Research Interests: Dr. Scott Daniel Dunbar specializes in the religions of South Asia as well as the interdisciplinary examination of religious conflict, interreligious dialogue, just war theory, peace building, and terrorism. His geographic concentration focuses on the religions of India, especially the Hindu traditions. He also researches religion in popular culture and philosophical ethics.
Dr. Dunbar has taught at Canadian universities and colleges from British Columbia through the Prairies, to the Atlantic seaboard of Prince Edward Island. MacLean’s Guide to Canadian Universities named him as a very popular professor of religious studies for three years in a row (2003, 2004, 2005). Dr. Dunbar currently serves as the academic co-editor of the Journal of Religion and Popular Culture published by the University of Toronto Press.
Teaching Areas:
Academic courses taught and directed by Dr. Dunbar include the following diverse canopy: World Religions, Asian Religions; Religions of India; Indian Philosophy; Hinduism; Buddhism; Religious Ethics—East and West; Religious Violence and Terrorism; Religion and Popular Culture; and Interreligious Dialogue. Additionally, he has instructed continuing education and on-line courses on World Religions, Comparative Religious Wisdom, as well as Mysterious Religious History.
Current Research-Writing Projects:
Recent Publications and Conference Papers:
2011 Oxford University Press Student Study Guide to accompany Willard G. Oxtoby & Alan Segal, A Concise Introduction to the World Religions, 2nd ed. (Available on-line at the hyperlink to below)
http://www.oupcanada.com/
2011 “Unlocking the Vault of the Mind: Inception and Asian Philosophy,” in David Kyle Johnson (ed.) Inception and Philosophy: Because It's Never Just a Dream (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series). pp. 276-294.
2011 “Mahātmā Gandhi’s Impatience with Cowards: Ambivalent Warrior Ideals in Gandhi’s Philosophy of Non-Violence,” AAR Annual Meeting. San Francisco, Nov. 19, 2011.
2011 “Hindu Religious Warfare: Interdisciplinary Reflections on the Ethics of Political Statecraft in India.” Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. (Feb. 28, 2011)
2010 “Understanding the Roots of Hindutva: An Interdisciplinary Analysis” Department of Religion and Culture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. (Feb. 25, 2010)
2008 “Orientalism in Outerspace: The Ascendancy of Sanskrit Mantras in Modern Science-Fiction Soundtracks.“ Australian Religious Studies Review. Vol. 21, No. 3. (Fall 2008): 366-385.
2007 “Sanskrit Mantras in Modern Science-Fiction Films and Soundtracks.” American Academy of Religion (AAR) Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. Nov. 18th, 2007.
2007 “Satire, Pedagogy, Social Commentary and Ecstasy: Understanding the Various Roles of Humour in Religion.” Congress of Humanities. Canadian Society for the Study of Religion (C.S.S.R.). Saskatoon, SK., May 29, 2007.
Forthcoming Publications:
2013. Religious Conflict and Cooperation: An Introduction. London and New York: Continuum/ Bloomsbury Press. [Monograph]
2012 “War in Heaven” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture: A Handbook for Students. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Not Peace but a Sword” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture: A Handbook for Students. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Legion” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Jacob’s Ladder” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Spare the Rod” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture: A Handbook for Students. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Sparrow’s Fall” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture: A Handbook for Students. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture: A Handbook for Students. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Rose of Sharon” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture: A Handbook for Students. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
2012 “Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Smoke” in Mary Ann Beavis and Michael Gilmour (eds.) Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Last Updated: May 2012
