McMaster University Department of Religious Studies

09/03/2026

Shayne Clarke presented “On an Unnoticed Tibetan Sūtra Translation from Chinese: The ’Phags pa tshul khrims nyams pa’i rnam par smin pa lci yang bstan pa’i mdo and its Chinese Source (犯戒罪報輕重經)” at the International Symposium: The Forefront of Buddhist Vinaya Studies” hosted by Otani University, July 29, 2026.

09/02/2026

Congratulations to current MA student Ryan Brown on being awarded a Tanaka Fund Grant! This grant will allow Ryan to conduct an ethnographic study of the pilgrimage to Ikeyama Shrine, a mountain Shintō shrine in rural Muroto, Kōchi Prefecture, where rain prayer rituals are central to local religious life.

09/01/2026

James Benn recently contributed an article entitled “Reflections on Teaching Graduate Seminars in Buddhism and East Asian Religions at McMaster University” to a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada. You can read his article here:

https://thecjbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Benn_Reflections-on-Teaching-Graduate-Seminars_20.pdf

08/31/2026

A warm welcome to Dr. Rine Vieth (McGill PhD), who will join the Department of Religious Studies on a Contractually Limited Appointment as assistant professor! You can learn more about their research here:

https://rinevieth.com/

08/28/2026

Yongshan He (MA, University of Toronto PhD, 2024), assistant professor at the University of Winnipeg, recently contributed an article entitled “In-class Micro Experiential Activities for Buddhism Courses” to a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada. You can read her article here:

https://thecjbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/He_In-class-Micro-Experiential-Activities_20.pdf

08/27/2026

Adele Reinhartz (PhD 1983) recently published a fascinating article on Mircea Eliade, “Should Eliade Be Canceled? A Response to Bruce Lincoln’s Secrets, Lies, and Consequences,” in History of Religions! Read it here:

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/741667?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demoo57qq8gs&fbclid=IwY2xjawTzL45wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6X_Y5mb6d9pvJ0RcfNyTloWEcx0aiEyoZ59fRY6IxAri9PmK9e6ZMfY9_wRQ_aem_prY-0vdg57ZbKmtNLOcwmQ

HomeHistory of ReligionsVolume 66, Number 1 Previous articleNext article 19 August 2026 Share on Should Eliade Be Canceled? A Response to Bruce Lincoln’s Secrets, Lies, and ConsequencesAdele ReinhartzAuthor Info and AffiliationsPublication: History of ReligionsVolume 66, Number 1DOI: https://doi.o...

08/26/2026

Chris Jensen (PhD 2019) recently edited a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada. You can read his editor’s introduction, “Buddhist Studies Pedagogy in Contemporary Canada—A Snapshot of the State of the Field,” here:

https://thecjbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Jensen_Editors-Introduction_20.pdf

08/25/2026

Congratulations to Eileen Schuller (Professor Emerita) on the publication of her book (co-written with Carol Newsom) The Thanksgiving Scroll in the Oxford Commentary on the Dead Sea Scrolls Series!

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-thanksgiving-scroll-9780198727842?cc=ca&lang=en&

08/24/2026

Congratulations to Lan Li (PhD 2024) on being appointed co-editor for The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies!

https://thecjbs.org/

08/21/2026

Congratulations to Matthew Walsh (PhD 2016) on being appointed to the Payzant Chair of Biblical Studies at Acadia Divinity College!

Acadia Divinity College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Matthew Walsh to the Payzant Chair of Biblical Studies.