Jolyon Thomas

Jolyon Thomas is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Interim Department Chair at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. His work spans Japanese and American religious histories, focusing on media, law, education, and capitalism. Trained in Japanese religions, he critiques methodological nationalism, emphasizing transnational religious formations. He serves on editorial boards for American Religion, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, and others.

Education: PhD in Religion (Princeton University, 2014); MA in Asian Religions (University of Hawaii, 2008); BA in Religious Studies (Grinnell College, 2001).

• Research Interests: Religion and media (manga/anime), religious freedom law, education policy, religion and capitalism, modernity/secularism.
• Recent Work: Books include Faking Liberties (2019) and The New Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions (2025). Current projects explore religion in US-Japan educational contexts and anime rituals.

His research has been supported by grants from the Social Science Research Council, Japan Foundation, and Fulbright-IIE. Awards include the American Academy of Religion Book Award and the Thomas Robbins Award.

• Affiliations: American Academy of Religion, Association for Asian Studies, Society for the Study of Japanese Religions.
• Public Engagement: Commissioner of the Japan-US Friendship Commission; panelist for US-Japan Cultural Interchange programs.

Teaching focuses on media studies (e.g., Religion of Anime) and disciplinary foundations (The 'Field' of Religious Studies). Advises PhD students researching Buddhism, media, and empire.