David Frankfurter

David Frankfurter is the William Goodwin Aurelio Professor of the Appreciation of Scripture and Professor of Religion at Boston University, where he has served since 2010. His research focuses on ancient Mediterranean religions, with specialties in Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature, magical texts, and the religious dynamics of late antique Egypt. He earned his B.A. from Wesleyan University, M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and Ph.D. from Princeton University. Frankfurter has held fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study and Radcliffe Institute, and his work has been recognized with awards such as the American Academy of Religion’s Excellence in the Study of Religion Award and the Philip Schaff Prize. His books include Christianizing Egypt: Syncretism and Local Worlds in Late Antiquity (2017) and Evil Incarnate (2006), both landmark studies in their fields.

• Education:
  • B.A. in Religion, Wesleyan University
  • M.T.S., Harvard Divinity School
  • M.A./Ph.D., Princeton University
• Research Interests: Ancient magic, Egyptian religious history, Christianization processes, apocalyptic literature, and theoretical issues in religious studies.
• Grants & Fellowships: Guggenheim Fellowship, NEH Grant, Radcliffe Institute Fellowship.

Frankfurter’s scholarship examines how religious ideas and practices interacted in the Mediterranean world, particularly in Egypt. He emphasizes syncretism, the blending of traditions, and the material and textual evidence of religious life. His edited volume Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic (2019) redefines methodologies for analyzing ritual practices labeled 'magical.'

His courses cover Western religions, comparative religion, and early Christian texts, reflecting his commitment to bridging academic rigor with accessible teaching. His work on 'evil' and demonic narratives explores how cultures personify moral and existential threats through religious frameworks.