معرفی
Jim Kodera is Professor of Religious Studies at Wellesley College, with cross-appointments in East Asian Studies, Peace & Justice Studies, and South Asia Studies. His academic work spans the historical and comparative study of religion across Asia, including West, South, and East Asia.
His research focuses on:
- Buddhism from its Indian origins through development in Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, and the West
- Comparative studies of Dalits (India) and Burakumin (Japan)
- Nagasaki's religious history from Francis Xavier (1549) to Takashi Nagai's post-atomic bomb transformation
- Relationships between contemplative life and social responsibility across religious traditions
Teaching spans introductory courses like Introduction to Asian Religions to advanced seminars on Zen/Tibetan Buddhism, with specialized courses on Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Yasukuni Shrine, and Japanese American internment during WWII.
Award highlights:
- First Asian American ordained to priesthood in Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts (1784–present)
- Presidency of Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry Council
As an educator and Episcopal priest, he served parishes in Brookline, Southborough, and Sudbury (MA) until 2000, then as Priest-in-Charge/Rector at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Hudson, MA. His work bridges academic scholarship with active religious engagement.
Research infrastructure includes collaborations with East Asian Studies Program and Peace & Justice Studies, with current projects examining Nagasaki's transformation into a 'City of Prayer'.
