Department of Religious Studies


  • Tuva or Bust

    Jason Roberts on Siberian shamanism, or how to cross a river on a roll of plastic wrap

    Tuva or Bust

  • Kingship, Godship, Scholarship

    Azfar Moin locates the roots of secularism in the sacred kingship of Emperor Akbar

    Kingship, Godship, Scholarship

  • Leaf Through a Good Book

    Keep your to-read list up-to-date with our fall book list, featuring a selection of titles from College of Liberal Arts faculty members and alumni.

    Leaf Through a Good Book

  • What is biblical inerrancy? A New Testament scholar explains

    In his farewell address at the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention, outgoing president J.D. Greear acknowledged the internal disputes but assured attendees that the Baptist faith continues to affirm “those doctrines most contested in our culture,” such as “the authority, and the inerrancy, and the sufficiency of scripture.”

    What is biblical inerrancy? A New Testament scholar explains

  • A Look at Our Latest Books

    2021 Spring and Summer titles from our college community.

    A Look at Our Latest Books

  • Why Easter is called Easter, and other little-known facts about the holiday

    The date of Easter, when the resurrection of Jesus is said to have taken place, changes from year to year.

    Why Easter is called Easter, and other little-known facts about the holiday

  • Ticket to Read

    Fall 2020 books from our college community.

    Ticket to Read

  • The Earth’s Keepers: How Religion Can Guide Environmentalism

    If you knew in the next life you’d become a tree, you might hesitate before you cut one down. Or if you were to become one of the ocean’s fish, perhaps you’d be more careful about how you dispose of certain plastics. That’s Karma, at least as it’s applied in an environmental context, which might…

    The Earth’s Keepers: How Religion Can Guide Environmentalism

  • Helping Students Set Sail

    The Pro Bene Meritis award is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Liberal Arts. Since 1984, the annual award has been given to alumni, faculty members and friends of the college who are committed to the liberal arts, have made outstanding contributions in professional or philanthropic pursuits or have participated in service related…

    Helping Students Set Sail

  • Not Lost in Translation

    Fifteen-year Project Introduces India’s Earliest Text to Modern Readers Like so many big ideas, it all started over drinks — in this case, glasses of wine in New Orleans. Fifteen years later, a labor of love finally came to fruition for Joel Brereton, associate professor of Asian Studies and Religious Studies, when his joint translation…

    Not Lost in Translation

  • The Gospels in Rewrite

    University of Texas at Austin Classics and Religious Studies Professor L. Michael White is equally at home reading ancient texts as he is directing the archaeological dig of the oldest known Jewish synagogue in Europe and teaching large undergraduate classes and graduate seminars. He brings teaching and research together in writing journal articles and books.…

    The Gospels in Rewrite

  • America’s Church

    Religious studies scholar offers uniquely broad perspective on Catholic presence in nation’s capital In 1913, Bishop Thomas J. Shahan received the pope’s blessing to pursue his vision for a church in Washington, D.C. — a national shrine that would honor the Virgin Mary, serve as a destination for pilgrims and stake a Catholic claim in…

    America’s Church

  • Books: Fall 2011

    Greenback Planet: How the Dollar Conquered the World and Threatened Civilization as We Know It By H.W. Brands, professor, Department of History Historian H.W. Brands charts the dollar’s astonishing rise to become the world’s principal currency recounting key episodes in U.S. monetary history, from the Civil War debate over fiat money (greenbacks) to the recent…

    Books: Fall 2011

  • Minoring in Miller

    Religious studies professor’s devotion to teaching recognized Professor G. Howard Miller began teaching at The University of Texas at Austin in 1971 in Burdine 106, an auditorium seating hundreds of students. “I felt like a rock star,” says Miller, a University Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor of History and Religious Studies, who retired earlier this year.…

    Minoring in Miller