Pinn elected to American Theological Society

Rice University’s Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religion, has been elected to the American Theological Society, the oldest professional theological society in North America.

ANTHONY PINN

Founded in 1912, the society is limited to 100 members, who are elected through nomination. Although most members would identify themselves as systematic or constructive theologians, the membership also includes biblical scholars, historians, philosophers, ethicists and practical theologians, according to the society. The society meets annually on a weekend in the spring to consider and discuss papers prepared by members on theological issues of common interest.

Pinn was elected to the society at its annual meeting at Princeton Theological Seminary March 28. He is a prolific author and public intellectual working at the intersections of African-American religion, constructive theology and humanist thought. Pinn is also the founding director of Rice’s Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning and director of research for the Institute for Humanist Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank.

Pinn joined Rice in 2003 as the first African-American to hold an endowed chair at the university. His research interests span theory and method in the study of religion, black religious aesthetics, religion and popular culture and African-American humanism. He is the author and editor of over 30 books, including “Noise and Spirit: The Religious and Spiritual Sensibilities of Rap Music” (2003) and “The Hip-Hop and Religion Reader” (2014).