James Bowley

James Bowley is a Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at Millsaps College. He holds a B.A. from Grace College (Winona Lake, Indiana), a Master's from Jerusalem University College (Jerusalem, Israel), and both an M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Hebrew Union College (Cincinnati, Ohio). His expertise spans analytical study of ancient and modern religions, with a focus on Judaism and Christianity, and the historical interactions between religions and cultures globally.

Dr. Bowley teaches courses on ancient religious texts (e.g., Bible, New Testament), modern religious issues (e.g., 'Sex, Death, and Religions'), and leads study abroad programs, including the Yucatan program exploring the origins of chocolate. He has been recognized with Millsaps' highest faculty honor (2016) and Hebrew Union College's top alumnus award.

His teaching philosophy emphasizes making learning engaging and accessible, reflected in his annual Pumpkin Bars tradition for students. He actively organizes academic trips to Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Europe, and Mesoamerica, blending fieldwork with scholarly inquiry.