The Ritual of Conference Attendance in Academia

In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the annual ritual of attending academic conferences in the field of religious studies and biblical studies. They share their own experiences and offer tips for conference attendees, such as staying hydrated and wearing comfortable shoes. They also talk about their upcoming presentations and panels at the conference. The hosts delve into the concept of American expressions of religion and the longing to embody and live out the Bible in America. They highlight the work of Cotton Mather, who tried to establish an American interpretive tradition, and discuss the tension between using the Puritan past to explain contemporary movements while also recognizing its limitations. They explore how influential figures like Mather and Benjamin Franklin tried to legitimize American intellectual contributions. The hosts touch on the idea of ancient Israel and how conceptions of its history are similar to using the Puritan past to understand present-day America.