Rodney Sebastian

Assistant Professor, Religious Studies

Courses Taught

  • RELS 110: The Nature and Experience of Religion
  • RELS 110: The Nature and Experience of Religion
  • RELS 161: The Nature and Experience of Religion: Veterans' Stress Reduction Program
  • RELS 300: Special Topic
  • RELS 300: Special Topic
  • RELS 300: Special Topic
  • RELS 300: Special Topic
  • RELS 314: Hinduism
  • RELS 357: Religions of China & East Asia.
  • RELS 358. Religions of India
  • Research
    Dr. Rodney Sebastian’s research interests focuses on religion in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur, and the Southeast Asian nation state of Singapore. In particular, he looks at the politics and aesthetics of Hindu Vaishnava performances in the region. He is also interested in themes of kingship and statecraft articulated in classical Indian texts such as the Mahabharata.
  • Publications and Scholarly Activities
    • 2022. ‘Women’s Rāslīlā and Saṅkīrtana: The Enduring Legacy of Manipur’s Sija Laiobi." Journal of Vaishnava Studies 28(2).
    • 2021. ‘Refashioning Kingship in Manipur in the 18th Century: The Politico-Religious Projects of Garibniwaz and Bhāgyacandra.’ Religions, 12, 1041.
    • 2019. ‘Cultural Fusion in a Religious Dance Drama: the Sociopolitical Origins of the Manipuri Rāsalīlās.’ Journal of Vaishnava Studies, 27 (2), 75-94.
    • 2018. ‘Reverse Pilgrimage: Performance, Manipuri Identity, and the Ranganiketan Cultural Arts Troupe.’ In J. Whalen-Bridge & A. M. Pinkney (Eds.), Religious Journeys in India. New York: SUNY.
    • 2014. Sebastian, R. Performing Identities: State-ISKCON Interactions in Singapore. In M. Feener & J. K. Finucane (Eds.). Proselytizing and the Limits of Religious Pluralism in an Era of Globalization (Vol. 4, pp. 147 – 169). Springer Singapore: Asia Research Institute.
    • 2008. Sebastian, Rodney and Parameswaran, A. ‘Hare Krishnas in Singapore: Agency, State and Hinduism.’ SOJOURN, 23(1), 63-86.
    • 2007. Parameswaran, Ashvin and Rodney Sebastian 'Who is a Brahmin in Singapore?' Modern Asian Studies, 41(2), 253-286.
    • 2007. Sebastian, Rodney and Ashvin Parameswaran ‘Conversion and the Family: Chinese Hare Krishnas.' Journal of Contemporary Religion, 22 (3), 341-359.
    • 2006. Sebastian, Rodney, Ashvin Parameswaran and Faizal Yahya 'Doing business in India' New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies, 8(1), 17-40.
    • 2005. Yahya, Faizal, Rodney Sebastian and Ashvin Parameswaran 'Tourism and the South Asia Littoral: Voices from the Maldives.' South Asia, 28(3), 457-480.