September 2003

RANDALL G. STYERS

(o) (919) 962-3938
(h) (919) 942-0410
rstyers@unc.edu

EDUCATION

Duke University, Graduate Program in Religion
Ph.D., Religion and Culture, 1997
Dissertation: "Magical Theories: Magic, Religion and Science in Modernity"
Minor fields: Theology and Ethics, Graduate Program in Literature
Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies, 1993

Yale Divinity School
M.A.R., 1984, Magna Cum Laude

Yale Law School
J.D., 1984

Duke University
A.B. in English, 1980, Summa Cum Laude

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Department of Religious Studies
Assistant Professor of Religion and Culture, 2001 to present

Union Theological Seminary, New York
Acting Academic Dean, Spring 2001
Assistant Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, 1997-2001

Duke University
Department of Religion
Instructor, Fall 1996 and Spring 1997
Teaching Assistant, Fall 1993 and 1994
Research Assistant, Elizabeth A. Clark, Summer 1994 and 1996
Program in Women's Studies
Instructor, Summer 1995
Teaching Assistant, Fall 1993

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS AND HONORS

Institute for the Arts and Humanities Fellowship, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2004
University Research Council Grant, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2003
Spray-Randleigh Research Fellowship, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2002
Williamson Course Development Grant, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2002
National Endowment for the Humanities Dissertation Grant, 1995-96
Honorary Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, 1995-96
Duke University Graduate School Dissertation Year Fellowship, 1995-96 (declined)
Kearns Fund Fellowship, Duke University Graduate Program in Religion, 1994-95
Graduate School Fund Fellowship, Duke University Graduate Program in Religion, 1993-94
James B. Duke Fellowship, Duke University, 1990-93
Tew Prize for Scholastic Excellence, Yale Divinity School, 1984
Phi Beta Kappa, Duke University, 1979
Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship, Duke University, 1978-80
National Merit Corporate Scholarship, 1976-80
Opel Memorial Scholarship for study abroad, Duke University, 1978-79

PUBLICATIONS

Making Magic: Religion, Magic, and Science in the Modern World (New York: Oxford University Press, forthcoming)

"Liberal Values and the Public Classroom: A Response to Stephen Webb," Journal of the American Academy of Religion 70(1) (March 2002): 159-68

"Protestant Perspectives on Justice and Zealous Representation," Fordham Urban Law Journal 28(4) (April 2001): 1047-55

"The 'Magic' of 'Science': The Labeling of Ideas" in Labeling: Pedagogy and Politics, eds. Glenn M. Hudak and Paul Kihn (London: RoutledgeFalmer, 2001), 235-49

Assistant editor, Women and Religion: The Original Sourcebook of Women in Christian Thought, rev. ed., eds. Elizabeth Clark and Herbert Richardson (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1996), with particular responsibility for thefollowing chapters:
Chapter 7, "Woman as Witch: Witchcraft Persecutions in the Old and New Worlds"
Chapter 12, "Movements for Religious and Social Reform in Nineteenth-and Twentieth-Century America"
Chapter 13, "Twentieth-Century Sexual Issues: Contraception, Abortion, and Homosexuality"
Chapter 14, "Feminist Liberation Theologies"

Review of David Herbert, Religion and Civil Society: Rethinking Public Religion in the Contemporary World (Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2003), forthcoming in Choice

Review of Robert Bruce Mullin, The Puritan as Yankee: A Life of Horace Bushnell (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2002), forthcoming in Choice

Review of Albert J. Menendez and Edd Doerr, eds., Great Quotations on Religious Freedom (Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2002), in Choice 40(4) (January 2003)

Review of Sulochana R. Asirvatham, Corinne Ondine Pache, and John Watrous, eds., Between Magic and Religion: Interdisciplinary Studies in Ancient Mediterranean Religion and Society (Lantham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001), in Choice 40(1) (September 2002)

Review of Gregory Baum, Nationalism, Religion, and Ethics (Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2001), in Choice 40(1) (September 2002)

Review of Stephen Wilson, The Magical Universe: Everyday Ritual and Magic in Pre-Modern Europe (London: Hambledon and London, 2000), in Choice 39(6) (February 2002)

Review of Martin del Rio, Investigations into Magic, ed. and trans. P. G. Maxwell-Stuart (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000), in Choice 38(3) (January 2001)

Review of Alexis McCrossen, Holy Day, Holiday: The American Sunday (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000), in Choice 38(3) (January 2001)

Review of Graham Cunningham, Religion and Magic: Approaches and Theories (New York: New York University Press, 1999), in Choice 37(7) (March 2000)

Book note reviewing Elizabeth Mensch and Alan Freeman, The Politics of Virtue: Is Abortion Debatable? (Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1993), in Theology Today 52 (October 1995): 440

WORKS IN PROGRESS

R. R. Marett and the Development of Anglo-American Comparative Religion

"Sacrifice and the Death Penalty in Contemporary America," in Karin Finsterbusch, Armin Lange, and Lance Lazar, eds., Human Sacrifice in Ancient Mediterranean Religion and Its Later Recurrences (forthcoming in the Numen Book series, Brill Academic Publishers)

Armin Lange, Eric Meyers, and Randall Styers, eds., Light Against Darkness: Dualism in Ancient Mediterranean Religion and the Contemporary World (forthcoming in the Numen Book Series, Brill Academic Publishers)

SELECTED SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS AND CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

"'The Disclaimer of His Sex': Theories of Magic, Modernity, and Desire," Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture, University of Manchester, England, November 2003

"Modern Irrationality: Western Theories of Superstition Following the Enlightenment," Society of Biblical Literature (Late Antiquity in Interdiscipinary Perspective Section), November 2003

"Displacements and Proliferations: Moves Beyond Dualism in Contemporary Continental Thought," Light Against Darkness: Dualism in Ancient Mediterranean Religion and the Contemporary World, UNC-Chapel Hill, June 2003

"Magic, Desire, and the Making of the Modern Subject," Barnard College, March 2003

Respondent, ""Virtual Practices: De/Reterritorializing Identities and the Internet," American Academy of Religion (Religion and the Social Sciences Section), November 2001

"Magic in the Definition of Religion and Science," Science and Religion in the Age of Capital and Empire, University of Michigan, November 2001

"Protestant Perspectives on Zealous Representation," CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, New York, January 2001

Panelist, "Ellen T. Armour's Deconstruction, Feminist Theology, and the Problem of Difference and Thomas A. Carlson's Indiscretion: Finitude and the Naming of God," American Academy of Religion (Feminist Theory and Religious Reflection Group and Theology and Continental Philosophy Group), November 2000

Presiding, "Create the Common Good: A Symposium on Theological Education and American Public Life," Union Theological Seminary and Auburn Theological Seminary (sponsored by the Lilly Endowment), September 2000

"Postmodernism and the Interpretation of Texts," Bible/Church/World: The Challenge of Scripture to Changing Cultures, A Conference for Pastors and Church Leaders, Auburn Theological Seminary, June 2000

"Religion, Magic and Deviance: Foucault and the Bounds of Piety," Michel Foucault: Religious Explorations, A Scholars' Colloquium Sponsored by the Visiting Jesuit University Professorship, Loyola University of Chicago, April 2000

"Law, Education, and Public Sphere Activisms," Whose Millennium?: Religion, Sexuality, and the Values of Citizenship, The City University of New York, April 2000

Respondent, "Engaging Communities: Union's Curriculum, Urban Realities: A Curriculum Symposium funded by the Carpenter Foundation," Union Theological Seminary, March 2000

"Do Religion and Lawyering Really Have Anything To Do With Each Other?", Religious Values and the Practice of Law: A Continuing Legal Education Course, Fordham University School of Law, March 2000

Participant, "Symposium on the Relationship between the News Media and Mainline Protestantism," The Aspen Institute Faith and Public Policy
Program, Washington, D.C., June 1999

Panelist, "Public Curriculum and Religious Liberties: Accommodating Religious Points of View in the Public Curriculum," Public Curriculum, Private Choice: Cultural Liberties, Religious Liberties and Public Education Policy: A Symposium on Religion, Democracy and Public Education, New York University School of Law, March 1999

Panelist and moderator, "The Role of the Lawyer in a Situation of (Inter and Intra) Religious Controversy," Conference on Rediscovering the Role of Religion in the Lives of Lawyers and Those They Represent, Fordham University School of Law, December 1998

Respondent, "The Politics of Religious Illegitimacy," American Academy of Religion (Critical Theory and Discourses on Religion Group), November 1998

"Philosophy of Religion and Its Other," American Academy of Religion (Philosophy of Religion Section), November 1997

"Orientalism and the Geographies of Magic," American Academy of Religion (Comparative Studies in Religion Section), November 1996

Presiding, "Where is Religion Going?: Twentieth-Century Evolutionary Theories of Religion," American Academy of Religion (History of the Study of Religion Group), November 1995

"Overlapping Consensus and Its Limits: The Relation of the Religious to the Political in the Recent Work of John Rawls," American Academy of Religion (Religion and the Social Sciences Section), November 1994

"Michael Taussig and the Experience of the Other," American Academy of Religion (Critical Theory and Discourses on Religion Group), November 1992

Panelist, "Discovering Religion or Inventing It?: The Context of Contact," American Academy of Religion (Religion and the Social Sciences Section),
November 1992

SELECTED PUBLIC LECTURES

"The Idea of the Miraculous," North Carolina Renaissance Program, UNC-Chapel Hill, May 2003

Panelist, "When Religions Go to Work," Triangle Society of Human Resources Management/Raleigh-Wake County Human Resources Management Association Annual Joint Meeting, February 2003

"Magic and Religion in the Modern World," Program in the Humanities and Human Values, UNC-Chapel Hill, October 2002

"God in Postmodern Thought," Columbia University, March 2002

"Perspectives on Divine Action," three-week study course, First Church of Christ Congregational, Redding Center, Connecticut, March-April 2001

"Perspectives on Divine Action, " two-week study course, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, New York, December 2000

"Peacebuilding," presentation with Thomas Porter, Union Day, Union Theological Seminary, April 2000

"Miracles and Divine Action," six-week study course at The Riverside Church, New York, February-March 1999

Panelist, "Forming Theologies at Union: The Connective and Cutting Edge," Union Day, Union Theological Seminary, April 1998

"Miracles, Magic and Divine Action," First Congregational Church, Greenwich, Connecticut February 1998

COURSES TAUGHT

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Religion, Magic, and Science
Philosophical Approaches to the Study of Religion
Gender and Sexuality in the Western Christian Tradition
Pro-Seminar in Religious Studies
Critical Approaches to Religion and Culture
Critical Lineages in the Study of Religion and Culture
Topics in the Study of Religion/Independent Study
--Gender and Religious Art
--Women's ordination in contemporary Protestantism
--Religion in contemporary American politics
--Theoretical approaches to religious diversity
--Contemporary disputes on religion and gender

Union Theological Seminary
Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
Communities and Identities
Peacebuilding: Conflict Transformation, Mediation and Restorative Justice
Miracles, Magic and Divine Action
Contemporary Critical Philosophies
Religion in American Law
Nineteenth-Century Critiques of Christianity
God in Critical Thought
Post-Colonial Theory and Contemporary Theology
Michel Foucault and His Critics
Guided Readings/Independent Studies
--American pragmatist philosophy
--Philosophical approaches to the issues of religious diversity and
conversion
--Theories of gender in liberation theologies
--Theodicies in process philosophy and theology
--Comparative philosophies of religion
--Narrative and theology
--The work George Albert Coe
--Theoretical approaches to culture and spatiality
--Theory and method of the study of religion
--Theories of magic
--Philosophy and theology
--The Americans With Disabilities Act
--Catholicism and contemporary American politics
--Critical theory and ethics

Duke University
Introduction to Women's Studies
Women and Sexuality in the Western Christian Tradition
Religion and Law in the United States

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

Faculty advisor, Chi Alpha Omega Fraternity--Gamma Chapter, Fall 2001 to present
Chair, McNair Lecture Committee, 2002-03
Chair, Department of Religious Studies Lecture Committee, 2002-03
Modern Islam Faculty Search Committee, Spring 2002
Department of Religious Studies Equal Opportunity Officer, 2001-02

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AT UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Academic Affairs Committee, Spring 2001
Committee on Standing, 1997-98, Spring 2001
Senior Staff Committee, Spring 2001
Faculty Forum, Spring 2001
Strategic Planning Committee, Spring 2001
Academic Vision Planning Committee, Spring 2001
Religion and Media Committee, 1998-2000
Chair
Seminary Life Committee, 1999-2000
Carpenter Grant Committee, 1999-2000
Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures, Spring 2000
Chair
Finance and Development Committee, 1997-99
Acting Chair, Fall 1998
Executive Budget Committee, 1998-99
Faculty Steering Committee/Dean's Council, Fall 1998, Spring 2001
Faculty Compensation Advisory Committee, 1998-99
Union Advisory Committee to the Auburn-Union Continuing Theological Education Program, 1997-2000
Academic Policy Committee, 1997-98
Burke Library Subcommittee, 1997

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Journal of the American Academy of Religion
Editorial Board, 1998 to present

Association for Religion and Intellectual Life/Crosscurrents
Board of Directors, 2003 to present

PLANNING COMMITTEES

"'I Am No Prophet': Functions of Prophecy in Holy Books and Beyond,"
UNC-Chapel Hill 2003-04

"Program on Religious Values and the Practice of Law," Auburn Theological
Seminary, 1998-2001

"Create the Common Good: A Symposium on Theological Education and American
Public Life," Union Theological Seminary and Auburn Theological Seminary
(sponsored by the Lilly Endowment), 1999-2000

"Bible/Church/World: The Challenge of Scripture to Changing Cultures, A
Conference for Pastors and Church Leaders," Auburn Theological Seminary,
1999-2000

MEMBERSHIPS

American Academy of Religion
Society of Biblical Literature
New York State Bar (admitted 1985)

MEDIA CONSULTANCY

New York Newsday, January 1999
The New York Times, December 1999 and October 2000
The American Lawyer, February 2000
The New York Law Journal, March 2000
Columbia School of Journalism On-Line Radio, March and May 2000
The Wall Street Journal, April and July 2000
Philadelphia Inquirer, June 2001
"The Interfaith Connection," WKTU--FM 103.5 New York, July 2001
The Charlotte Observer, March 2003

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Los Angeles and New York
Corporate associate, 1984-90, with experience including general corporate practice, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, general securities
and financial institutions work, and certain labor matters; member of the firm Hiring Committee
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Los Angeles
Summer associate, 1983
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, New York
Summer associate, 1982
New Haven Legal Assistance, New Haven, Connecticut
Research assistant in family and consumer law, 1981-82
Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Summer associate, 1981
North Carolina Institute of Government, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research intern with the North Carolina Division of Prisons, Summer 1980

ADDITIONAL RELATED ACTIVITIES

UNC Institute for the Arts and Humanities, Seminar in Moral Philosophy, January 2003
UNC-Chapel Hill Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellows Program, 2001-02
Duke-UNC Religion and Culture Reading Group, 1990-97, 2001 to present
Consultation and drafting of an amicus brief filed in the United States Supreme Court in the case Boy Scouts of America and Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale on behalf of twelve deans and presidents of divinity schools, theological seminaries, and rabbinical institutions, April 2000
Columbia University Philosophy of Religion Reading Group, 1998-99
Plowshares Institute Traveling Seminar to South Africa, August 1998
Duke University Women's Studies Graduate Scholars Program, 1996-97
Wittgenstein Reading Group, 1990-94
Religion and Violence Reading Group, 1993
Member, Board of Directors, Americans for Democratic Action, New York City Chapter, 1988-89
Editor of The Archive, Duke's literary and creative arts journal, 1979-80