New Books in Religion

Michael Satlow, professor of Judaic and Religious Studies at Brown University, argues in "An Enchanted World" (Princeton UP, 2026) that identity labels such as Christian and Jewish were largely the creation of bishops, rabbis and other elite writers.

New Books in Religion host Jacqueline Michael speaks with Nurhaizatul Jamil about Faithful Transformations and Islamic self-help in Singapore.

On New Books in Religion, Karen O’Brien-Kop and Suzanne Newcombe explain how their book, Religion, Spirituality and Public Health, responds to COVID-era conflicts over health knowledge.

In New Books in Religion’s S5E5, Thomas C.

Brown argues that early Christian pastoral leadership began with proven virtue, not charisma, and Ignatius calls a bishop’s gentleness “his power.” The Didache, Ignatius, Polycarp, Shepherd of Hermas, and 1 Clement portray pastors as teachers, overseers, and caregivers.

An interview with author Amir Saimi discussing his book on morality, revelation, and a new problem of evil in Islamic thought.

An academic interview discussing Professor Thomas C.

Dr.

Knut A.

Christopher Bonura discusses his book on the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius, a 7th-century Syriac text that spread globally and reshaped Christian views of the Roman Empire's role in eschatology.

Daniel Wyche discusses his book on the relationship between self-care practices and political transformation, drawing on thinkers like Foucault and Hadot, and historical events like the Montgomery bus boycott.

Dr.

Sarah Swenson discusses her ethnographic book on Buddhist charity in urban Vietnam, exploring grassroots volunteerism, intersectional identities, and how communities use charity to navigate rapid urbanization and social change.

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Host Raditya interviews editors of the New Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions about their recently published academic book.

An academic interview series where scholars discuss their recently published research in religion.

An academic interview podcast discussing recently published research in Jewish studies.