Religion is a distinct area of study from Divinity, and focuses on explaining the origin and function of religion and not on evaluating the truth of the beliefs of religion. As such it considers practices as much as beliefs. Specialism include Theories of Religion and religions of the ancient world.
Click the tabs below for more information on what Aberdeen has to offer by way of research expertise and doctoral supervision, how to apply, and what students can expect when studying with us.
- Aspects of Religion in Aberdeen
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Students who decide to study a topic related to religion, myth, or ritual are supervised by experts in the field of Religion. Whether you are interested in theories of religion, Gnosticism, ancient Greek religions, or the social scientific study of religion, Aberdeen offers the opportunity to make use of our exceptional resources as you work on your thesis.
- Staff
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We are interested in hearing from students wishing to undertake postgraduate level work in Religion at the doctoral level. Please contact one of the supervisors below if you are thinking about applying for a PhD in their subject area.
Dr Sam Newington : Supervision can be offered in any aspect of ancient Greek religion, in particular, from a cultural or historical perspective. Additionally, the current research interest of Dr Newington is Greece and the Ancient Near East.
- Publications
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Sam Newington has a range of publications, as detailed here .
- Links
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Some helpful links for further information and resources in Religious Studies include:
- Conferences and Workshops
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Call for Papers
Beautification and defilement in the ancient Greek world and beyond
8th September 2024 - 10th September 2024
Exedra Center, Ortigia (Sicily)
Beautification and defilement in the ancient Greek world and beyond is an interdisciplinary conference which will include a variety of approaches, such as, literature, material culture, history, philosophy, classical world, anthropology, religion, gender studies. The focus of the conference will be to consider the multifarious depictions and complexities of beautification and defilement, though not limited, as follows:
• Sacred and profane
• Psychoanalysis
• Visualising the divine
• Archetypes and exemplars
• Ritual theory
• Gender studies
• Narratology and linguistics
• Reception Studies
• Comparative religion
Confirmed speakers include: Myrto Aloumpi (University of Crete), Robert Catalin- Barbu (University of Aberdeen), Mary Burgess (Open University), Lesley Dean-Jones (University of Texas, Austin), Michael Degener (Boston University - keynote speaker) Mark Elliot (University of the Highland and Islands), Fiona Hobden (Open University), Freya Juul Jensen (University of Aberdeen), Marsha McCoy (Southern Methodist University, Dallas), Sam Newington (University of Aberdeen), Ivana Petrovic (University of Virginia), Heather Reid (Exedra Center), Ian Rutherford (University of Reading), Tim Whitmarsh (University of Cambridge - keynote speaker)
This call for papers warmly invites abstracts of around 250 words (for papers of 20-40 minutes), along with any initial queries, to be forwarded to Sam Newington by July 20th 2024.
We plan to publish the conference proceedings and will offer further details at the conference.Conference fees, accommodation options and optional excursions to archaeological sites, such as a tour of Ortigia and Neapolis Archaeological Site and Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi in Siracusa, for speakers and participants, are available on the registration form located here . Further details of the programme and abstracts will be located on the website in due course.
There may also be an option (dependant on interest) for an additional post-conference excursion to Piazza Armerina and Agrigento.