Dr. Laura Hobgood-Oster

Dr. Laura Hobgood-Oster holds the Elizabeth Root Paden Chair in Religion. Her teaching and research focus on the History of Christianity, Religion and Ecology, Animals and Religion, Ecofeminism and Women in the Christian Tradition. She also teaches in the Environmental Studies program.

Dr. Hobgood-Oster offers the following courses: Introduction to the Christian Tradition; Religion and Ecology; Heretics; Animals and Religion; Women and Religion; Upper-level Seminars in the Christian Tradition.

After receiving the M.Div. degree from Vanderbilt University and the Ph.D. degree from Saint Louis University, Dr. Hobgood-Oster taught for two years at California State University, Chico. She joined the faculty of Southwestern University in the fall of 1998. Laura lives with her husband, Jack, and their two canine buddies, Codi and Cezar.

Recent publications include:

Holy Dogs and Asses: Animals in the History of the Christian Tradition (2008)

The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature (2005), Executive Editor (Bron Taylor, editor in chief)

Crossroads Choices: Biblical Wisdom Literature into the 21st Century (2000)

The Sabbath Journal of Judith Lomax, Atlanta: Scholars Press (1999)

"Sophia: Frolicking with Creation," The Earth Bible, vol. 4, Ecojustice Readings in Wisdom Literature (forthcoming)

"Wells and Water of the Earth," The Earth Bible, vol. 2, Genesis (2000)

"Another Eve: A Case Study in the Earliest Manifestations of Christian Esotericism," Esoterica: The Journal of Esoteric Studies (Winter 1998)