Benjamin Zeller is the Irvin L. & Fern D. Young Presidential Professor of Religion and Chair of the Religion Department at Lake Forest College. He specializes in Religion in America, Religion and Culture, Religion and Science, and New Religious Movements, with a focus on UFO religions, foodways, and digital culture. His education includes a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina (2007), an MTS from Harvard Divinity School (2002), and a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Rochester (1999). He has held previous academic roles at Brevard College and Temple University. Zeller’s research explores intersections of religion with science, food, and popular culture. His notable works include Heaven’s Gate: America’s UFO Religion and Prophets and Protons: New Religious Movements and Science in Late Twentieth-Century America . His articles analyze topics like UFO cults, religious food practices, and religion in video games. His awards include the Communal Studies Association Best Book Award (2015) and a Fulbright Scholarship (2012). He has participated in workshops on teaching religion and digital humanities, emphasizing pedagogical innovation. Zeller’s work engages with global and local religious phenomena, including studies of ISKCON in Finland and the Fraternité Notre Dame in Chicago. He actively contributes to academic organizations like the American Academy of Religion and International Society for the Study of New Religions.
