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).