Four graduate students from the Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions (LCR) presented their research at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) Midwest regional conference April 16-18.

Religious Studies MA students Hezekiah Harrison, Ashley Jones, Michael Perez, and Seth Weidman attended the 2026 conference at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. Associate Professor Vadim Putzu accompanied the students to the conference. Putzu currently serves as chair of the Study of Judaism section of the Midwest AAR.

The AAR is the largest scholarly society for the academic study of religion, according to Putzu. The Midwest regional conference is especially vibrant, he noted, as it attracts hundreds of scholars at all career stages each year.

“It was a great opportunity not only for our students to share their ongoing research, receive relevant feedback, and keep up-to-date with current scholarship, but also for our faculty to network and to recruit,” Putzu said.

From 2021 to 2025, Missouri State University hosted the Midwest regional conference, Putzu added.

Topics range from Mosaic justice to the Protestant work ethic

The students’ presentation topics reflected a variety of religion topics.

Weidman presented “Divine Justice: Crime and Punishment in the Apocalypse of Moses.” Harrison discussed “Changes in Culture: An Examination of Ibn Khaldun’s Asabiyyah Through the Lens of Max Weber’s Sense of Religious Identity in the Protestant Work Ethic.” Jones examined Protestant themes in “Mothman and Jesus: How Cryptids Reflect the Protestant Feelings of America.” Finally, Perez presented on “The Cardassian Orientalist: Deep Space Nine Presenting Orientalism.”

Perez explores religious themes in science fiction

After obtaining a master’s, Perez hopes to earn a doctorate and teach in the field. Their research applies theories of religion to science fiction, such as “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”

In “The Cardassian Orientalist,” Perez used Edward Said’s theory of Orientalism to explain the Cardassian leader, Gul Dukat.

“I have an interest in applying post-modern theories onto media-based religions within science fiction,” Perez said, noting that the process adds to religion scholars’ understanding of future trends.

Weidman uses ancient texts to examine “rational consent”

Weidman is nearing completion of his thesis research in religious studies at Missouri State. Like Perez, he hopes to teach at the university level.

In “Divine Justice,” Weidman examines the pseudepigraphal text, “The Apocalypse of Moses.” Working within the framework of rational consent, Weidman asks whether the characters in this lesser-known version of the Genesis story have the capacity to consent to divine commands that shape their punishment.

Conference brings career and academic experience

Perez and Weidman agreed that attending the conference gave them confidence and experience.

For Perez, an immediate benefit was learning about current research trends. “I had a chance to connect and communicate with others who studied similar fields of religion in film and television,” Perez said.

Meanwhile, Weidman believes participating in the conference increased his marketability “tenfold.”

“I got out of the experience [an] immersion into the culture and expectations bound up in religious studies,” he said. “I am encouraged by the various panelists and keynote speakers to continually improve my research skills.”

Although traveling to Cincinnati stretched Weidman’s finances, he still felt the conference was important to his future career in religious studies.

“I felt it necessary to enrich myself with an experience that bolsters my resume, improves my academic skills, allows me to support my fellow graduate students and, most importantly, challenges me to be more receptive, empathetic, curious and motivated,” he said.

Study religion @ Mo State

Photo credits: Vadim Putzu.

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