Michael DeVries
@michaeldevries.bsky.social
PhD @unibirmingham.bsky.social | Second Temple Judaism | Dead Sea Scrolls | Researching ritual, cognition, and the Qumran movement | Adjunct Professor | הוא/אותו
Getting ready for our paper at SBL on ritual and anxiety. Co-presenting with Jutta Jokiranta on Sunday afternoon. Swing by if you can!
October 31, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Getting ready for our paper at SBL on ritual and anxiety. Co-presenting with Jutta Jokiranta on Sunday afternoon. Swing by if you can!
One of Malinowski’s insights: when people find themselves in a situation in which they lack control over the outcome, they will engage in ritualized behavior to influence the outcome.
October 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
One of Malinowski’s insights: when people find themselves in a situation in which they lack control over the outcome, they will engage in ritualized behavior to influence the outcome.
Revisiting ritual and anxiety reduction and decided to go WAY back in the literature. 1948 to be exact.
October 7, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Revisiting ritual and anxiety reduction and decided to go WAY back in the literature. 1948 to be exact.
If you are working within the field of early Christianity, be sure you read this book. Like immediately. Uro's application of cognitive science of religion (CSR) to early Christian ritual practice is outstanding.
September 29, 2025 at 12:29 AM
If you are working within the field of early Christianity, be sure you read this book. Like immediately. Uro's application of cognitive science of religion (CSR) to early Christian ritual practice is outstanding.
Proofs of the second chapter ("Eschatological Violence in the Dead Sea Scrolls") in *The Bible and Violence* project with @tandtclark.bsky.social are back!
September 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Proofs of the second chapter ("Eschatological Violence in the Dead Sea Scrolls") in *The Bible and Violence* project with @tandtclark.bsky.social are back!
Proofs are back from the first of two chapters in *The Bible and Violence* project (@tandtclark.bsky.social). Looking forward to seeing the final product!
August 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Proofs are back from the first of two chapters in *The Bible and Violence* project (@tandtclark.bsky.social). Looking forward to seeing the final product!
Fascism? Check.
August 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Fascism? Check.
Sunday afternoon reading.
July 27, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Sunday afternoon reading.
Working on my review of Étienne Nodet’s *A Gate to Heaven* for @readingreligion.bsky.social.
July 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Working on my review of Étienne Nodet’s *A Gate to Heaven* for @readingreligion.bsky.social.
Final stop, LAX. Home, sweet home.
June 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Final stop, LAX. Home, sweet home.
Next stop, London!
June 28, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Next stop, London!
And so the long journey begins!
June 28, 2025 at 5:55 AM
And so the long journey begins!
Had an absolutely wonderful time in Uppsala this week at ISBL/EABS. Spent time with good friends, presented a paper, and worked on plans for the future. Time to head home!
June 27, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Had an absolutely wonderful time in Uppsala this week at ISBL/EABS. Spent time with good friends, presented a paper, and worked on plans for the future. Time to head home!
More photos for the first night!
June 22, 2025 at 6:44 PM
More photos for the first night!
First night in Uppsala!
June 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
First night in Uppsala!
Next stop, Stockholm.
June 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Next stop, Stockholm.
And so the journey begins. Looking forward to seeing everyone at ISBL in Uppsala!
June 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
And so the journey begins. Looking forward to seeing everyone at ISBL in Uppsala!
Can’t wait to dive into this! @drblankam.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Can’t wait to dive into this! @drblankam.bsky.social
Such a pleasure to share a bit of my current research on ritual, cognition, and the Qumran movement last Friday morning at the STECA Virtual Conference. Although it was EARLY in the morning (6 am in California), the discussion was wonderful!
May 28, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Such a pleasure to share a bit of my current research on ritual, cognition, and the Qumran movement last Friday morning at the STECA Virtual Conference. Although it was EARLY in the morning (6 am in California), the discussion was wonderful!
From today’s reading: Harvey Whitehouse’s discussion on the “tedium effect” regarding high frequency ritual activity (from Argument and Icons).
May 24, 2025 at 8:53 PM
From today’s reading: Harvey Whitehouse’s discussion on the “tedium effect” regarding high frequency ritual activity (from Argument and Icons).
The morning read.
May 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The morning read.
Absolutely brilliant. Lawson and McCauley’s work here on a structural theory of religious ritual systems and forms was (and still is) groundbreaking. A must read.
April 23, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Absolutely brilliant. Lawson and McCauley’s work here on a structural theory of religious ritual systems and forms was (and still is) groundbreaking. A must read.
Finishing up a few final revisions on this article for Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. Coming soon!
April 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Finishing up a few final revisions on this article for Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. Coming soon!