Jeffrey J. Kripal, PhD, who holds the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University, will deliver the 32nd Annual Loy P. Witherspoon Lecture at UNC Charlotte on Biological Gods: Science (Fiction) and Some Emergent Mythologies.
The Loy H. Witherspoon Lectures in Religious Studies, the oldest and most prestigious endowed lecture series at UNC Charlotte, was established in 1984 to honor the distinguished career and service of Professor Witherspoon, the first chairperson of the Department of Religious Studies at UNC Charlotte. He currently is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religion in the Department of Religious Studies.
Kripal is author and/or editor of a number of publications. He describes his current areas of writing and research as including “the articulation of a New Comparativism within the study of religion that will put “the impossible” back on the table again, a robust and even conversation between the sciences and the humanities, and the mapping of an emergent mythology or “Super Story” within paranormal communities and individual visionaries.”