Kayla Kauffman

Assistant Professor of Religion

Office:

Berte Humanities Building 110

Contact Information:

Box 549034
Birmingham-Southern College
900 Arkadelphia Rd
Birmingham, AL 35254
Office Phone: (205) 226-4619
Office Fax: (205) 226-3089
E-mail: [email protected]

Educational Background:

B.A. (2007), Goshen College
M.A. (2016), University of Virginia
Ph. D. (2018), University of Virginia

Areas of Academic Interest:

Broadly speaking, I specialize in the history of religions in Africa, which encompasses both "indigenous" and "world" religions such as Islam, Christianity, Vodou, and the other local religious traditions. More specifically, I focus on Christianity in Africa, specifically the recent, dramatic rise of Charismatic Churches (often associated with American Pentecostalism and the "Prosperity Gospel") in West Africa. I analyze adaptations of exogenous, religious trends while engaging theories of religious conversion, globalization, and modernization.

I am also interested in the ways in which religion intersects with social justice, nonviolence, popular and secular culture, and international relations.

Courses Taught:

RE 110 Religious Food Traditions

RE 201 Introduction to Christianity

RE 231 Popular and Folk Religions

RE 353 Nonviolence