Course Description
Conspiracy theories are one of the most destabilizing forces in America. From the conspiracies surrounding September 11 to QAnon, the DaVinci Code to The Big Lie, and beyond, conspiracy theories find fertile ground in people of faith. What is it in the DNA of religion that makes us open to conspiracy? What is the role of the church in responding to conspiracy? This short course will dive into a number of conspiracies, the theories in the literature about the power of conspiracy theories, and how conspiracy intersects with the church.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D. serves as the Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and professor of systematic theology and President of General Theological Seminary. Before being called to VTS in 2007, he served as Dean and Professor of Theology and Ethics at Hartford Seminary. He is a respected authority in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in systematic theology, social ethics, and religious diversity. He is committed to nurturing critical thinking Christian leaders, both lay and ordained, who will serve as God's witness to the world.
Courtney Henderson-Adams, M.A.
Courtney Henderson-Adams is the Interreligious Coordinator at Georgetown University, and previously served as the Administrative Coordinator at the Center for Anglican Communion Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary. Courtney has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Religious Studies from Pace University (2019) in New York, and recently graduated with a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Athens State University (2022). Her research focuses on the definition and concept of religion, and mainstream, minor, and new religious movements. Courtney also enjoys interfaith dialogue between both western and eastern faith traditions.
