Mary Thurlkill

Mary Thurlkill is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Mississippi, affiliated with the Department of Philosophy & Religion in the College of Liberal Arts. She has been at the university since 2003 and holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Indiana University (1997). Her research focuses on early/Medieval Christianity, Islam, pilgrimage, and sacred sounds. Current projects include studies on pilgrimage bodily experiences and the healing modalities of religious soundscapes.

Education:

• B.A./M.A. History, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (1992)
• Ph.D. Religious Studies, Indiana University-Bloomington (1997)

Her research interests blend comparative religious traditions with material and sensory anthropology. Notable works include Chosen Among Women (2000) and Sacred Scents (2010). She teaches courses on introductory religion, comparative Christianity/Islam, and the intersection of religion with topics like pilgrimage, saints, and self-harm.

Research Trends: Recent work emphasizes embodied religious experiences, sacred soundscapes, and pilgrimage's role in cultural memory. Her articles explore martyrdom iconography and pilgrimage in contested regions like Israel/Palestine.