James Bishop

Hi there. My name is James Bishop. I am from South Africa. I graduated in Creative Brand Communication, Marketing, and Multi-media Design (CBC), and later in Theology (majoring in Psychology) (BTh). I was pleased to have obtained my BTh cum laude and am now doing a PhD in the Study of Religions at the University of Cape Town. My interests are broad, although I am currently looking at unconventional groups, new religious movements, fantasy-fiction religions, and secularization theory.

• 13 Years of University Experience:
  • Four degrees (CBC Multimedia Design
    • BTh Psychology
    • Honors in Religion Studies
    • Masters in Religion Studies) and a certificate (TESOL).

  • Three institutions of higher learning: 
    • Vega School Cape Town (2012-2015)
    • Cornerstone Institute (2015-2018)
    • University of Cape Town (2019-)

• Current Roles
  • PhD candidate (2022-)
  • Student advisor (Humanities department)

  • Teaching Duties:
    • Four years of tutoring undergrad students, marking tests and essays
    • Admin and guidance related duties (personal issues with students, mental health, HOD communication, tracking students, classroom control, grades and attendance records) 
    • Tutoring in 5 modules: Religions Past & Present
      • Psychology of Religion
      • Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
      • Religion and Society
      • Religion and Media.
      • A semester of guest lecturing (Sociology of Religion) in 2022

I am currently a PhD candidate in the Study of Religion at the University of Cape Town. I study new religious movements, fiction-based religions, and secularization theories. My interests and other studies extend significantly beyond just my dissertation interests.

Past education includes Creative Brand Communication (CBC Multimedia Design), a bachelor in theology specializing in psychology (BTh), honors in Religion Studies, a Masters in Religion Studies, and a certificate (TESOL).