Curriculum Vitae (Philip A. Harland)

About my teaching and research

I am presently Associate Professor in the Humanities Division at York University in Toronto, where I teach in both the Religious Studies and Ancient History programs. For several years I taught in the Religion Department of Concordia University, Montreal. I received my bachelor’s degree in both History and Religious Studies from the University of Waterloo before pursuing graduate studies at the University of Toronto. My master’s degree and doctorate in Christian origins and the religions of antiquity come from the Centre for the Study of Religion. Previously, I was teaching at several universities in Ontario, including Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and McMaster University. My teaching and research focus on the comparative study of Judaism, Christianity, and other religions in ancient society, as well as the social history of the Greco-Roman world generally. I am especially interested in the light that archeological and epigraphic evidence can shed on early Jewish and Christian history and literature.

Academic Degrees


1994-99 Ph.D. (Religious Studies, University of Toronto)

  • Specialization: Early Christianity
  • Cognate Areas: Jewish diaspora and Greco-Roman religions
  • Dissertation: “Claiming a Place in Polis and Empire: The Significance of Imperial Cults and Connections among Associations, Synagogues and Christian Groups in Roman Asia.” (Nominated for Governor General’s Gold Medal award)
    (John S. Kloppenborg, Peter Richardson, and Roger Beck, committee)

1993-94 M.A. (Religious Studies, University of Toronto)

  • Specialization: Early Christianity
  • Thesis: “The Economy of Roman Palestine (I-III CE).” 

1988-93 B.A. (History and Religious Studies, University of Waterloo)

Academic Honours, Awards, and Research Grants

  • 2004-09: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Individual Research Grant (three years)
  • 2004: F. W. Beare Book Award, Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (for Associations, Synagogues and Congregations)
  • 2003-06: Fonds Quebecois de la recherche sur la société et la culture - Nouveaux chercheurs (three years)
  • 2002-03: Concordia University Research Grant, Bridge Funding (for those in SSHRC category 4a)

Teaching Experience

Associate Professor, York University, Toronto (July 2006-present)

Undergraduate courses

  • Founders of Christianity: Introduction to Early Christian Literature (HUMA 2830 6.0; 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009)
  • Diversity in Early Christianity (HUMA 4825)
  • Visions of the End: Early Jewish and Christian Apocalypticism (HUMA 4819 3.0; Winter 2007)

Graduate courses

  • Honouring the Gods in the Ancient Mediterranean: A Regional Study of Asia Minor (HUMA 6217.03 / HIST 5037.03; Winter 2009)

Graduate reading course supervision

  • Advanced New Testament Greek (HUMA 4050 3.0; Fall 2007 [PhD level])
  • The Social History of Pauline Christianity (Spring-Summer 2007 [PhD level])

Graduate thesis involvement and supervision

  • External examiner for: Mayjee Philip, "'Someone has said somewhere': A Transtextual Analysis of the Tabernacle Theme in the Letter to the Hebrews" (Concordia University, 2007).

Assistant Professor, Concordia University, Montreal (July 2001-June 2006)

Undergraduate courses

  • Social and Cultural History of Christianity, part 2: Mystics, Heretics, and  Reformers (1300-1650) (RELI 321; Fall 2005)
  • On the Margins of Christianity: Heresy, Dissidence and the End of the World (RELI 324; Winter 2005)
  • Biblical Studies 2: Christian Origins (RELI 302; Winter 2002, 2003, and 2005)
  • A History of Satan: Evil Personified in Early Judaism and in Christianity (RELI 398U; Winter 2003)
  • Mystery Religions in the Ancient Mediterranean (RELI 398P; Fall 2002)
  • Women and Religion: Christianity (RELI 382; Winter 2002)

Graduate courses

  • Diversity in Early Christianity: Early Christian Apocrypha and “Gnostic” Writings (RELI 641; Fall 2005)
  • Doctoral Seminar: Method and Theory (RELI 890; Fall 2004-Winter 2005)
  • Paul of Tarsus and his Communities (RELI 637J; Fall 2004)
  • Apocalypticism in Early Judaism and in Christianity (RELI 629Q; Fall 2002)
  • Diversity in Early Christianity: Asia Minor (RELI 641; Fall 2001)

Undergraduate reading course and honours thesis supervision

  • Perceptions of Judas Iscariot in Early Christianity (RELI 410; 2005)
  • Zoroastrian and Jewish Apocalypticism (RELI 410; 2004-05)
  • Social Aspects of Gnosticism: Valentinians (RELI 410; 2002-2003)
  • Women in Early Christianity: Mary Magdalene (RELI 498; 2002-2003)
  • Philo of Alexandria and Plato’s Notion of the Soul (RELI 410; 2001-2002)

Graduate reading course supervision:

  • Early Jewish and Christian Apocalypticism (RELI 629V [M.A.]; Winter 2005)
  • Modern American Apocalyptic: The Left Behind Series (RELI 829B [Ph.D]; Fall 2004)
  • Origins of American Fundamentalism (RELI 639M [M.A.]; Fall 2004)
  • Associations and Early Judaism (RELI 801G [Ph.D.]; 2002-03)
  • Emperor Julian and Roman Cultural Policy (RELI 639L [M.A.]; Fall 2002

Graduate thesis involvement and supervision:

  • Thesis supervisor for: Angela Brkich, The Relationship between Apocalypticism and the Status of Women in Early Christian Communities" (Master's Thesis: Concordia University, 2007)
  • External to program examiner for: David Mendelsohn, “Angry Gods, Prayer, and the Court of Law: Assuming Responsibility in Greece and the Near East.” Doctoral dissertation: Concordia University, 2005.
  • External examiner for: Dina Teitelbaum, “The Jewish Ossuary Phenomenon: Cultural Receptivity in Roman Palestine.” Doctoral dissertation: University of Ottawa, 2005.
  • Thesis supervisor for: Katrina Wigston, “Satan and the Antichrist in Reformation Scotland.” Master’s thesis: Concordia University, 2003.
  • Thesis examiner for: Dany Julien, “Les Amazons parmi les pères de l’église.” Master’s thesis: Concordia University, 2002.

Sessional Lecturer Positions (1998-2001)

  • McMaster University: The Jewish World in New Testament Times (RS 3DD3; Winter 2001)
  • University of Waterloo: The Revelation of John in Cultural Context (RS 307a; Winter 2001)
  • Wilfrid Laurier University:  Paul of Tarsus (RE301; Fall 2000); Apocalypticism: Ancient Origins, Continuing Legacies (RE 344; Summer 2000); Christianity and Western Culture II: The Modern Period (RE 216; Winter 2000); Jesus of Nazareth (RE 335 [Distance Ed.]; Fall 1999; Winter, Summer, Fall 2000, Winter, Summer, Fall 2001)
  • University of Toronto: The Christian Religious Tradition: From Jewish Sect to World Religion (RLG 203Y; 2000-01); The Christian Religious Tradition: Origins to the Present (RLG 203Y; 1999-2000); Paul of Tarsus: Life, Letters and Legacy (RLG 324; Winter 1998)
  • York University: Founders of Christianity: Introduction to Early Christian Literature (HUMA 2830; 1999-2000)

Publications

Websites

  • "Dynamics of Identity in the World of the Early Christians" (from 2009) <http://www.philipharland.com/DynamicsofIdentity/>
    • This site is a companion to the book by the same name, dealing with identity and belonging in associations, immigrants and cultural minorities in the Roman empire.
  • “Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean blog” (from 2005) <www.philipharland.com/Blog/>
    • This weblog is an ongoing series of brief entries and links on social and religious life in the ancient Mediterranean (including Jews, Christians, Greeks, and Romans) and on the cultural history of Christianity aimed at a general audience and at students, as well as scholars.
  • "Greco-Roman Meals Seminar (Society of Biblical Literature) (since 2005)
    <http://www.philipharland.com/meals/GrecoRomanMealsSeminar.htm>
    • This is the official site of the seminar, dealing with the significance of meal practices in the Greco-Roman world.
  • “Travel and Religion in Antiquity (Canadian Society of Biblical Studies)” (from 2005) <www.philipharland.com/travelandreligion.htm>
    • This site (linked to a seminar of the same name in the CSBS) explores the ways in which travel and mobility influenced, constrained, and facilitated religious activity and cultural interaction in the Greco-Roman world (including topics such as pilgrimage, ethnography, occupational travel, and immigration).
  • “Virtual Tours of Archeological Museums” (from 2004)<www.philipharland.com/museumindex.htm>
    • This site provides photographic tours of some of the museum materials in Turkey / Asia Minor (including the museums of Istanbul, Aphrodisias, Hierapolis, Ephesus, and Smyrna).
  • "Associations, Synagogues, and Congregations" (from 2003) <www.philipharland.com/associations.html>
    • This illustrated site provides an interactive discussion of religious groups and social life in the Greco-Roman world (especially Asia Minor) for a general and scholarly audience.

Papers Presented at Conferences and Colloquia

  • Nov. 2009: "Other Diasporas: Syrian Immigrants, Ethnic Identities, and Acculturation."  Greco-Roman Religions section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, New Orleans.
  • July 2009: “Dynamics of Identity: Judeans and Christians in the Context of Associations and Cultural Minorities.”  Greco-Roman World section, International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Rome, Italy
  • May 2009: “Journeys in Pursuit of Divine Wisdom: Stories of Thessalos and Other Seekers.”  Travel and Religion in Antiquity Seminar, Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Carleton University
  • March 2009: “Dynamics of Identity: Judeans and Christians in the Context
    of Associations.”  Context Group, Stella, New York (by invitation)
  • March 2008: “’The days seemed like years’: Thessalos’ Journeys and Preparations to Meet an Egyptian God.”  Culture and Religion in Antiquity Seminar, University of Toronto (by invitation). (Also presented at the York University Classics Seminar, April 2008.)
  • Dec. 2006: “‘These people are . . . Men Eaters’: Banquets of the Anti-Associations and Perceptions of Minority Cultural Groups.”  Oriental Club of Toronto (by invitation)
  • Oct. 2006: Response to Steve Mason, “Josephus as Authority for First Century Judaea.”  Seminar on Ancient Judaisms and Christianities, University of Toronto (by invitation)
  • Nov. 2005: “Culturally Transgressive Banquets in Greco-Roman Associations: Imagination and Reality.”  Greco-Roman Meals Seminar, Society of Biblical Literature, Philadelphia (by invitation). 
  • May 2005: “Pausing at the Intersection of Religion and Travel in Antiquity.”  Travel and Religion in Antiquity Seminar, Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, University of Western Ontario, London. 
  • Oct. 2003: “Honouring the Gods, Feasting with Friends: The Purposes of Associations in the Greco-Roman World.”  Religious Associations in Context Conference, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (keynote address, by invitation). 
  • Nov. 2002: “Spheres of Contention, Claims of Preeminence: Rivalries Among Associations in Sardis and Smyrna.”  Religious Rivalries, Society of Biblical Literature, Toronto (by invitation). (Also presented, by invitation, at the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Religious Rivalries Seminar, Canadian Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities, l’Université Laval, Quebec, May 2001). 
  • May 2002: “Christ-bearers and Fellow-initiates: Local Cultural Life and Christian Identity in Ignatius’ Letters.”  Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Canadian Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Toronto. 
  • May 2002: “Succeeding in Academic Interviews.”  Concordia University Graduate Student Conference, Montreal (by invitation).
  • Nov. 1999: “Honouring the Emperor or Assailing the Beast: Participation in Civic Life Among Associations in Asia Minor and the Apocalypse of John.”
    John’s Apocalypse and Cultural Contexts: Ancient and Modern, Society of Biblical Literature, Boston, Massachusetts. (Also presented, by invitation, at the Conrad Grebel College Faculty Forum, University of Waterloo, Feb. 2000.)
  • June 1998: “The Declining Polis? Religious Rivalries in the Civic Context.”  Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (Religious Rivalries Seminar), Canadian Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Ottawa (by invitation).
  • March 1998: “Models of Decline in the Study of the Greco-Roman City (polis).” University of Waterloo/Wilfrid Laurier University Biblical Colloquium.
  • June 1997: “Greco-Roman Associations and Imperial Facets of Civic Life: Shedding Light on Jewish and Christian Groups in Roman Asia (i-ii c.e.).” Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Learned Societies, Memorial University. 
  • Jan. 1997: “Associations and the Imperial Presence in Civic Life: Revelation and 1 Peter.” Toronto School of Theology Seminar Series, University of Toronto. 
  • Nov. 1995: “Imperial Cults and Associations: Revising a Scholarly Paradigm.” Colloquium on Religion in Antiquity, Centre for the Study of Religion.
  • March 1995: “Greco-Roman Associations and Their Significance for the Study of Christianity.”  Colloquium on Religion in Antiquity, Centre for the Study of Religion.

Media Consulting and Interviews

  • Consultant and interviewee for “Do you believe in the Devil?” CBC News Sunday Television (produced by David Ridgen) (Feb. 2004)