Seth Perry

Seth Perry is an Associate Professor of Religion at Princeton University, where he has been a faculty member since 2014. Currently on leave for the 2024-2025 academic year, he maintains an office in 1879 Hall and can be contacted via sethp@princeton.edu. His research centers on American religious history with emphasis on print culture and religious authority in the early United States.

Perry's scholarly work explores the performative, rhetorical, and material dimensions of biblical authority, as demonstrated in his monograph Bible Culture and Authority in the Early United States (Princeton University Press, 2018). Current projects include a biography of itinerant preacher Lorenzo Dow, an analysis of "scriptural failure," and investigations into animals in early American religious contexts. His methodological approach integrates textual analysis with cultural and material history frameworks.

His publication record reveals consistent engagement with how religious texts function in public spheres, particularly examining slavery, deism, and biblical interpretation during the early American republic. Perry frequently connects historical analysis to contemporary religious discourse through contributions to The Chronicle of Higher Education and LA Review of Books.

Awards:

• President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching

Perry actively participates in undergraduate education as an academic advisor in Butler College and served as Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Religion during the 2023-2024 academic year, demonstrating his commitment to mentorship and curriculum development within Princeton's religious studies program.