Nineteenth Annual Thomas Robbins Awards
For Excellence in the Study of New Religious Movements

The co-general editors of Nova Religio are pleased to announce the winners of the Nineteenth Annual Thomas Robbins Award for Excellence in the Study of New Religious Movements. The awards were established in 2002 by the late Thomas Robbins to recognize outstanding articles published in Nova Religio.

Kira Ganga Kieffer

Prizewinners were selected by board members of the Association for the Academic Study of New Religions from articles appearing in volume 24 of the journal.

Rachel Waltner Goossen

The first prize has been awarded to Kira Ganga Kieffer for her article in vol. 24, no. 2 (Nov 2020), “Manifesting Millions: How Women’s Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism.” She will receive a one-year complimentary subscription to Nova Religio.

The second prize has been awarded to Rachel Waltner Goossen for her article in vol. 24, no. 3 (Feb 2021), “‘Repent of the Sins of Homophobia’: The Rise of Queer Mennonite Leaders.” She will also receive a one-year complimentary subscription to Nova Religio.

We appreciate the generosity of the late Thomas Robbins in providing the opportunity to acknowledge Nova Religio’s authors in this tangible way. We look forward to recognizing outstanding contributors to volume 25 next year. To learn about the life and scholarship of Thomas Robbins, please see the “In Memoriam” published in Nova Religio 19, no. 3.

The Helen Crovetto Award
For Excellence in the Study of New Religious Movements with Ties to South Asia

Irina Sadovina

The co-general editors of Nova Religio are pleased to announce the winner of the Seventh Helen Crovetto Award for Excellence in the Study of New Religious Movements with Ties to South Asia. The award was established in 2010 by Helen Crovetto to encourage research and articles on new religions that originate in South Asia, as well as on new religious movements that were inspired in part or whole by religions from South Asia. The winner was selected by Hugh Urban, Scott Lowe, Andrea Jain, and Catherine Wessinger, members of Nova Religios editorial board with expertise in South Asian religions, from articles appearing in volume 24 of the journal.

Irina Sadovina receives the award for her article, “Legitimating New Religiosity in Contemporary Russia: ‘Vedic Wisdom’ Under Fire,” which appeared in Nova Religio 24, no. 3 (February 2021).

We thank Helen Crovetto for her generosity in providing the opportunity to encourage and reward authors for exceptional articles on new religious movements with ties to South Asia. We look forward to recognizing outstanding work in this area in the future.

We invite you to read the award-winning articles for free for a limited period of time.

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