Biography

• 2019-to date Honorary Professor, University of Essex
• 2019-to date Professorial Research Felllow, University of Vienna
• 2006-date Sixth Century Chair in Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen
• 1999-2006 Professor of Theories of Religion, Lancaster University
• 1996-99 Reader in Theory of Religion, Lancaster University
• 1994-96 Lecturer, Department of Religious Studies, Lancaster University
• 1993-94 Visiting Professor of Jewish Studies and Classics, Acting Director of the Jewish Studies Program, Tulane University, New Orleans
• 1988 Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh
• 1984-94 Program in Religious Studies, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies (1984-87); Associate Professor of Religious Studies (1987-89); Full Professor of Religious Studies (1989-94)
• 1982-84 Lecturer, Western Culture Program, Stanford University
• 1981 (fall) Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Toronto
• 1975-82 Assistant Professor of Religion and Humanities, Reed College, Portland, Oregon

Funding and Grants

Fellowships and Grants:

• 1985 American Council of Learned Societies Travel Grant
• 1986 Fellow, Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion, Divinity School, University of Chicago
• 1986 American Philosophical Society Research Grant
• 1986-87 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship
• 1987 National Endowment for the Humanities Travel Grant
• 1987-88 Mellon Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
• 1992 National Endowment for the Humanities Travel Grant
• 1994 American Philosophical Society Research Grant
• 1995 British Academy Small Personal Research Grant
• 1995 Fellow, Thomas Reid Institute, University of Aberdeen
• 1995 British Academy Overseas Conference Grant
• 1997-98 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship
• 1997 British Academy Small Personal Research Grant
• 1997-98 Fellow, National Humanities Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
• 2000 British Academy Small Personal Research Grant
• 2001 Visiting Fellow, Clare Hall, Cambridge (October-December 2001)
• 2002 Life Member, Clare Hall
• 2009 Carnegie Trust Grant