Association
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Office: Santa Susana Hall 227
笔丑辞苍别:听818-677-4733
笔丑辞苍别:听818-677-7805
贰尘补颈濒:听amanda.baugh@csun.edu
Biography
Amanda Baugh specializes in the study of climate change, the environment and American religion, with attention to questions of race, ethnicity, and class. She earned her Ph.D. in American Religions from Northwestern University (2012).
Baugh鈥檚 first book,听听(University of California Press, 2016), examines how assumptions about race, ethnicity, and class have shaped the 鈥済reening鈥� of American religion. Her current research project,听Rethinking Religious Environmentalism, tells the story of American religious environmentalism from the perspective of Latinx Catholics. Baugh is a National Research Fellow, and a Young Scholar of American Religion, with the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at IUPUI. She is a 2020 recipient of a Faculty Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Dr. Baugh鈥檚 teaching interests include the study of religion, the environment, religion and American culture, and religious studies theory. She serves as the academic advisor for 快活林性息 students majoring and minoring in Religious Studies.
Recent Publications
God and the Green Divide: Religious Environmentalism in Black and White听(University of California Press, 2016)
听鈥�Nepantla听Environmentalism: Challenging Dominant Frameworks in Green Religion.鈥� (forthcoming 颈苍听Journal of the American Academy of Religion).
鈥淐onfronting Racism and White Privilege in Courses on Religion and the Environment: An Inclusive Pedagogical Approach.鈥澨�Teaching Theology and听Religion. 22.4 (2019).
鈥淓xplicit and Embedded Environmentalism: Challenging Normativities in the Greening of Religion.鈥澨�Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology.听23.2 (2019) (93-112).
鈥淚nterfaith Environmentalism and Uneven Opportunities to Flourish.鈥澨�That All May Flourish: Comparative Religious Environmental Ethics.听Ed. Laura M. Hartman. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018. 239-252.听
鈥溾�楪reen is Where it鈥檚 At!鈥�: Food and Environmentalism at an African American Church.鈥澨�Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture.听9.3 (2015) 335-363.
Professional Affiliations
- American Academy of Religion
- Secretary, International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture
- Steering Committee Member, Religion and Social Sciences Group of the American Academy of Religion
Select Fellowships, Affiliations, and Awards
- National Endowment for the Humanities, Awards for Faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- National Research Fellow, Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture
- Young Scholars in American Religion Program. Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
- National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Scholar, 鈥淓xtending the Land Ethic鈥�
- 快活林性息 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award
- 快活林性息 College of Humanities Research Fellowship
- ACLS/Mellon Dissertation Completion Fellowship
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Religion
- International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture
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Office: Santa Susana Hall 235
Phone: 818-677-2357
贰尘补颈濒:听klee@csun.edu
Biography
Kenneth听Dooyoung听Lee is the Professor of Asian Religions in the Department of Religious Studies.听 Born in South Korea and raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Lee joined the California State University, Northridge faculty in the fall of 2006 to teach courses in Asian religions, Buddhism, and introductory courses in religion.
He earned his A.B. in Psychology from Occidental College, M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Columbia University. His book,听The Prince and the Monk: Shotoku Worship in Shinran's Buddhism, SUNY Press, traces the evolution of Shotoku worship in Japanese Buddhism.听
He has published in a number of books, including a chapter, "Kannon: The Goddess of Compassion in Japan" 颈苍听The Constant Changing Faces of the Goddess Traditions in Asia听and journals, such as his article, 鈥淐omparative Analysis of Shinran's听shinj颈苍听and Calvin's Faith" in the听Buddhist-Christian Studies听journal.听 He is currently working on a translation of the听Contemplation Sutra听(Jpn. Kanmury艒juky艒), which is a major Buddhist text in Shin Buddhism.
Education
- Ph.D., Columbia University, 2001
- M.Phil.,Columbia University, 1997
BOOKS/PUBLICATIONS
Books
The Prince and the Monk: Sh艒toku Worship in Shinran鈥檚 Buddhism,听State University of New York Press, 2007.
鈥淜annon: The Goddess of Compassion in Japan鈥� 颈苍听The Constant and Changing Faces of the Goddess: Goddess Traditions of Asia, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008.
鈥淭he Most Venerable Sangwol: Reincarnation of Kwanseum in Korea,鈥� International Conference of the Korean Buddhist Cheontae Order, Wongak Buddhist Research Institute, 2011.
Selected articles/reviews:
"Comparative Analysis of Shinran's shinjin and Calvin's Faith,鈥澨�Buddhist-Christian Studies听(Vol. 24, December 2004): 171-190.
鈥淗eup Young Kim's Christ & the Tao,鈥澨�Monastic Interreligious Dialogue听(Bulletin 78, January 2007): 1-3.
鈥淢onasticism Buddhist and Christian: The Korean Experience,鈥� edited by Sunghae Kim and James W. Heising,听Monastic Interreligious Dialogue听(Bulletin 82, January 2009).
Membership
American Academy of Religion
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Office: Santa Susana Hall 228
笔丑辞苍别:听818-677-3395
贰尘补颈濒:听mn142@csun.edu
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Biography
Dr. Nkulu-N'Sengha is a Professor at California State University, Northridge and joined the Religious Studies Department in 2003. Dr. Nkulu-N'Sengha teaches courses in African Religions, American's Religious Diversity, and comparative religions.
Education
- B.A. 1981, Major Seminary St. Paul
- M.A. 1989, Institute P. Canisius Kinshasa
- M.A. 1991, Gregorian University
- M.A. 1996, Ph.D. 2002, Temple University
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Office: Santa Susana Hall 234
笔丑辞苍别:听818-677-7779
贰尘补颈濒:听mustafa.ruzgar@csun.edu
Biography
Dr. Mustafa Ruzgar is a Professor at California State University, Northridge. Born in Turkey, Dr. Ruzgar joined the department in 2009. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Theology at Claremont Graduate University in 2008. Dr. Ruzgar鈥檚 research interests include Islamic thought, contemporary philosophy of religion and theology, process philosophy and theology, religious pluralism, and interfaith dialogue.听
Education
- Ph.D., Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Claremont Graduate University, CA, 2008.
- M.A., Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Claremont Graduate University, CA, 2002.
- B.A., Islamic Studies, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey, 1997
BOOKS/PUBLICATIONS
鈥淚slam and Deep Religious Pluralism鈥� 颈苍听Deep Religious Pluralism, edited by David Ray Griffin (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005).
鈥淚slam and Process Theology鈥� 颈苍听Handbook of Whiteheadian Process Thought, vol. 1, edited by Michel Weber and Will Desmond (Frankfurt; Paris; Lancaster; New Brunswick: Ontos Verlag, 2008).
鈥淕od and the World: A Dynamic Relationship in the Qur鈥檃n鈥� 颈苍听Creative Transformation, Volume 20, Numbers 3-4, Summer/Fall 2011.
听鈥淎n Analysis of the G眉len Hizmet Movement鈥檚 Interfaith Dialogue Activities鈥� 颈苍听The G眉len Hizmet Movement: Circumspect Activism in Faith-Based Reform, edited by Tamer Balci and Christopher L. Miller, (Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2012).
鈥淎 Muslim Perspective: Theological Development and the Problem of Evil鈥澨辈蕴�Process Thought and World Religions听(tentative), edited by John B. Cobb, Jr. (forthcoming).
MEMBERSHIPS
American Academy of Religion
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Office: Santa Susana Hall 236
笔丑辞苍别:听818-677-5640
贰尘补颈濒:听claire.white@csun.edu听
Website:听
Biography
Dr. Claire White is a Professor at California State University, Northridge. She joined the Religious Studies Department in 2012 from Northern Ireland. Dr. White holds the first tenured position in an area called "the cognitive science of religion" in a religious studies department in the United States. 听
Dr. White earned her Ph.D. in Cognition and Culture in 2008 at Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland.
RESEARCH AND TEACHING INTERESTS
Dr. White's research focuses on answering two questions about human culture. First, how and why do some practices in different parts of the world share common features, such as mortuary rituals? Second, how do these practices impact human behavior and well-being, such as facilitating grief?听She adopts an interdisciplinary approach and employs different methods to address these questions, including participant-observation, semi-structured interviews, structured surveys, and experiments.
Honors
Co-Chair, Cognitive Science of Religion Group, American Academy of Religion (until 2019)
Secretary-General, International Association for the Cognitive and Evolutionary Science of Religion (present).
SELECTED BOOKS/PUBLICATIONS
Books:
White, C., (2021). An Introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion: Connecting Evolution, Brain, Cognition, and Culture. London: Routledge.听
Representative Journal articles:
White, C. & Fessler, M.T. (2018). An Evolutionary Account of Vigilance in Grief.听Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 1, 34-42.
White, C., Marin, M. & Fessler, M.T. (2017). Not Just Dead Meat: An Evolutionary Account of Corpse Treatment in Mortuary Rituals.听The Journal of Cognition and Culture, 17, 1-23.
White, C. & Fessler, M.T., & Gomez, P. (2016). The effects of Corpse Viewing and Corpse Condition on Vigilance for Deceased Loved Ones.听Evolution and Human Behavior, 37, 517-522.
White, C. (2016). Cross-cultural Similarities in Reasoning about Personal Continuity in Reincarnation: Evidence from South India.听Religion, Brain, and Behavior,听6, 2, 130-153.
White, C., Kelly, B., & Nichols, S. (2015). Remembering Past Lives: Intuitions about Memory and Personal Identity in Reincarnation. In Cruz, H. & Nichols, R. (Eds.)听The Cognitive Science of Religion and its Philosophical Implications, 169-196. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
*For a full list of my research publications, please see the link to my personal website.
My overall research vision is represented in this New York Times article:听
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Office: Santa Susana Hall 229
笔丑辞苍别:听818-677-3940
贰尘补颈濒:听yan@csun.edu
Biography
Dr. An specializes in Religions of the Americas with a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. His research focuses on the construction of religion, race, and political identity in colonial and postcolonial Americas. Dr. An received his Ph.D. in Philosophical Studies of Religion at Drew University and he has previously taught in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Lebanon Valley College, PA.
Dr. An is the author of two monographs: The Decolonial Abyss (Fordham University Press, 2016) and The Coloniality of the Secular (Duke University Press, 2024). He also co-edited Beyond Man (Duke University Press, 2021), a book on Race, Coloniality, and Philosophy of Religion. He teaches courses on World Religions, Religion and Race, Method and Theory, and Atheism.
In addition to teaching and research, Dr. An is on the Editorial Collective of Political Theology Journal and he co-chairs the Political Theology Unit at the American Academy of Religion.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Books
The Coloniality of the Secular: Race, Religion, and Poetics of World-Making听(Duke University Press, 2024)
Beyond Man: Race, Coloniality, and Philosophy of Religion, Co-editor with Eleanor Craig (Duke University Press, 2021)
The Decolonial Abyss: Mysticism and Cosmopolitics from the Ruins听(Fordham University Press, 2016)
Book chapters and articles
鈥淭he Body as Praxis: Disarticulating the Human from Ownership and Property,鈥澨�Africana Religious Studies, Kenneth Ngwa, ed. (New York: Fordham University Press, 2023)
鈥淥n Violence and Redemption: Fanon and Colonial Theodicy鈥澨�Beyond Man: Race, Coloniality, and Philosophy of Religion, An Yountae and Eleanor Craig, eds. (Durham: Duke University Press, 2021)
鈥淎 Decolonial Theory of Religion: Race, Coloniality, and Secularity in the Americas鈥澨�Journal of the American Academy of Religion听Vol. 88, Issue 4. December 2020.
鈥淒ecolonizing the Cosmo-polis: Cosmopolitanism as a Rehumanizing Project,鈥澨�Decolonial Christianities: Latinx and Latin American Perspectives, Raimundo Barreto and Roberto Sirvent, eds. (New York: Palgrave Press, 2019)
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