J. Barton Scott

J. Barton Scott is a Professor of Historical Studies with a focus on the History of Religions at the University of Toronto Mississauga. His research spans the global intellectual and cultural history of the 19th and early 20th centuries, with a particular emphasis on South Asia and its transnational connections. He teaches courses on social and cultural theory, religion in political thought, and media and material religion.

Education:

• Ph.D., Duke University
• B.A., Swarthmore College

Research Interests:

Scott’s work explores the intersections of religion, law, and politics in colonial and postcolonial South Asia. He is especially interested in how modern Hindu thinkers engaged with and reshaped global discourses on secularism, blasphemy, and religious authority. His research also delves into the cultural history of the study of religion, affect theory, and the role of media and print culture in shaping religious identities and publics.

Books and Major Projects:

He is the author of Spiritual Despots: Modern Hinduism and the Genealogies of Self-Rule (2016) and Slandering the Sacred: Blasphemy Law and Religious Affect in Colonial India (2023), both published by the University of Chicago Press. He is also the co-editor of Imagining the Public in Modern South Asia (Routledge, 2016). Currently, he is working on two new book projects: one on guru culture in southern California around World War II, and a collaborative study on the powers of the image in South Asian religions.

Scientific Awards:

• Honorable Mention, American Comparative Literature Association's Harry Levin Prize for an Outstanding First Book (for Spiritual Despots)

Public Engagement and Editorial Work:

Scott has contributed essays and reviews to public-facing platforms such as The Immanent Frame, The Revealer, and the Journal of Religion & Film. His work bridges academic and public discourse, particularly in the areas of secularism, religious affect, and colonial legacies in South Asia.