William Harman (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)

updated: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 22:43:02 -0500

William P. Harman
Head, Department of Philosophy and Religion
232e Holt Hall
615 McCallile Avenue
University of Tennnessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403  USA

phone: 423-755-4336
email: william-harman@utc.edu

Description of work:

Most of my published work has focused on Hinduism in the Tamil speaking
areas of southern India. I have been especially concerned about temple
worship associated with local goddesses in the city of Madurai and the
surrounding area. 

Recently, I have begun to focus on goddesses of healing, especially in
rural areas, and on the dynamics of faith and healing. The concept of
ritual sacrifice in religious traditions has occupied my interest over the
past 6 or 8 months, and I am concerned with how sacrificial imagery
pervades religous imagery not simply in Hinduism. Indeed, the whole notion
of a millenial end that approaches in Western religious consciousness can
be understood, I believe, in view of sacrificial models such as those
presented by David Koresh, Jim Jones, the Order of the Solar Temple, and
the Japanese Aum Shinrikyo movement. 

Certain courses I teach reflect some of my ancillary interests: "Religion,
Healing, and Medicine," "Satanism, "Witchcraft, and Spirit Possession,"
and "Goddess Traditions" are a few of the current ones.