UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara “We’re Not Ethnic”: Ethnicity, Pluralism, and Identity in Orthodox Christian America A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies by Aaron Josef Sokoll Committee in charge: Professor Wade Clark Roof, Chair Professor Catherine Albanese Professor Kathleen Moore March 2018 The dissertation of Aaron Josef Sokoll is approved. ____________________________________________ Catherine Albanese ____________________________________________ Kathleen Moore ____________________________________________ Wade Clark Roof, Committee Chair March 2018 “We’re Not Ethnic”: Ethnicity, Pluralism, and Identity in Orthodox Christian America Copyright © 2018 by Aaron Josef Sokoll iii VITA OF AARON JOSEF SOKOLL March 2018 EDUCATION Present Ph.D., Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara, (March 2018) “We're Not Ethnic”: Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in Eastern Orthodox America 2007 M.A., Religious Studies, University of Denver American Civil Religion and American Empire 1999 B.A., Philosophy, Cedarville University RESEARCH AND TEACHING INTERESTS Religion & Culture, American Religious Pluralism, Race & Ethnicity, Civil Religion TEACHING AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Teaching Associate (Instructor of Record) 2015 Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara Introduction to American Religion (Summer 2015) 2012 Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara Introduction to the Study of Religion (Spring and Summer 2012) Teaching Assistant 2014-15 Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara First Year Arabic (Full-year Appointment) Summer Intensive First Year Arabic (Summer 2014) 2012-14 Writing Program, UC Santa Barbara Introduction to Academic Writing (Full-year Appointments, Sole Instructor) 2012 History, UC Santa Barbara History of the American Peoples, 1840-1920 (Winter 2012) 2009-10 Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara Religious Approaches to Death (Winter and Fall 2009) Religion and Psychology (Spring 2010) Reader 2011 Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara Religion and Film (Fall 2011) iv 2007 Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara Christianity in the U.S. (Fall 2007) Research Assistant 2006-07 Religious Studies, University of Denver Research for Dr. Carl Raschke, Globochrist (Baker Academic, 2008) PUBLICATIONS 2016 Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States , 1 st ed., s.v. “Arab World Ministries.” Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2016. Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States , 1 st ed., s.v. “Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches.” Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2016. Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States , 1 st ed., s.v. “Evangelical Orthodox Church.” Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2016. Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States , 1 st ed., s.v. “Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.” Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2016. Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States , 1 st ed., s.v. “Syriac Orthodox Church.” Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2016. 2014 “Embodiment in Orthodox Prayer and Spirituality” with Sarah A. Riccardi. Reverberations: New Directions in the Study of Prayer , July 2, 2014, http://forums.ssrc.org/ndsp/2014/07/02/embodiment-in-orthodox-prayer-and-spirituality/ “For the Union of All? A review of Oliver Herbel’s Turning to Tradition ” The Red Egg Review, June 2014. 2013 “Connective Implications of the Material Holy” with Sarah A. Riccardi. Reverberations: New Directions in the Study of Prayer, October 9, 2013 http://forums.ssrc.org/ndsp/2013/10/09/connective-implications-of-the-material-holy/ “The Role of Religion in Global Civil Society: The Moscow Workshop” with John Soboslai, LUCE Project on Religion in Global Civil Society , Santa Barbara, CA: Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, 2013. “The Role of Religion in Global Civil Society: The Shanghai Workshop” with John Soboslai, LUCE Project on Religion in Global Civil Society , Santa Barbara, CA: Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, 2013. 2012 Encyclopedia of Global Religion , 1 st ed., s.v. “Alexander the Great.” Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2012. v Encyclopedia of Global Religion , 1 st ed., s.v. “Ancestors.” Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2012. Encyclopedia of Global Religion , 1 st ed., s.v. “Civil Religion.” Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2012. FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, AWARDS 2016 Center for Middle East Studies Language Study Grant, UC Santa Barbara 2015-16 Rowny Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara 2014 Center for Middle East Studies Conference Travel Grant, UC Santa Barbara 2013 Religious Studies Department Conference Travel Grant, UC Santa Barbara 2012 Center for Middle East Studies Conference Travel Grant, UC Santa Barbara Religious Studies Department Conference Travel Grant, UC Santa Barbara 2008-12 Religious Studies Graduate Student Fee Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara 2008 Rowny Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara 2005-07 Dean's Fellowship, University of Denver 1995-96 President's Merit Scholarship, Cedarville University CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS 2016 “Gimme That Hybrid Religion: The American Spiritual Marketplace Redefines Orthodoxy,” American Academy of Religion, San Antonio, TX 2014 “(Un)official Authority: The Case of the Female Diaconate Among Evangelical turned Orthodox Women,” American Academy of Religion, San Diego, CA 2013 “Hearing Racial and Religious Identity in Eastern Orthodox America,” American Academy of Religion, Baltimore, MD 2012 “Cradle and Convert Antiochian Orthodox Christians React to the Arab Spring,” American Academy of Religion, Chicago, IL “Race and Ethnicity in Orthodox Christian America,” Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Phoenix, AZ vi “The Effects of the Evangelical Orthodox Church on the Antiochian Archdiocese of America” AAR-Western Regional Conference, Santa Clara, CA 2010 “The Development of the Evangelical Orthodox Church in America,” UCSB ‘New’ Evangelical Studies Conference, Santa Barbara, CA INVITED PRESENTATIONS AND LECTURES 2015 “A Case Study of Secularization: The Evangelical Orthodox Church,” University of San Diego “The Musical Development of the Evangelical Orthodox Church,” First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara “The Eastern Orthodox Church in the United States,” First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara 2014 “A Proposal for the Improvement of Pedagogical Instruction for Graduate Students,” Religious Studies Departmental Colloquium, UC Santa Barbara “The Use of Race and Aesthetic Theories in ‘Hearing Racial and Religious Identity in Eastern Orthodox America,’” Religious Studies Departmental Colloquium, UC Santa Barbara 2013 “The Conversion of the Evangelical Orthodox Church to Eastern Orthodox Christianity” Problems in the Study of Religion , UC Santa Barbara 2012 “The Eastern Orthodox Church in America,” Introduction to American Religion , UC Santa Barbara “The Conversion of the Evangelical Orthodox Church to Eastern Orthodox Christianity” Problems in the Study of Religion , UC Santa Barbara 2010 “American Civil Religion,” Introduction to American Religion , UC Santa Barbara “American Civil Religion,” with W. Clark Roof, Study of the U.S. Institute - Religious Pluralism and Public Presence , UC Santa Barbara 2009 “American Civil Religion,” with W. Clark Roof, Study of the U.S. Institute - Religious Pluralism and Public Presence , UC Santa Barbara PROFESSIONAL SERVICE 2013 – Steering Committee Member, Middle Eastern Christianity Group, American Academy of Religion vii 2017 Presider, “Middle Eastern Christianity and Empire,” Middle Eastern Christianity Group, American Academy of Religion, Boston, MA 2014 Presider, “Contemporary Middle Eastern Christian Trends: Migration, Media, Mobilization,” Middle Eastern Christianity Group, American Academy of Religion, San Diego, CA Co-organizer, “(En)gendered Power: The Crafting of Socio-Religious Female Identity in Eastern Orthodox Christianity,” Women and Religion Section, Eastern Orthodox Studies Group, American Academy of Religion, San Diego, CA Panelist, “Cultural and Pedagogical Question and Answer Session with Experienced Teaching Assistants,” Oral Communication for International Teaching Assistants, UC Santa Barbara 2013 Co-organizer, “Material Culture, Race, Ethnicity, and Eastern Orthodox Christianity” Eastern Orthodox Studies Group, American Academy of Religion, Baltimore, MD 2011 Coordinator, Religious Studies Student Travel Grant Committee, UC Santa Barbara 2010-11 Graduate Student to Faculty Liaison, Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara 2010 Selection Committee Member, ‘New’ Evangelical Studies Conference, UC Santa Barbara 2006-07 Department Representative, Graduate Students of the Four Faculties, University of Denver PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2016-17 Program Co-Director, Study of the U.S. Institute - Religious Pluralism and Public Presence , funded by U.S. Department of State 2015-16 Assistant Program Director, Study of the U.S. Institute - Religious Pluralism and Public Presence , funded by U.S. Department of State 2013-16 Advisor, UC Santa Barbara Model Arab League, funded by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations 2014-15 Program Officer, Study of the U.S. Institute - Religious Pluralism and Public Presence , funded by U.S. Department of State 2013-14 Program Assistant, Study of the U.S. Institute - Religious Pluralism and Public Presence , funded by U.S. Department of State 2012-13 Assistant Advisor, UC Santa Barbara Model Arab League, funded by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations viii Program Assistant, LUCE Project