The Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion is pleased to announce four recipients for the CCSR’s 2025 doctoral research and travel awards :
Catherine Van Reenen, PhD student, University of Manitoba, member of the CSSR
Flesh at a Distance: A Media History of Teleplasm
My research focuses on the history of twentieth-century psychical research—that is, the scientific study of so-called ‘psychic’ or ‘paranormal’ phenomena. While the study of mediums, telepathic powers, or poltergeists is no longer recognized as legitimate science today, during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, many prominent physicists, physicians, and other mainstream scientists participated in what was then the nascent discipline of psychical research. The history of psychical research thus offers a lens into an (ultimately failed) process of disciplinary formation and provides insight into how the boundaries between epistemological categories constitutive of Western modernity—such as ‘religion’, ‘science’, and ‘the occult’—have been constructed and negotiated.
My doctoral project focuses specifically on an obscure phenomenon in the history of psychical research: teleplasm (a.k.a. ectoplasm)—a mysterious substance alleged to ooze from the orifices of entranced mediums during seances. Teleplasm—literally, ‘flesh at a distance’—was considered by some psychical researchers to be the (re)materialization of disembodied spirits of the dead who manipulated matter from ‘the other side’ in order to reconnect with the living. In this sense, teleplasm is part of a long history of communications technologies, both real and imaginary, for extending the body in a virtual environment —from teleportation and astral projection to television and Zoom. My doctoral project synthesizes theoretical and methodological approaches from the study of religion and media history in order to explore the relevance of teleplasm—and thus of psychical research—to modern media culture.
Christopher Miller, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, member of the CSSR
Transforming Deathways: Green and Natural Burial in Canada
My project explores the terrain of emerging eco-conscious death practices in Canada. Green burial describes an alternative to conventional burial which involves no embalming, no concrete grave liners, using only biodegradable materials, and disturbing the surrounding area as little as possible. My research involves site visits to natural and hybrid cemeteries across Canada, and interviews with a range of stakeholders, including staff, advocates, and those who desire a green burial for themselves. This work is complemented by discourse analysis of news media and the digital presence of green burial organizations.
In addition to mapping the available options (and challenges to establishing or accessing these alternatives) I explore the reasons behind people pursuing these practices. These range from minimizing environmental impact to putting oneself more in touch with nature. Mortuary practices also reflect (consciously or otherwise) people’s beliefs about what happens after death. Examined against the backdrop of rising nonreligion, my work traces the emergence of new lifestances that are informed by relationships and encounters with nature.
Faezeh Izadi, PhD student, University of Calgary, member of the CSSR
Giving and Godliness: Analyzing Charity Dynamics and Effectiveness in Shia Islam in Dialogue with Effective Altruism
Religiosity has long been a powerful motivator for philanthropy, yet religious giving is frequently critiqued for its inefficiency in maximizing impact. Faezeh’s research delves into the intersection of Shia Islamic charitable practices and the principles of Effective Altruism (EA), a philosophy and social movement advocating for evidence-based, high-impact giving to combat global poverty. This study uniquely bridges Shia Islam’s rich moral cosmology and structured giving mechanisms—such as zakat, khums, and sadaqa—with EA’s rational, utilitarian approach to humanitarian efforts.
Employing historical contextualization and discourse analysis, the research explores how Shia Muslims conceptualize key moral values like equality, priority, and rights within their charitable practices. It examines the historical motivations behind Shia giving, the role of authority within its religious framework, and the socio-political dynamics shaping these practices. The study also identifies both strengths and limitations of Shia philanthropy, highlighting barriers to its effectiveness while proposing ways to integrate EA principles to enhance impact.
Simultaneously, the project critically examines EA’s focus on efficiency and utilitarianism, questioning whether these approaches overlook the communal and moral dimensions inherent in religious giving. By fostering dialogue between faith-based traditions and secular movements like EA, this research contributes to global conversations on philanthropy. It emphasizes the need for a more holistic understanding of giving that accounts for cultural, ethical, and systemic considerations. The findings aim to benefit Shia charitable organizations while informing broader strategies for alleviating global poverty.
Alexandra Stankovich, PhD student, Université de Sherbrooke, member of the SQÉR
Subvertir les orthodoxies : l’exploration de l’intermarginalité des figures publiques queer d’expérience hassidique comme agent⸱e⸱s de changement
À partir d’une démarche en philosophie de terrain (Briggle, 2015; Vollaire 2016) – combinant les approches en sciences sociales et en philosophie pratique – la recherche s’intéresse au concept de marginalité et plus précisément, celle en lien avec les figures publiques queer d’expérience hassidique. La thèse soutenue est que les revendications avancées par ces individus exercent une pression sur les normes, complexifiant la discussion sur le religieux, l’orthodoxie et la perméabilité de leurs frontières. La position particulière qu’il⸱elle⸱iel⸱s occupent suppose un type de marginalité spécifique : l’intermarginalité. Dans ce contexte, cette posture se développe en marge de deux groupes principaux : la société libérale et séculière et la communauté d’appartenance que sont les communautés hassidiques (Stankovich, 2024a, 2024b, 2020a, 2020b; Stankovich dans Gaddi et al., 2022). À partir de cet espace liminaire, il⸱elle⸱iel⸱s mettent de l’avant qu’il n’existe pas qu’un chemin pour définir ce que c’est que d’être juif.ve, mais que les expériences structurant la judéité sont diverses; il⸱elle⸱iel⸱s défendent donc une identité singulière, hybride et dynamique sans s’identifier binairement à un groupe ou l’autre (Fader, 2020; Newfield, 2020; Roda, 2023, 2022, 2020; Stankovich, 2024a, 2020a).
Ainsi, le concept d’intermarginalité permettra de mieux représenter les revendications des groupes marginaux, de contribuer aux réflexions philosophiques autour des concepts d’agentivité et d’identité, ainsi qu’un apport interdisciplinaire aux études juives et de genres, puisque les expériences vécues par les personnes queer d’expérience hassidiques nous informent sur les frontières des normativités du point de vue du genre, de la sexualité et de la religiosité.
