David G. Robertson
d.g.robertson@ed.ac.uk
edinburgh.academia.edu/Davidgrobertson
Current Research Projects
“Aquarian Conspiracies: Extraterrestrials as discursive unit between New Age and conspiracist milieux.” Ph.D, supervised by Dr. Steven Sutcliffe. Expected completion, 12/2013.
Education
2009-2010: MSc by Research, Religious Studies, University of Edinburgh, 11/2010. “Gnosticism as a discursive field”, supervisor Dr. Steven Sutcliffe.
2005-2009: MA (Hons), Religious Studies. Edinburgh University, 7/2009. First class honours.
Research and Teaching Interests
Contemporary gnosticism; early Christianity; conspiracy theorism; 20th century alternative spirituality; graphic novels.
Future research plans: Long-form survey of contemporary gnostic groups; a Very Short Introduction to Alternative Spiritualities for undergraduates; an edited volume on metaphysical conspiracism.
Publications
“Making the Donkey Visible: Discordianism in the Works of Robert Anton Wilson” in C. Cusack & A. Norman (Eds.), Brill Handbook of New Religions and Cultural Production. Leiden: Brill. (2012 )
“(Always) Living in the End Times: the Rolling Prophecy of Conspiracy Culture” in Sarah Harvey & Suzanne Newcombe (Eds.) Prophecy in the New Millennium: When Prophecies Persist. London: INFORM/Ashgate. (2012 – in press)
“The Reptilian Thesis as New Age Theodicy: David Icke’s Metaphysical Conspiracism.” In Journal of Contemporary Religion (In press).
Review: Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the Sacred. Jeffrey J. Kripal. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2010. In the International Journal for the Study of New Religions, 2/2. (2012)
Review: Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books and Graphic Novels. A. David Lewis and Christine Hoff Kraemer (Eds). New York and London: Continuum, 2010. In Journal of Religious History. (In press)
January, 2011 – Contemporary ‘Gnosticism’ as a Discursive Field: an analysis of individual and institutional authority in twentieth century ‘gnostic’ movements. M.Sc thesis. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.
Awards
2011: BASR Conference Post-graduate Bursary
2010-2013: Edinburgh University, Ph.D. full scholarship (School of Divinity, through AHRC)
2009-10: Edinburgh University, M.Sc. full scholarship (School of Divinity, through AHRC)
2008: Gunning Prize – 2nd place Junior Honours
Presentations
(Always) Living in the End Times: The Rolling Prophecy of Conspiracy Culture. INFORM, London School of Economics. 12/5/2012.
Reptilians, the New Age and Globalisation. SOCREL conference, Chester, 28/3/2012.
The Religious Studies Project Workshop. Innovative Learning Week, 22/2/2012.
The Demythologisation of Traditional Religious Symbols in Modern Extraterrestrial Narratives. Workshop for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion and Culture, Edinburgh University, 15/2/2012.
The Demythologisation of Traditional Religious Symbols in Modern Extraterrestrial Narratives. BASR Annual Conference, Durham, 7/9/2011.
Typologies of 20th Century “Gnosticism”, Religious Studies Seminar Series, University of Edinburgh, 3/2/2010.
EMPLOYMENT
2012: Tutor: University of Edinburgh, Divinity, Religion 1A (two groups).
2012: Lecturer, part-time: University of Edinburgh, Divinity, Religion 1A – 3-week unit on New Religions.
2011-12: Editorial assistant: ‘What is Religious Studies? A Reader in Disciplinary Formation’ by Steven J. Sutcliffe (London: Equinox).
2011-13: Tutor: Edinburgh University, Office of Lifelong Learning.
2011-12: Co-organiser of Edinburgh University Religious Studies Seminar series.
Professional Courses
Public Speaking, 15-17/08/2011. Office of Lifelong Learning at Edinburgh University, led by Jacqueline Whymark
Aspiring Academics Workshop in Scotland, 27/10/2010. Hosted by the Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies for the Higher Education Academy.
Teaching Experience
2012: Lecturer: University of Edinburgh, Divinity, Religious Studies 1A – 3-week unit on New Religions.
2012: Alternative Spiritualities. Edinburgh of University, Office of Lifelong Learning. (Adults)
2005-8: Private guitar tuition. (Children and adults)
Professional Affiliations
BASR
BSA Socrel, Sociology of Religion Study Group
RASEN – Religion and Society, Edinburgh Network
Additional Skills
Biblical Greek (good reading knowledge).
Web design & blogging experience.
Published writing and editorial experience (fiction, journalism, comics).
References
Dr. Steven Sutcliffe, Senior Lecturer in Religion and Society, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, EH1 2LX. s.sutcliffe@ed.ac.uk
Professor Carole Cusack, University of Sydney, Department for the Study of Religion, Woolley Building A-20, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Carole.Cusack@sydney.edu.au
Professor James Cox, University of Edinburgh, School of Divinity, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh EH1 2LX, Scotland, UK. J.Cox@ed.ac.uk
Writing Sample
Book review: Rethinking “Gnosticism”: An Argument for Dismantling a Dubious Category, by Michael Williams. http://tinyurl.com/2v72znz
