All News

Huffington Post featured an article titled “Mormons, Anti-Mormons, and Anti-Anti-Mormons” co-authored by Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies Brent Plate and Hannah Grace O'Connell ’14. The article also included several photos taken by Assistant Professor of Art Robert Knight.

Adirondack Adventure (AA) and Outreach Adventure (OA), Hamilton’s pre-orientation programs for new students, welcomed  308 members of the Class of 2017 on Friday, Aug. 16. This year marks the largest AA/OA participation ever, with 64 percent of first-year students participating in OA and AA.

Through our contemporary media, readers frequently hear about the decline of religion in America.  Alison Ritacco ’14 and Hannah Grace O’Connell ’14 are working with Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies Brent Plate and Assistant Professor of Art Robert Knight, to examine the realities of religious life in the Utica and Clinton areas, which may complicate that common conception. In their Levitt Group Summer Research project, “Religious Spaces in Transition,” they are focusing on how local religious institutions adapt to change.

“Apocalypse Now and Then: Four Rules for Watching the World End,” an essay written by Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies S. Brent Plate, appeared on The Huffington Post site on July 24. In his article, Plate discusses apocalyptic films both pre- and post-9/11 and assures his readers that “we've had apocalypses for so many years, and will continue to have them."

No one could doubt that James Anesta ’14 is dedicated to theater. In addition to appearing in a number of productions over his time at Hamilton, he took the time last summer to write his own play, “Hell the Musical,” which he will also direct. He's using an Emerson Foundation grant this summer to gain some scope as director. In his project, “Portrayals of the Afterlife in Popular Culture,” he is exploring different artistic representations of heaven and hell.

Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies S. Brent Plate recently published two book chapters. The first, “Looking at Words: The Iconicity of the Page,” was published in the volume Iconic Books and Texts.  The second is “Who do you see that I am? Son of Man and Global Perspectives on Jesus Films,” in the volume Son of Man: An African Jesus Film.

Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies Brent Plate recently made presentations at Ithaca College and at the University of Toronto during the American Academy of Religion (AAR) Eastern International Regional Meeting.

Six Hamilton faculty members were recognized for their research and creative successes with the Dean’s Scholarly Achievement Awards, presented by Dean of Faculty Patrick Reynolds during Class & Charter Day on May 13. The awards recognize individual accomplishment but reflect a richness and depth of scholarship and creative activity across the entire faculty.

When one thinks of religion, it is easy to imagine and conceptualize rituals, texts and principles. However, one might argue that the experience of religion is just as much about tastes, sights, sounds and textures as it is about following guidelines and observing tradition. Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies S. Brent Plate subscribes to the philosophy that religion is best understood through direct interaction rather than distanced study. He is helping students gain firsthand interactions with religion in Oneida County through his course “Religion in the U.S.”

Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies S. Brent Plate recently presented invited lectures based on his forthcoming book, A History of Religion in 5 1/2 Objects.