Areas of research
Materiality and Iconicity of Scripture
My main work explores how the Holy Bible, in all its myriad forms, functions as an ideological artifact within the theological, political and consumer marketplaces. By focusing on the material aspects of printed Bibles -- their design, and the editorial and graphic decisions that accompany that design -- we unearth information about the theologies and ideologies of those involved in their production and distribution. A technical term for a group that governs the production and interpretation of Holy Scripture is "the magisterium" (a term still in use in Catholic contexts today). Since the Reformation, I argue, Protestants have increasingly relied on Bible publishers to act as a "covert magisterium," controlling and shaping the theological design and interpretation of Scripture through a host of increasingly sophisticated marketing techniques. You can find examples of these explorations at both the Material Scripture and Iconic Books blogs online.
History of Bible Printing
My work in this area includes the study of book history, the history of scriptoria and libraries, and direct archival research. The development of the Bible as a book technology mirrors in many ways the developments and increased sophistication of theological and doctrinal positions within the Christian Churches. By studying the former, we gain critical insight into the latter.
Catholic Culture, Magisterium, and Canon Law
As a professor of Catholic studies, I have a dual responsibility. First, I want to teach Catholic thought and history from the standpoint of what we might call "the Church's view of itself." In this view, doctrine, revelation, and the voice of the Magisterium have primacy. Secondly, however, I also feel it is responsible to teach the breadth and variety that occurs across the specturm of Catholic life. Balancing these two approaches (and not confusing the one for the other) requires that I have both a firm grasp of Catholic canon law, doctrine, and catechesis, and that I also stay abreast of the controversies, reconciliations, and points of innovation that constantly arise among Catholic communities across the globe.
American Religions and Constitutional Law
I teach a variety of courses of the American religious landscape, with regard to both "mainline" faiths as well as the so-called "new religious movements." A key focus for me is the relationship of these faith communities to government power, particularly at the intersection of religious identity and the First Amerndment.
History of Religious Schisms
Study of the theological, social and cultural factors that influence the fracture and/or solidarity of faith communities. Xenophobia, anti-modernism, scriptural literalism, and fundamentalism -- as they are used to create distinct faith identities against an imagined "Other" from within or without -- are all areas of great interest to me.
