Author: SJ Kessler

The Religion Department celebrated its annual George Hall Dinner & Award Ceremony on Tuesday, May 9. Students and current and emeriti professors gathered to celebrate a year’s worth of accomplishments. We make special note of the accomplishments of: The winner of the George Hall Prize for excellence in research, writing and class participation, particularly in…

On Tuesday, December 13, three Religion Department majors presented their theses at an evening event attended by faculty and students. Seniors Drew Elofson, Jaret Glander, and Sophie Martinez gave short presentations highlighting their motivating questions, key arguments, findings, and conclusions. Writing on three vastly different subjects, these theses highlighted the diverse subject and methodological range…

The Religion Department is excited to announce its annual spring essay contest, “‘I Believe’: Why Christianity Matters.”  The essay should be in the genre of apologetics, meaning a historical and theological defense of the Christian faith. (Download the official call here: Apologetics Essay Contest 2023.) — The Apologetics Award was established in 1994 by a gift…

Dr. Kessler has published his first monograph, out this month with Brown Judaic Studies. Below is a brief description.    The Formation of a Modern Rabbi:  The Life and Times of the Viennese Scholar and Preacher Adolf Jellinek An intellectual biography that critically engages Adolf Jellinek’s scholarship and communal activities Adolf Jellinek (1821–1893), the Czech-born, German-educated,…

This post comes to us from Dr. Marcia Bunge, describing her summer travels in Germany and her hopes for the course it will inspire.  Recent graduate Allison James ’22 and I spent two weeks in Germany at the beginning of June. Our travels, generously funded by a donor, served as pilot for a future course in Germany.…

As summer break ends and the fall semester approaches, here’s a look at some of what the Religion faculty have been reading — outside of work and research — these past couple of months.  Dr. Casey Elledge I finally had time to study Gershom Scholem’s (900 page!) critical masterwork, Sabbatai Ṣevi, the author’s authoritative treatment of the rise and…

In our fourth post, we hear from another recent graduate, Allison James, who reflects on her senior thesis project and what it taught her about research and scholarship. (This post comes to us from Germany, where Allison was traveling with Religion Department Professor Dr. Marcia Bunge.) As a senior this past year, I was grateful to be…

In our third post, our recent graduate Emily Seppelt reflects on a book she read for class that spoke to her passion for activism and public policy.  One highlight of my experience in a religion class this semester was a book we read in Liberation Struggles titled Can I Get a Witness? The book was filled with biographies…

In our next post, current major Jaret Glander discusses the classes that have effected him the most this past year.  My favorite religion class was Individuals and Morality with Dr. Kessler, where we read the book of Genesis over the semester and analyzed its literary qualities through class discussions. It was cool seeing all of the…

  Our first post comes from graduating senior Olivia Anderson-Blythe. In it, she reflects on her courses in the Department, what she expected, and what lessons she’s taking with her as she leaves Gustavus. We wish her luck on her next adventures! As a religion major, it’s hard to choose a favorite course in the department as I…