Timothy Beal
Encyclopedia
Timothy K. Beal is a writer and scholar in the field of religious studies whose work explores matters of religion
and American
culture
, past and present. He is currently Florence Harkness Professor of Religion at Case Western Reserve University
in Cleveland, Ohio
, USA.
and was raised in Anchorage, Alaska
. He went to college at Seattle Pacific University
where he earned a B.A. in English in 1986. He earned a Master of Divinity at Columbia Theological Seminary
in 1991 and a Ph.D. in Religion and Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies at Emory University
in 1995. Before joining the faculty of Case Western Reserve University, he was assistant professor of religious studies at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida
(1994-1999). He was also Honourary Lecturer at the University of Glasgow
in 1997.
He is married to Clover Reuter Beal, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). They have two children, Sophie and Seth (alas).
Biblical Literacy: The Essential Bible Stories Everyone Needs to Know (HarperOne, 2009).
Religion in America: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2008).
Roadside Religion: In Search of the Sacred, the Strange, and the Substance of Faith (Beacon, 2005), which was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice and one of Publishers Weekly’s ten Best Religion Books of 2005
Religion and Its Monsters (Routledge, 2002), which was a Reviews in Religion and Theology Editor’s Choice
The Book of Hiding: Gender, Ethnicity, and Annihilation in Esther (Routledge, 1997);
Esther (Liturgical Press, 1999)
Theory for Religious Studies (co-authored with William E. Deal; Routledge, 2004)
Mel Gibson’s Bible: Religion, Popular Culture, and The Passion of the Christ (co-edited with Tod Linafelt; University of Chicago Press, 2006)
Reading Bibles, Writing Bodies: Identity and The Book (co-edited with David M. Gunn; Routledge, 1996)
God in the Fray: Essays in Honor of Walter Brueggemann (co-edited with Tod Linafelt; Fortress, 1998)
, and The Cleveland Plain Dealer. He has been featured on radio shows including NPR’s All Things Considered and The Bob Edwards Show.
San Diego Union Tribune, May 5, 2005, Richard N. Osting, “Holy Roaming Empire: Author’s ‘Roadside Religion’ Stops Off at Off-beat Spiritual Attractions,” E3-4 (Associate Press review which ran in many papers).
Commonweal, March 8, 2002, William Jordan, "Mysterium tremendum," review of Religion and Its Monsters, p. 23.
Interpretation, April, 2001, Joan E. Cook, review of Esther, p. 188.
Publishers Weekly, November 12, 2001, Jana Riess
, starred review of Religion and Its Monsters, p. S16.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, past and present. He is currently Florence Harkness Professor of Religion at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, USA.
Biography
Beal was born in Hood River, OregonHood River, Oregon
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,831...
and was raised in Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. He went to college at Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions, located on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1891 by the Oregon and Washington Conference of the Free Methodist Church as the Seattle Seminary...
where he earned a B.A. in English in 1986. He earned a Master of Divinity at Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.-Description:...
in 1991 and a Ph.D. in Religion and Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in 1995. Before joining the faculty of Case Western Reserve University, he was assistant professor of religious studies at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(1994-1999). He was also Honourary Lecturer at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1997.
He is married to Clover Reuter Beal, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). They have two children, Sophie and Seth (alas).
Books
The Rise and Fall of the Bible: The Unexpected History of an Accidental Book (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, February 2011).Biblical Literacy: The Essential Bible Stories Everyone Needs to Know (HarperOne, 2009).
Religion in America: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2008).
Roadside Religion: In Search of the Sacred, the Strange, and the Substance of Faith (Beacon, 2005), which was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice and one of Publishers Weekly’s ten Best Religion Books of 2005
Religion and Its Monsters (Routledge, 2002), which was a Reviews in Religion and Theology Editor’s Choice
The Book of Hiding: Gender, Ethnicity, and Annihilation in Esther (Routledge, 1997);
Esther (Liturgical Press, 1999)
Theory for Religious Studies (co-authored with William E. Deal; Routledge, 2004)
Mel Gibson’s Bible: Religion, Popular Culture, and The Passion of the Christ (co-edited with Tod Linafelt; University of Chicago Press, 2006)
Reading Bibles, Writing Bodies: Identity and The Book (co-edited with David M. Gunn; Routledge, 1996)
God in the Fray: Essays in Honor of Walter Brueggemann (co-edited with Tod Linafelt; Fortress, 1998)
Other writings
Beal has also published essays on religion and American culture for magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, and The Cleveland Plain Dealer. He has been featured on radio shows including NPR’s All Things Considered and The Bob Edwards Show.
Reviews
New York Times Book Review, June 5, 2005, Sarah Ferrell, "Cross Country: A Professor of Religion Investigates Unusual Pilgrimage Sites throughout Rural America," p. 38.San Diego Union Tribune, May 5, 2005, Richard N. Osting, “Holy Roaming Empire: Author’s ‘Roadside Religion’ Stops Off at Off-beat Spiritual Attractions,” E3-4 (Associate Press review which ran in many papers).
Commonweal, March 8, 2002, William Jordan, "Mysterium tremendum," review of Religion and Its Monsters, p. 23.
Interpretation, April, 2001, Joan E. Cook, review of Esther, p. 188.
Publishers Weekly, November 12, 2001, Jana Riess
Jana Riess
Jana Kathryn Riess is an American writer and editor.Reiss' writings have focused on American religions, usually on organized movements such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and The Church of Christ, Scientist.-Background:Reiss was born in the US midwest, one of two children...
, starred review of Religion and Its Monsters, p. S16.