Former USU Religious Studies Head Publishes Book

While Charles Prebish, who led Utah State University’s Religious Studies Program at its inception, retired Dec. 31, 2010, he remains involved. He is currently creating a distance education course — Religious Studies 1010.

Once the course is created, he will run the course online from his home. In Pennsylvania. That’s truly distance education.

Prebish is also the author of a recently released book, An American Buddist Life: Memoirs of a Modern Dharma Pioneer, published by Sumeru Press, Inc.

Prebish is the Charles Redd Chair in Religious Studies Emeritus for USU as well as professor emeritus of Religious Studies, Pennsylvania State University.

Since Prebish became involved in Buddhism in 1965, Buddhism has made huge inroads on the North American continent, and worldwide, both in terms of its scholarship and globalization.

“Apart from being the leading pioneer in the study of Western forms of Buddhism, he was the leading advocate for establishing this new and exciting avenue of inquiry as a valid and important sub-discipline in the large discipline of Buddhist Studies,” Sumeru Press promotional materials for the book said. “…In other words, Dr. Prebish has been involved in virtually everything exciting in the Buddhist world over the past 45 years. Because of his unique involvement and longevity, he has an incredible historical record to document and share, and a huge number of stories to tell. These stories allow us to share his incredible personal journey, and provide a true ‘insider’s’ viewpoint. … Chuck’s stories are kind and compassionate. An American Buddhist Life: Memoirs of a Modern Dharma Pioneer makes for a great read.”

Sumeru Press, Inc. publishes and distributes Buddhist books and art, with a particular focus on Buddhism in Canada. It is based in Toronto.

Utah State University’s Religious Studies Program was launched fall semester 2006. It was the first such degree program in the Intermountain West.

Related links:

Sumeru Books

USU Religious Studies Program

USU Department of History

USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences