Loren D. Lybarger

Loren D. Lybarger

"My research focus has been on the modern revitalization of religion as a vehicle of political protest and social identity in contemporary Palestinian society. I developed this interest while living in the West Bank, Egypt, and the Gaza Strip from 1986 to 1993 and 1999 to 2000.

"My research concerns guide my teaching interests. I currently offer basic introductions to Islam and the Western Religions that not only survey basic historical developments, theological concepts, ritual practices, and contemporary developments but also utilize sociological and ethnographic studies to expose students to how these religions shape every day life. I also teach upper level seminars on Religion, Nationali sm, and Political Violence (which focus on the evolution of fundamentalist religious movements in Lebanon, Iran, Palestine, Israel, and the United States); on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and on contemporary Middle Eastern Literature. I will be introducing additional courses in the coming year that explore other aspects of Middle East Societies and Cultures, Muslim Politics, Sufi sm, and the Qur’an and its Interpretation." CV


 * TEFL Consultant, June 1991-August 1993, AMIDEAST, Gaza City, Gaza Strip— Directed, developed curriculum for, and taught in the AMIDEAST English-as-a-Foreign-Language Program
 * Teaching Fellow, September 1989-June 1991, English Language Institute, American University in Cairo, Egypt—Taught academic EFL courses in all skill areas and levels
 * Human Rights Fieldworker, January 1988-June 1989, Palestinian Human Rights Information Center, Jerusalem—Carried out field interviews with victims of Israeli army violence; assisted in hosting delegations

Books

 * [ http://books.google.com.au/books?id=hf8-ukQBtaQC&dq=%22Loren+Lybarger%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=Vkiqr3Mgdn&sig=Begoc32S69z0xJ0bWP9QpJObf-8&hl=en&ei=jy6_SfXDJoiU6gPm4Mi2DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=resultIdentity and Religion in Palestine: the Struggle between Islamism and Secularism in the Occupied Territories] (Princeton University Press, 2007)