Contact Ms. Nancy Pfaff

I will be bringing my expertise as an instructor in Religious Studies where we covered the world’s great religions, aspects of tribal religions and more, together with my research and study of the Australian tribal groups and the North American Indian tribal groups.  At the same time, I will be sticking to the original syllabus from Dr. Stiles.

As you know, there are a various types of anthropologists, such as the functionalists, materialists, idealists and others.  Somewhere in there you’ll find an anthropologist like our Karen McCarthy Brown, author of Mama Lola, who by virtue of opening her life to Vodou, and learning from the experience, could be termed a phenomenologist.  I see myself in that same light, a phenomenologist.  I have studied the Christian experience in depth, participating fully in the fundamentalist, evangelical, Pentecostal, and charismatic expressions over many years, as well as full participation in the older traditional churches such as Methodist and Catholic. For approximately 18 years, I studied and participated in the contemplative/monastic tradition.  My master’s degree was in the area of the experience of God, preparing me to give retreats and counsel people about their spiritual path.  Additional studies have taken me into certification as a clinical hypnotherapist and counselor in trauma resolution.  Although semi-retired, I still meet with clients.

As a result of my background then, I will be as interested in your integrating the experience of the material we cover as a study of the material itself.  I will be asking you to note your own personal reactions to various things we cover, and to share what you can.  This should make for an interesting class discussion.

I look forward to journeying with you as we complete this course in Anthropology of Religion.  Feel free to contact me as needed.