John Thompson

John M. Thompson

Honors Program - Department of Philosophy and Religion

Professor

McMurran Hall 265
(757) 594-8778
john.thompson@cnu.edu

Education

Ph D in Cultural and Hist Study of Religion, Graduate Theological Union
MTS in Philosophy, Theology, Ethics, Boston University
BA in Philosophy, The College of William and Mary

Teaching

Buddhism, Asian Religious Thought (particularly Chinese and Japanese), Religion and Violence, World Religions, Scripture, Mysticism and Spirituality, Comparative Philosophy and

Religion, Myth and Ritual, Religion and Popular culture

Research

Same as Teaching Interests.

Biography

The younger son of a staunchly Southern Presbyterian family, John has travelled to places as varied as Greece (where he met his wife) and Asia. He lives in Williamsburg with his wife and 2 daughters.

Selected Accomplishments

Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2023). 1. “The Bat-Bodhisattva: A Buddhist reading of our favorite (Anti)Hero”. Lexington Books. Pages, 111-128.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2023). Can You her Me? – Outlaw Pete and the American Western ‘Hero’”. Lexington Books. Pages, 25 pages (ms format).
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2023). “Becoming a Friend to the World: Śāntideva on “Bodhisattva Friendship”. Lexington Books. Pages, 23 pages (in ms format).
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2020). Lessons from Fred Rogers’ Dao. Open Court Publishing. Pages, 157-165.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2019). Envisioning a Dharmic Society: Retelling a Traditional Buddhist Tale. Palgrave Macmillan. Pages, 125-158.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2019). When Father doesn't know best: Dharmic Conversion in Chapter 27 of the Lotus Sutra. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Pages, 61-80.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2018). Forgiving the Unforgiveable: The Buddha and Aṅgulimāla. Vernon Press. Pages, 133-149.
Conference Proceeding
(2018). “Bearing the Unbearable: Buddha’s Lesson to Aṅgulimāla (and us all)”. The Virginia Humanities Conference. Pages, 80-95.
Book Review
(2018). Review of Refiguring the Body: Embodiment in South Asian Religions. Nova Religio. Volume, 21. Issue, 4. Pages, 116-117.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2017). Buddhist Scripture and Moral Injury: Reflections on the Story of Aṅgulimāla. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Pages, 169-189.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2017). Crazy Like a Fox: Mulder, Madness, and the Cultural Definition of Sanity". Open Court.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2017). The Mystic with the Mouth. Open Court. Pages, 299-310.
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2015). “ ‘In that time . . .’ in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Epic Myth-Understandings and Myth- Appropriation in Star Wars,”. Wiley-Blackwell. Pages, 10.
Encyclopedia Article
(2015). “Zhou Dunyi (Chou Tun-i), 1017-73 CE”. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Journal Article, Academic Journal
(2015). “Ahimsā and its Ambiguities: Reading the story of Buddha and Aṅgulimāla,”. Open Theology. Volume, 1. Issue, Topical Issue on "Violence of Non-Violence".

John Thompson, Sacred Texts and Contexts -- 7th International Symposium, "“Does EVERYONE get to ride the ‘Great Vehicle’? – Exclusive Inclusivism in the Lotus Sutra.”," Nazareth College, Pittsford, NY. (2023)
John Thompson, The Global Conference on Women and Gender: Community, Care and Crisis (Virtual), "“Caring and Rehabilitation: A Buddhist Serial-killer’s tale”," Christopher Newport University. (2022)
John Thompson, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, "“Four Fabulous Friends: The Buddha, the King, the Socialite, the Serial-killer;”," San Antonio, TX (attended virtually). (2021)
John Thompson, Annual Conference of the American Academy of Religion, "Who is REALLY your Friend? – ‘Good Friends’ in the Lotus," San Diego, CA. (2019)
John Thompson, Sacred Texts and Human Contexts: Religions and the (De)Legitimation of Violence, ""Speak Dhamma bit Carry a Big Stick: The Specter of Violence in Early Buddhist Discourse"," Nazareth College, Rochester, NY. (2018)