Mary-Jane Rubenstein

Mary-Jane Rubenstein serves as Professor of Religion and Science in Society at Wesleyan University, with affiliations in the Philosophy Department and the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program. She holds a B.A. from Williams College, an M.Phil. from The University of Cambridge, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University, establishing a strong interdisciplinary foundation for her work at the intersection of religion, science, and philosophy.

Her research primarily explores the philosophies and histories of religion and science, with particular emphasis on cosmology, ecology, and space travel. Rubenstein's scholarship critically examines how religious frameworks shape scientific endeavors, especially in the context of the corporate space race. She has developed significant expertise in multiverse theories, pantheism, and the ethical implications of space colonization, arguing that contemporary space exploration narratives often replicate colonial patterns seen throughout history.

Rubenstein's publications reveal a consistent trajectory of examining boundary-crossing concepts in religious and scientific thought. Her work on pantheism explores how this theological position challenges traditional Western philosophical distinctions between activity and passivity, spirit and matter, and creator and created. Her recent research has focused on the religious dimensions of the corporate space race, particularly critiquing how billionaires like Musk and Bezos frame space colonization as a religious calling that promises salvation through exploitation.

Her scholarly contributions have been recognized through numerous reviews in prestigious publications including Physics World, Nature, and The Wall Street Journal. The interdisciplinary nature of her work has led to engagements across philosophy, religious studies, science studies, and gender studies, demonstrating the broad relevance of her critical approach to religion-science intersections.

Rubenstein maintains an active presence in both academic and public discourse, regularly contributing to scholarly journals while also engaging with media outlets on topics related to space ethics, religious dimensions of scientific endeavors, and the philosophical implications of contemporary cosmology. Her work serves as an important critical voice in discussions about humanity's relationship with the cosmos and the ethical responsibilities that come with technological advancement.