Author: Michael Altman

About Michael Altman: Michael J. Altman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies. Dr. Altman's areas of interest are American religious history, theory and method in the study of religion, the history of comparative religion, and Asian religions in American culture. Overall, his research sits at the crossroads of American religious history and religious studies, using the theoretical insights of religious studies to dig deeper into what we mean by "religion" in religious history. His current research examines cultural constructions of Hinduism in 19th-century America.

Posts by Michael Altman

We’ll Answer All of Your Questions about Graduate School!

February 6, 2017

Are you curious about graduate school in any field? Got questions? Well we’re here to answer them. Join us at 6:30pm on Wednesday February 8 in Manly 210 for informal discussion of all things graduate school. We’ll talk about everything from the application process to getting finished and prepared for the job market. It’s also a chance to get more info about the brand new REL MA degree in Religion in Culture. For more info or to RSVP see the […]

One Week of Research in an Archive: A Journal

December 19, 2016

Professors around the department often talk about their “research.” But what exactly is that? It’s something to do with books and articles, right? In hopes of showing how some of us work–or at least how I work–below is a day by day running journal of a five day research trip I took to the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley. […]

Prof. Ikeuchi to Screen Her Research

July 6, 2016

Our newest addition to the REL faculty, Prof. Suma Ikeuchi will screen her ethnographic film “In Leila’s Room” at the 2016 Society for Visual Anthropology Film and Media Festival. Here’s a brief description of the film: A young Brazilian migrant woman, Leila, runs a small make-up salon in her apartment in Toyota City, Japan. Most of her clients are, like herself, Brazilians of Japanese descent who have return migrated to the land of their ancestors. Her small salon is also a […]

Religious Studies in the Time of Trumpism

June 15, 2016

When I heard Donald Trump’s speech on Monday I realized that Trump’s rhetoric presents the scholar of religion with a crossroads. Scholars of religion have to make a decision about how to engage Trumpism. […]

REL Graduates Head Off to Do Great Things

May 2, 2016

We have great students here in REL. When they graduate they go off to do great things. (You can hear about some of the things our graduates do at our Grad Tales events.) We are proud of all of the REL majors that are graduating. Four of this year’s REL graduates are going off to pursue further academic work in graduate school: […]

Jared Powell: One Outstanding Student Worker

April 14, 2016

So much of what happens to make REL into the wonderful department that it is happens because of our hardworking main office staff. The videos, the buttons, the events, and all the other things that make this department such a joy to be part of couldn’t happen without our student workers. Yesterday, one of those student workers finally got the recognition he deserves. Jared Powell, an REL major, a graduating senior, a future MA student in English, and a man […]

A Busy Week in REL: Grad School Workshop, Grad Tales, and the Manly Cup

April 11, 2016

It’s a busy week this week around Manly Hall. Here are three REL events you do not want to miss this week. 1. TONIGHT a 6pm in Manly 210: Graduate School Workshop Are you thinking about going to graduate school after you graduate? Do you have questions? Where to apply? How to apply? What’s it like? How do you pay for it? These are good questions. I will be hosting the event and I need your help as I organize […]

5 Reasons Why You Should Come to REL Honors Day on Friday

April 4, 2016

This Friday is Honors Day across the University. We’ll be having our own Honors Day event on the balcony at Manly Hall at around noon. Here’s why you should come: 1. You are a REL major. 2. Our friendly faculty will be there. 3. There will be free food. 4. You enjoy good conversation about big ideas. 5. Some of our majors will be receiving awards for their great work. So don’t miss it! This Friday at noon on our lovely […]

Do You Have Graduate School Questions? We Might Have Answers

April 4, 2016

Are you thinking about going to graduate school after you graduate? Do you have questions? Where to apply? How to apply? What’s it like? How do you pay for it? These are good questions. We’d like to help you. So, we will be having an REL Graduate School Workshop at 6pm on Monday April 11th in Manly Hall 210. I, Prof. Mike Altman, will be hosting the event and I need your help as I organize the event. Tweet me your […]

REL Majors Present Research at the 2016 UCRA Conference

March 28, 2016

Wednesday is the 2016 UA Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Conference (UCRA) and we are proud to have 3 REL majors presenting their research this year: Aubrey (Liz) Long, Sarah Griswold, and Sierra Lawson. Here are their abstracts: The full program for the conference is available here. Great work! […]

Studying Religion in Culture

Ongoing Discussions at the University of Alabama