Introducing Dr. Mary Ann Clark
(Clark-Vita, updated 11/6/20)
- Independent Scholar of Religious Studies, graduate of Rice University.
- Spouse of Art Gorski, computer consultant extraordinaire.
Academic Interests
- African-Based Religions in the Americas (the so-called Syncretic Cults) especially Santeria
- Contemporary Paganism
- Esoteric American Traditions
Educational Background
- Ph.D. Religious Studies, Rice University, Houston, Texas, May 1999. Dissertation: “Asho Orisha (Clothing of the Orisha): Material Culture as Religious Expression in Santería,” Dr. Edith Wyschogrod, Director. Awarded with distinction, February 1999. Nominated for John W. Gardner Award in Humanities and Social Sciences. 1993-1999.
Grants and Financial Awards
- Best Paper by an Independent Scholar. Western Commission on Religions Studies (AAR/SBL regional) annual meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, 2010.
- University of Florida, Center for Latin American Studies, Rockefeller Residential Fellowship, Spring 2003. Religion in the Americas: Constructing Self, Community and Nation in the Age of Globalization
Recent Work
Academic Books and Book Chapters
- “Spirit is Universal: Development of Black Spiritualist Churches” in Esotericism in African American Religious Experience: “There is a Mystery”, Stephen C. Finley, Margarita Simon Guillory, Hugh R. Page (eds) Leiden: Brill, 2014.
- Then We’ll Sing a New Song: African Influences on America’s Religious Landscape. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (June 2012).
- Santería: Correcting the Myths and Uncovering the Realities of a Growing Religion. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. 2007.
- “Santería.” Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America. Eds Eugene V. Gallagher and W. Michael Ashcraft . Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 2006.
- Where Men are Wives and Mothers Rule: Santeria Ritual Practices and their Gender Implications. University Press of Florida, The History of African American Religious series. (2005).
- “Santería and Voudon.” In Encyclopedia of New York State, edited by Peter Eisenstadt. Albany, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2002.
- “Santería, Material Culture.” InEncyclopedia of African and African-American Religion, edited by Stephen D. Glazier. New York: Routledge, 2000.
- “Santería.” Sects, Cults, and Spiritual Communities: A Sociological Analysis. Eds. William W. Zellner and Marc Petrowski. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1998. 118–130.
Academic Essays and Articles
- Article on Santeria and Spiritualism for Encyclopedia of Voodoo, Jeffrey Anderson (ed).
- Articles on Espiristimo, Palo Myombe, Rada, Santeria, and Santerismo for African American Religious Cultures. ABC-CLIO, INC., 2009.
- “Santería Sacrificial Rituals: A Reconsideration of Religious Violence.” The Pomegranate 8:2 (2006); 133-145.
- “Godparenthood in the Afro-Cuban Religious Tradition of Santería,” Journal of Religious Studies and Theology 22:1 (2003): 45–62.
- “You Are (Not) Shango: Jungian Archetypes in Contemporary Santería.” Wadabagei. A Journal of the Caribbean and its Diaspora5 (1 2002): 105–135.
- “¡No Hay Ningun Santo Aqui! (There are No Saints Here!): Symbolic Language within Santería.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 69 (1 2001): 21–41.
- “Orisha Worship Communities: A Reconsideration of Organizational Structure,” Religion, an Academic Press Journal, 30 (4 2000): 379-389.
- “Seven African Powers: Hybridity and Appropriation,” Material History of American Religion Project, http://www.materialreligion.org.
- “Secret Language of the Orisha.” Proceedings of the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, (March, 1999).
- “Theological Displays on Santería Altars.” Proceedingsof the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, (March, 1998): 1–23.
- “The Santa Barbara Phenomena: Ambiguity in Yoruba-based Religion.” Proceedingsof the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, (March, 1997): 48–61.
- With Edith Wyschogrod and Elizabeth Burr. “Integrating the Net into the Religious Classroom: Some Notes from the Field.” Religious Studies News 10.2 (May 1995): 23–24. (See http://www.aar-site.org/scripts/ AAR/members/classnet.html).
- “Like a Drop of Rain, Flowing to the Ocean: Death and Dying in Contemporary Neo-Paganism.” Proceedings of the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, (March, 1995): 24–49.
Academic Book Reviews
- Lovejoy, Henry B. Prieto: Yoruba Kingship in Colonial Cuba during the Age of Revolutions. University of North Carolina Press, 2019. Nova Religio (November 2020, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp 121-22).
- Espirito Santo, Diana. Developing the Dead: Mediumship and Selfhood in Cuban Espiritismo. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press, 2015. Nova Religio (May 2017, Vol. 20 No. 4, (pp. 138-139).
- Carr, C.Lynn. A Year in White: Cultural Newcomers to Lukumi and Santería in the United States. Rutgers University Press, 2016. Nova Religio, vol 21 no 2, November 2017, pg 124-25.
- Hazzard-Donald, Katrina. Mojo Workin’: The Old African American Hoodoo System. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. 2013. Religious Studies Review June 2016, Vol 42. No: 2: 132.
- Love, Velma E. Divining the Self: A Study of Yoruba Myth and Human Consciousness. Pennsylvania State University Press, 2012. Religious Studies Review December 2014, Vol 40. No: 4: 229.
- Palmié, Stephan. The Cooking of History: How Not to Study Afro-Cuban Religion. University of Chicago Press 2013. Religious Studies Review (pending).
- Love, Velma E. Divining the Self: A Study of Yoruba Myth and Human Consciousness. Pennsylvania State University Press 2012. Religious Studies Review (pending).
- Palmié, Stephan. The Cooking of History: How Not to Study Afro-Cuban Religion. University of Chicago Press 2013. Nova Religio (pending)
- Tishken, Joel E., Toyin Falola and Akintunde Akinyemi (eds). Sango in Africa and the African Diaspora. Indiana University Press, 2009. Nova Religio (pending).
- Olupona, Jacob K and Terry Rey (eds.), Orisa Devotion as World Religion: The Globalization of Yoruba Religious Culture. Nova Religio Feb 2011, Vol 14. No. 3: 122-24
- Bellegarde-Smith, Patrick (ed), Fragments of Bone: Neo-African Religions in a New World. Nova Religio Feb 2010, Vol. 13, No. 3: 110–111
- Matory, J. Lorand. Black Atlantic Religion: Tradition, Transnationalism, And Matriarchy in the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé. Religious Studies Review 35:3 (September 2009) 197.
- Bellegarde-Smith, Patrick and Claudine Michel. Haitian Vodou: Spirit, Myth and Reality. Nova Religio 14:4 (pending).
- Johnson, Paul Christopher. Diaspora Conversions: Black Carib Religion and The Recover of Africa. Nova Religio 14:4 (pending).
- Johnson, Paul Christopher. Diaspora Conversions: Black Carib Religion and The Recover of Africa. Religious Studies Review 35:2 (June 2009) 136.
- Bristol, Joan Cameron. Christians, Blasphemers, and Witches: Afro-Mexican Ritual Practice in the Seventeenth Century. Religious Studies Review. 35:1 (March 2009) 66-67.
- Garoiutte, Claire and Anneke Wambaugh. Crossing the Water: A Photographic Path to the Afro-Cuban Spirit World. Religious Studies Review 34:3 (September 2008). 224.
- Ward, Martha. Voodoo Queen: The Spirited Lives of Marie Laveau. Religious Studies Review 34:2 (June 2008). 123.
- Cros Sandoval , Mercedes. Worldview, The Oricha, and Santería: African to Cuba and Beyond. Religious Studies Review 34:2 (June 2008). 120.
- Bellegarde-Smith, Patrick (ed). Fragments of Bone: Neo-African Religions in a New World. Nova Religio 14:3 (pending).
- Long,Carolyn Morrow. Spiritual Merchants: Religion, Magic and Commerce. Nova Religio 11:2 (Nov 2007) 136–137.
- Mason, Michael Atwood. Living Santería: Rituals and Experiences in an Afro-Cuban Religion. Anthropos Redaktion 100:1 (February 2005). 283.
- Grimes, Ronald L, Deeply Into the Bone: Re-Inventing Rites of Passage. Nova Religio 9:2 (Nov 2005) 130-131.
- De La Torre, Miguel. Santería: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America. Nova Religio 9:2 (Nov 2005) 116-117.
- Brown, David H. Santería Enthroned: Art, Ritual and Innovation in an Afro-Cuban Religion. Nova Religio 9:1(Aug 2005) 112-114.
- Mason, Michael Atwood. Living Santería: Rituals and Experiences in an Afro-Cuban Religion. Nova Religio 8:1(Jul 2004) 120-121.
- Pessar, Patricia R. From Fanatics to Folk: Brazilian Millenarianism and Popular Culture. Nova Religio (forthcoming).
- Johnson, Paul Christopher. Secrets, Gossip, and Gods: The Transformation of Brazilian Candomblé. Nova Religio 9:4(May 2006) 129-130.
Non-Academic Publishing
- The Baron’s Box. Stories from the Bardo. 2017. Amazon Digital Services LLC.
- The Third Way. The Force of Destiny, Book 1. 2018. Amazon Digital Services LLC.
- The S.A.M. (Sentient Adaptive Matrix). 2019. Amazon Digital Services LLC.
Teaching Experience
- Yavapai College, Prescott, Arizona
- Introduction to Philosophy, 2007-11
- Critical Thinking, 2013-14
- Comparative Religions, 2008-10, 2012-2019
- University of Houston, Houston, Texas. Lecturer
- Introduction to Religious Studies, 2002, 2004-2005
- University of Houston, Clear Lake,Houston, Texas. Adjunct
- Basic Texts I: Western Tradition to Renaissance, 2005-2013
- Basic Texts III: Asia, Africa and Native America (undergraduate ), 2001-2005
- Peoples of Africa (undergraduate/graduate Anthropology course), 2000-03, 2005
- Religion and Global Change (graduate Sociology course), 2001-02
- Kingwood College, Houston, Texas.
- Introduction to Philosophy, 2000-01
- Rice University, Houston, Texas.
- Afro-Caribbean Religious Thought (undergraduate Religious Studies course) (Summer Session, 2001)
- African Religions in the Americas (undergraduate Religious Studies course) (Syllabus available from American Academy of Religion Syllabus Project, http://www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar/.) (Summer 1999)
Invited Academic Lectures and Presentations
- “Santería.” Presentation to Federal Bureau of Prisons, Chaplaincy Professional Training, Aurora, CO. June 29, 2016, July 10, 2018
- Santeria Divination and Destiny, for Prophets and Prophecy class. Centenary College, Shreveport, Louisiana. 2003, 2005.
- “¡Hola Orisha! An Introduction to the Icons and Iconography of Santería.” Presentation in conjunction with the exhibit Cuba Plástica: Recent Art from Cuba at The Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA, September 24, 2006.
- “Unraveling the Memorative Web of the Santería Altar Display.” Orality And Literacy III: Memory conference sponsored by the Rice University Center for the Study of Cultures. October 2003.
- “Performing Theology: SanteríaTrono as Memorative Web.” Religion, Globalization, and Identity in the Americas: Research Agendas for the Future, 51st annual conference of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida. April 2003.
- “Syncretism, Acculturation and Hybridity: The Development of Santería Altar Displays.” Ritual and Spirits: Religious Contact and Change in the Early Atlantic World, a symposium at the Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, Florida presented by the History Department of the University of Florida. October 2000.
Academic Papers and Presentations
- “Kongolese Christianity and the Development of the Black Church in America.” Annual meeting, Western Commission for the Study of Religion (AAR/SBL regional), Phoenix, Arizona, March 2010. Won Best Paper by an Independent Scholar Award.
- “There is No Orisha as Lucky as the Stomach: Feasting and Feeding within Santería Ritual Practice.” .” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, Religion and the Social Sciences Section, November 2007.
- “Adelante, Good Spirit: Spiritism and Ancestor Veneration among Santería Practitioners.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 2006.
- “Santería Sacrificial Rituals: A Reconsideration of Religious Violence.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, Indigenous Religions Section, November 2005.
- “An Exploration of Theodicy in the Santería Religious Tradition.”Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 2005.
- “Where Women Rule: An Explication of Santeria as a Female-Normative Religion.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, Women & Religion Section, November 2004.
- “Ambiguities in Santeria Possession Trance: Challenges to the Unitary and Gendered Self.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, Mysticism Group, November 2004.
- “Where Men are Wives: Exploring Gender Ideology in American Orisha Traditions.” Annual meeting, African Studies Association, Philosophy and Religious Studies Section, November 2004.
- “Religious Exchange and Gift-Giving: Relationship in Motion.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 2004
- “Healing Rituals in the Suburbs: African-Based Healing among Middle-Class Americans.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, African Religions Group and Religions, Medicine, and Healing Consultation Joint session, November 2003.
- “When Men are Wives and Women are Kings: Using Santeria Ritual Practice to Deconstruct Notions of Gender.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, Women and Religion Section, November 2002.
- “’He Kills in the House and Kills on the Farm:’ Religion and Violence from a West African Religious Perspective.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 2002.
- “The Body-Mind Problem and the Question of Possession Trance.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 2001.
- “Santería Altar Displays as Memory Palaces.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, Comparative Studies in Religion Section and African Religions Group, November 2000.
- “Spirit Made Flesh: Possession Trance as Radical Challenge to Concepts of Personal Identity.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, Black Theology Group, November 2000.
- “Syncretism, Acculturation and Hybridity: Santería through an Africanist Lens,” Houston African Studies Group, May 2000.
- “Santería Ritual Garments: A Cross-Cultural Analysis.” The Female Principle: Eclipses and Re-Emergences,” Conference on the Suppression of Femaleness in Human Cultures, University of Texas at Arlington, March 2000.
- “You Are (Not) Shango: Jungian Archetypes in Contemporary Santeria.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 2000.
- “Santería Ritual Garments: A Cross-Cultural Analysis.” Annual meeting, National Association of Hispanic and Latino Studies, Houston, Texas, February 2000.
- “Secret Language of the Orisha.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 1999.
- “The Ways of Ashé: African Religion in the New World.” Lyceum Program, San Jacinto Junior College Central, Pasadena, Texas. October 1998.
- “The Invisible Made Visible: The Radical Interpenetration of the Divine into the Human Lifeworld.” Annual meeting, Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, Estes Park, Colorado. August 1998.
- “Material Culture as Locus of Memory: Theological Displays on Santería Altars.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas March 1998.
- “The Santa Barbara Phenomena: Ambiguity in Yoruba-based Religion.” Annual meeting, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies (AAR/SBL regional), Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas. March 1997.
- “Making Saint: Liminality, Presentation and the Iyawo in Contemporary Santería.” Annual meeting, American Academy of Religion, African Religions Group and Religions in Latin America and Caribbean Group, November 1996.
- “Integrating the Net into the Religion Classroom: Some Notes from the Field.” With Dr. Edith Wyschogrod. Annual meeting, Society for Biblical Literature, Computer Assisted Research Group. November 1995.
- “Empirical Study of Neo-Paganism: Attitudes toward Death and Dying Using the Internet.” Annual meeting of the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies (AAR/SBL regional) Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Dallas, Texas. March 1995.
Interviews in Popular Media
- Interviewed and quoted in “Shrine found near bodies spurs voodoo probe,” (Dallas) WFAA-TV Channel 8, February 8, 2007
- Interviewed and quoted in “Santería mysticism enters online realm,” (Miami) Sun-Sentinel, July 23, 2005
- Interviewed and quoted in “Catching the Spirit: Afro-Latino Religions Brought to Light,” MiGente.com, March 11, 2005.
- Interviewed and quoted in “Something worked magic for assault defendant/Hints of Santeria popped up at trial; ‘high priest’ given probation,” Houston Chronicle, 12 February 2005, B3.
- Interviewed and quoted in “Advice from Beyond the Grave: Behind Closed Doors, an Ancient African Religion Alive in York,” York Sunday News, 24 February 2002, A2, A11.
- Interviewed and quoted in “Angeles Forest Sacred Site for Followers of Santería,” Los Angeles Times, 12 January 2002, Religion Section.
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Religion, 1993-2020.
- Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, 1994-2007.
- African Studies Association, 2004.
- Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, 1998.
Community Service
- Nominating Committee, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies (AAR Region), 2002.
- Secretary, Association for the Scientific Study of Religion Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, 1996-1999, 2000-2005.
Non-Academic Seminars & Workshops
- “Becoming Astonished: Lessons from the Gospel of Thomas.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ. (July 2019)
- “All About Scrivener.” Prescott Macintosh Users Group, Prescott, AZ (July 2017)
- “Making of a Unitarian Universalist.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ. (April 2017)
- “Then Why Not Every Man: How American Developed a More Africa Way of Looking at God and Salvation.” Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Prescott, AZ. (June 2016).
- “The Meaning of Lucretius’s Poem for Contemporary Unitarian Universalists.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ. (July 2015)
- “Our African-American Religious Heritage.,” Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Prescott, AZ (August 2014).
- “Our African-American Religious Heritage.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ (March 2014). Listen at http://gpuuc.squarespace.com/sermons/2014/3/27/our-african-american-religious-heritage.htm
- “Where Men are Wives: An introduction to Yoruba Religion.” Pacific Southwest District Women’s Conference workshop. (April 21, 2012) Camp de Benneville Pines, California.
- “Where Men are Wives: An introduction to Yoruba Religion.” Southwest Unitarian Universalist Women’s Conference workshop. (February 26, 2012) Houston, Texas.
- “God is Not One.” Adult Religious Education Class at Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation , Prescott, AZ. (Fall 2011-Spring 2012). Based on Stephen Prothro’s book God is Not On
- “Introduction it iWeb.” Prescott Macintosh Users Group, Prescott, AZ (March 2011)
- “Introduction to Evernote.” Prescott Macintosh Users Group, Prescott, AZ (October 2010)
- “Kongolese Saint Anthony.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ (February 2010)
- “Place of Duality.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ (August 2009)
- “Ways of Ashé.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ (July 2007)
- “Buddhism and UU Principles.” Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Prescott, AZ (June 2007)
- “Reason for the Season.” San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, San Marcos, Tx (December 2006)
- “Ways of Ashé: African Religion in the New World.” San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, San Marcos, Tx (October 2006)
- “Reason for the Season.” Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bell County, Morgans Point, Texas (December 2005)
- “Where Men are Wives and Mothers Rule: An Exploration of Santería Beliefs and Practices.” SIETAR (The Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research). Houston, Texas (October 2005)
- The Sacred Me: Living as though the God in All Life Mattered, September 19, 2004. Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, Houston, Texas
- “Intro to Afro-Cuban Spirituality.” June 9, 2002. Northwest Community UU Church
- “Ways of Ashé: An Introduction to African Religious Thought.” Six week series. Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, Houston, Texas (December 2000 through January 2001).
- “Introduction to Santería” Presented as part of the Pagan Lecture Series, Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, Houston, Texas (November 2000).
- “Orisha on my Doorstep: A West African Pantheon in the Americas.” C. G. JungEducational Center of Houston, Texas, Inc. (May 2000).Santería Healing: African Traditions in Contemporary America. Houston Chapter of American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) and The Institute of Religion. Houston, Texas (April 1999).
- “Finding the Saints in Santería: The Place of Catholic Figures in Afro-Cuban Religion.” Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopalian) Adult Education Series. Houston, Texas (April 1999).
- “Ways of Ashé: An Introduction to Santería.” Four-week series. St. Luke Methodist Church, Friendship Class. Houston, Texas (September 1998).
- “Religious Exchange and Gift-Giving: Relationships in Motion.” Sunday Service. Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, Houston, Texas (June 1998).
- “Santería Sundays.” Six-session series. First Unitarian Universalist Church, E.A.R.T.H. CUUPS group. Houston, Texas (January to October 1998). Four sessions presented to St. Luke’s Methodist Friendship Class. Houston, Texas (September 1998).
- “Meeting Yemaya, the Mother of the Waters.” Workshop. Southwest Unitarian Universalist Women’s Conference, Houston, Texas (February 1997).
- “Speaking with the Dead: An Introduction to Afro-Caribbean Spiritism.” Talk. Jung Center, Houston, Texas (August 1996).
- “The Ways of Ashé: African Religion in the New World.” Sunday Service. Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Austin, Texas (December 1995); Thoreau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Needville, Texas (February 1996); Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Houston, Texas (March 1996).
- “Paganism 101: A Basic Introduction to UU Paganism.” Four-day workshop. Southwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute, Lake Texoma, Oklahoma (August 1993, August 1994).
- “Designing Rituals You Can Use Workshop.” Southwest Unitarian Universalist Women’s Conference, Tulsa Oklahoma (February 1991); Dallas, Texas (February 1992); Shreveport, Louisiana (February 1994).