Sarah Rollens

Sarah E. Rollens is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College. She has previously taught at the University of Toronto, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and University of Alabama. Her research focuses on violent imagery in early Christian texts, intersecting with Christian origins, social theory, scribalism, identity formation, and the ancient Mediterranean world.

• PhD in Study of Religion (2013), University of Toronto

Her recent work examines the intersection of violence, apocalyptic thought, and the Synoptic Gospels, while her broader expertise includes religion in ancient Rome, the formation of the Bible, and theories of religious belief and practice. Her publications reflect a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on historical, sociological, and material culture perspectives.

Sarah Rollens has taught courses such as Introduction to the New Testament, Historical Jesus, Violence in Early Christianity, and The Bible: Texts and Contexts (Life). She is affiliated with Rhodes College’s Religious Studies department and contributes to the academic community through editorial collaborations and peer-reviewed publications.

Her recent articles explore themes like material culture in early Christianity, reception history of Jesus, and sociological frameworks for analyzing ancient religious texts, demonstrating a commitment to interdisciplinary methodologies and critical theory.