Religion in Culture
Lunchtime Discussion

The third Religion in Culture lunch discussion of the 2007-8 academic year took place on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. And, as in the past, it was hosted by members of the Religious Studies Student Association (RSSA).

In keeping with the M-theme of the past two events (for more info, see here and here) it featured an essay of REL's own Prof. Russell McCutcheon.

REL senior and well known local raconteur, Chris Hurt, introduced Dr. McCutcheon by means of an audio clip that he reported finding in some obscure corner of the Interwebs.

Despite being startled by the song, Dr. McCutcheon gathered himself up and, with the help of deft sleight of hand, described how what started out as a small book review turned into a 36 page monster of an essay.

The essay students read in advance of the lunch was a review essay on handbooks in the study of religion, has just appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion. (Click the image and enter your Bama ID/PAssword to obtain a PDF of the article.)

Ben (left), a new Religious Studies major and student in Prof. McCutcheon's REL 100, attended the talk along with Brian Oldfield (right) and Tsy Yusef (far right), a senior in the Department.

After briefly awakening to take a quick bite of a cookie, REL senior, Joe Kimbrough, slumps back into study mode, ostensibly scrutinizing the text for meaning.

REL major Keke Pounds, pictured here with her unopened box lunch, inquiring of a higher authority as to whether she could get a vegetarian lunch this time. (She got her wish, coz her name was miraculously written on the box.)

Prof. Steve Jacobs, just returned from a conference in Tennessee, is seen here pitching a question in the direction of Dr. McCutcheon (who, as we recall, ducked; the question landed in Chris's lap and he did the best he could with it.)

Tsy, who is on the verge of completing his B.A., intends to pursue graduate studies on Islam and geo-politics.

Dan Mullins (far right), who also has hopes of graduate school, gingerly sips a hot beverage while Chris seems rather pleased with himself.

Forlorn because he was aware that his prestidigitation seems not to have worked as planned, Prof. McCutcheon here prepares a napkin for the old "disappearing author" trick. he learned from such illusionists as Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault

Thanks again to the RSSA for hosting this event.

Interested in a past lunchtime discussion
with Prof. McCutcheon?