John Soboslai

John Soboslai is an Associate Professor of Religion at Montclair State University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He joined MSU in 2016 and teaches courses on religious violence, global religious politics, and death/dying/afterlife studies. His research focuses on martyrdom, global religious dynamics, and early Christian traditions.

Education: B.A. Philosophy (Central Connecticut State University), M.A. Religion (Columbia University), Ph.D. Religion (University of California, Santa Barbara) under Mark Juergensmeyer. Notable recognition includes the 2016 Emerging Scholar Award from the University of North Carolina.

Research interests emphasize cross-cultural analysis of religious violence, particularly martyrdom narratives in Sikhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Abrahamic traditions. His work critiques colonial-era religious categorizations and explores intersections between religion, politics, and global civil society. Recent projects include digital humanities initiatives using extended reality for religious education.

Publications span monographs, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed articles addressing topics like self-immolation in Tibetan resistance, Sikh sacrifices during World War I, and comparative fundamentalist movements. His writing appears in venues such as God in the Tumult of the Global Square and Seeing What Takes Place series.

Awards: 2016 Emerging Scholar Award (UNC Chapel Hill).

Teaching focuses on critical analysis of religious violence, global religious politics, and death studies. Advises graduate students in religious studies programs.