Markus Davidsen
Assistant Professor
- Name
- Dr. M.A. Davidsen
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2582
- m.davidsen@hum.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0001-7089-5143
Markus Davidsen is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Study of Religion.
More information about Markus Davidsen
News
-
Bas van Rijn wins Fritz Stolz-Preis 2024
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Interview with Markus Davidsen on his Comenius project -
Bas van Rijn defends PhD dissertation on afterlife research -
Markus Davidsen: 'We need to implement ideas that improve an entire programme' -
Ten lecturers obtain Senior Teaching Qualification -
Markus Davidsen wins 2021 Impact Prize -
KNAW subsidy for the project ‘Religious studies in secondary education' -
Theme Issue on Markus Davidsen’s Vision for the Study of Religion -
New book: Markus Davidsen publishes book on supernatural fiction used as religious texts -
Research Trainee Project on Religious Narratives as Plausibility Structures launched -
Five History projects selected for Research Traineeship Programme 2016-2017 -
Markus Altena Davidsen wins the Gerardus van der Leeuw Dissertation Award 2016 -
Tolkien and fiction-based religions
CV and full list of publications
Fields of interest
My research interests cluster around four areas:
- Fiction-based religion, such as Tolkien-spirituality and Star Wars-based Jediism.
- Religious narratives, in particular how narratives about the supernatural can become persuasive and influence belief, practice, and experience.
- Method and theory in the study of religion, with a focus on comparison, explanation, and theory formation, as well as the research history of the study of religion
- Religion education, including curriculum development and study-of-religion-based didactics
Supervision
I supervise BA, MA, and PhD theses in the following empirical fields: new religions and alternative spirituality, contemporary religion, and religious education. Furthermore, I am willing to supervise any project on religion (regardless of empirical focus) that makes extensive use of cognitive, semiotic, and/or narratological theory.
Currently I act as co-supervisor on two PhD project:
- Amir Ardalan Emami’s project “Transformations in Ancient Iranian Religion: The Achaemenids as Agents of Long-Term Change”
- Bas van Rijn’s project “Experimental Systems, Spiritual Practices, and Religious Experience”
Education
- PhD (cum laude) in the Study of Religion, Leiden University (2014). Dissertation title: “ The Spiritual Tolkien Milieu: A Study of Fiction-based Religion”. A limited number of printed copies of the dissertation are available for sale: 15€ for LU students, 30€ for others.
- MA in the Study of Religion, Aarhus University, Denmark (2008).
- Erasmus exchange student, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (2007).
- BA, in the Study of Religion with a Minor in Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology, Aarhus University, Denmark (2005).
Employment
- University Lecturer (universitair docent), Sociology of Religion, Leiden University (since 2015).
- Teaching Associate (docent), Sociology of Religion and New Religions, Leiden University (since 2011-2015).
- PhD candidate, Aarhus University and Leiden University (2009-2012).
- Instructor, Aarhus University (2004-2007). [History of Religion (2004), Introduction to the Study of Religion (2005-2006), Philosophy of Science (2005), Religion and Modern Media (2007)].
Teaching activities
I teach various courses in sociology of religion, new religions/alternative spirituality, theory in the study of religion, and religion education. I currently teach the following courses:
- Tools and Theories in the Study of Religion: Historical, Cognitive and Social-Scientific Approaches (MA)
- Vakdidactisch dossier 1: Religiewetenschappelijke vakdidactiek en burgerschapsonderwijs (MA)
- Religie, levensbeschouwing en burgerschapsvorming in het onderwijs (BA/MA)
- New Religions (BA)
- Sociology of Religion (BA)
Key publications
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Davidsen, Markus Altena (2020), “Theo van Baaren’s Systematic Science of Religion Revisited: The Current Crisis in Dutch Study of Religion and a Way Out”, NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion 74(3), 213–241. Target article in theme issue ‘Religious Studies in the Netherlands: Debating the Field’s Future”.
- Davidsen, Markus Altena (ed.; 2018). Narrative and Belief: The Religious Affordance of Supernatural Fiction, London: Routledge. ISBN: 978-1-138-55966-0.
Research articles
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2020. “Studying Religions as Narrative Cultures: Angel Experience Narratives in the Netherlands and Some Ideas for a Narrative Research Programme for the Study of Religion”, in Dirk Johannsen, Anja Kirsch, and Jens Kreinath (eds.), Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion: Storytelling—Imagination—Reception, in the series Supplements to Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, Leiden: Brill, 91–122. (With Bastiaan van Rijn).
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2017. “The Jedi Community: History and Folklore of a Fiction-based Religion”, New Directions in Folklore 15(1/2), 7-49.
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2017. “The Elven Path and the Silver Ship of the Valar: Two Spiritual Groups Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Legendarium”, including two appendices, “Tië eldaliéva”, by Rev. Michaele Alyras de Cygne and Calantirniel, and “Ilsaluntë Valion”, by Gwineth, in Carole M. Cusack & Pavol Kosnáč (eds.), Fiction, Invention and Hyper-reality: From Popular Culture to Religion, Abingdon & New York: Routledge, 15-39.
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2016. “From Star Wars to Jediism: The Emergence of Fiction-based Religion”, in Ernst van den Hemel & Asja Szafraniec (eds.), Words: Religious Language Matters, New York: Fordham University Press, 376-389.571-575.
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2016. “The Religious Affordance of Fiction: A Semiotic Approach”, Religion 46(4), 521-549.
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2015. “In de Ban van Tolkien: Geloof en Geloven in Tolkien-spiritualiteit”, Religie & Samenleving 10(3), 213-234.
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2013. “Fiction-based Religion: Conceptualising a New Category against History-based Religion and Fandom”, Culture and Religion: An Interdisciplinary Journal 14(4), 378-395.
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2012. “Future Directions in the Sociology of Non-institutional Religion”, Implicit Religion 15(4), 553-570.
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2012. “What is Wrong with Pagan Studies?”, Method & Theory in the Study of Religion 24(2), 183-199.
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2012. “The Spiritual Milieu Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Literary Mythology”. In A. Possamai (ed.), Handbook of Hyper-real Religions. Leiden: Brill. 185-204.
Grants and awards
- Impact Prize Faculty of Humanities, for my work on revitalizing religion and worldview education in Dutch secondary schools (EUR 1,000), 2021.
- Science Communication Award, Pilotfonds Wetenschapscommunicatie door wetenschappers: Gewaardeerd!, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), awarded as leader of the project ‘Religiewetenschap in het voortgezet onderwijs’ (‘Religious Studies in secondary education’), with Maurits Berger, Michaël van der Meer, and Kim Beerden (EUR 10,000), 2021.
- Gerardus van der Leeuw PhD Dissertation Award, dissertation award of the Dutch Association for the Study of Religion, awarded biennially for the best doctoral dissertation in the Study of Religion defended at a Dutch university (EUR 650), 2016.
- Danish Research Council for Independent Research (Humanities), 3-year international PhD scholarship (EUR 184,485), 2009-2012.
- Arenberg-Coimbra Group Prize for Erasmus Students (EUR 5,000) , 2009.
Administration and service to the profession
2019- . Voorzitter Projectteam Basiscurriculum, Expertisecentrum Levensbeschouwing en Religie in het Voortgezet Onderwijs; 2018-2019 Lid kernteam
2012-2017. General secretary, Dutch Association for the Study of Religion (NGG), 2009-2012; PhD representative on the board.
Assistant Professor
- Faculty of Humanities
- Leiden Institute for Area Studies
- LUCSoR
- Davidsen M.A. (3 January 2023), Deense kerk vreest afschaffing Grote Biddag als nationale feestdag. Interviewed by Gilad Perez for NRC Handelsblad, Buitenland: 12-12. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. & Schijndel M. van (29 March 2021), Levensbeschouwing op school mist status. Interviewed by Mariska van Schijndel for Trouw, De Verdieping: 6-7. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (6 January 2018), Markus Davidsen over spiritualiteit. Interviewed by Belguebli Louisa for Leidsch Dagblad, Weekendmagazine Vrij: 4-5. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (4 May 2017), Star Wars-dag i dag: Her er fem ting du måske ikke vidste om Star Wars-religionen jediisme. Interviewed by Lerbeck Pedersen Karen. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (4 May 2017), May the Fourth: Star Wars og jediisme. Interviewed by Grosen Jacob for P1 Eftermiddag (P1). [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (19 February 2016), Het openbaar onderwijs kan niet zonder religie. Interviewed by Voorn Jesse for Zaman Vandaag , Binnenland p. 7. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (15 December 2015), Star Wars skulle gjøre unge interessert i religion. Interviewed by Bamle Tjellaug Ane for Vårt Land, Kultur. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (16 December 2015), Så blev jediismen en egen religion. Interviewed by Bamle Tjellaug Ane for Dagen, Nyheter. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (16 December 2015), Den guddommelige stjernekrig. Interviewed by Krasnik B. & Øhrstrøm D. for Kristeligt Dagblad, Kultur, p. 6. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (16 December 2015), Når film bliver religion. Interviewed by Trangbæk Michael for Kulturen på NEWS (TV2 NEWS). [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (16 December 2015), Jediismen afspejler religiøse tendenser i samfundet. Interviewed by Sakina Hytting Emmelie. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (1 December 2015), Wie is jouw God? Jezus, Eru of the Force…. Interviewed by Brummelman Niels for ParaVisie: 33-35. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (24 October 2014), Jeg er elver. Interviewed by Maarbjerg Amalie Keren for Weekendavisen, Ideer, p. 11. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (16 October 2014), Wij zijn allemaal elfen: The Lord of the Rings, maar dan als religie. Interviewed by Braun Bart for Leids Universitair Weekblad Mare, Front page and page 6. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (17 October 2014), Elfenreligie toont de kracht van fantasy. Interviewed by Spiering Hendrik for NRC Handelsblad, Wetenschap, p. 17. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (15 October 2014), Echt geloven in elfen en hobbits. Interviewed by Simons Wilfred for Leidsch Dagblad. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (8 October 2014), Unge mikser religion med moderne bøger og film. Interviewed by Mikkelsen Morten for Kristeligt Dagblad, Front page. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (26 November 2014), Tolkien als spirituele leidraad: 'Filmgodsdienst' zorgt voor zingeving. Interviewed by Brummelman Niels for Koorddanser. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (8 October 2014), Sådan skaber man en religion af en moderne eventyrbog. Interviewed by Mikkelsen Morten for Kristeligt Dagblad, Main section, page 2. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (16 October 2014), Geloven in de wereld van Tolkien. Interviewed by Smits Germieke for Trouw, Religie en filosofie, p. 6-7. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (30 October 2014), The Elves are among us: The Lord of the Rings as religion. Interviewed by Braun Bart for Mare di Libri, p. 10. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (13 October 2014), Elfen bestaan voor de Tolkien-believer. Interviewed by Camlthout Martijn van for De Volkskrant, Wetenschap, p. 15. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (21 October 2014), Tolkien als religie. . Interviewed by Mom Jan for Radio 1 Vandaag (NPO Radio 1). [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (9 October 2014), Religion baseret på Ringenes Herre. . Interviewed by Bro Sara, Vadgaard Signe, Stegger Anders & Sørensen Tue for Go' Morgen P3 (P3). [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (23 October 2014), Religie gebaseerd op fictie. . Interviewed by Cools Kathleen for Reyers Laat (Canvas). [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (2 November 2014), Tolkienreligie: als elfen meer zijn dan sprookjesfiguren. . Interviewed by Kraaijvanger Caroline. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (24 January 2013), Hoe onderzoek je ‘zwevende gelovigen’ het best?. Interviewed by Beek Marije van for Trouw, Religie en Filosofie, p. 7. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (3 December 2013), Gud er et rumvæsen. Interviewed by Hammerich Nielson Ida for Augustus, p. 20-22. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (8 January 2013), Antallet af jediriddere i England og Wales halveret mellem 2001 og 2011. . Interviewed by Christiansen Anders for AK24Syv (Radio24Syv). [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (31 May 2012), Kopierte Götter: Der Trend geht zur Satirereligion. Interviewed by Koller Catharina for Die Zeit, p. 58. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (12 April 2012), Het Symposium Hekserij in Holland. Interviewed by Regtien Frans for Nieuwslijn Magazine (Radio Nederland Wereldomroep). [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (2 April 2012), Markus Davidsen on Fiction-based Religions. . Interviewed by Cotter Chris. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (19 April 2010), Star Wars skal lære børn om religion. Interviewed by Mikkelsen Morten for Kristeligt Dagblad, p. 2. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (17 April 2010), Star Wars på skoleskemaet i kristendom. . Interviewed by Ebdrup Niels. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (17 April 2010), Star Wars-fans tror på 'Kraften'. . Interviewed by Ebdrup Niels. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (23 April 2009), Leidse onderzoeker bestudeert ’Jediïsten,’ die bidden tot de Force. Interviewed by Schoonhoven Silvan for Leidsch Dagblad, sectie 2, p. 4. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (23 April 2009), The Force is with us, really. But Star Wars isn’t real, say believers. Interviewed by Braun Bart for Leids Universitair Weekblad Mare, p. 14. [interview].
- Davidsen M.A. (16 April 2009), The Force bestaat wel, Star Wars niet. De vraag of hun goden echt zijn, is voor gelovigen helemaal niet belangrijk. Interviewed by Braun Bart for Leids Universitair Weekblad Mare, p. 3. [interview].