.J. Crasnow is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
S.J. Crasnow is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Rockhurst University. Dr. Crasnow teaches courses on Judaism; Islam; World Religions; and Religion, Gender, and Sexuality. Their primary teaching goals are for students to develop critical thinking skills, compassionate and non-judgmental approaches to the study of diverse communities, and to gain an understanding of basic concepts and categories related to the study of religion that will serve them in college and beyond.
Students in Dr. Crasnow’s courses engage with a variety of types of educational materials: reading primary and secondary texts, watching video clips and films, listening to podcasts, writing online discussion posts, completing classwork in small groups, and writing papers that show their understanding of course material. Students learn both about elements of diverse religions and about the multiple contemporary manifestations of these religions. They also learn about religion as a concept deeply connected to other elements of social life and culture, including politics and the state, nationality, race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, and processes of assimilation and inclusion.
Dr. Crasnow’s research focuses primarily on the intersection of religion, gender, and sexuality in the United States. Their past work has often addressed the lived experiences of queer and transgender Jews, while their more recent work takes a broader approach to understanding how conservative Christian religious actors work to shape the law to restrict the rights of LGBTQ, and especially transgender, people. Dr. Crasnow’s article on this topic titled, “The Legacy of ‘Gender Ideology’: Anti-Trans Legislation and Conservative Christianity’s Ongoing Influence on U.S. Law” was recently published in the 10th anniversary issue of the journal Religion and Gender, and they were interviewed about the article for the podcast Humanities Matter. Dr. Crasnow plans to continue this line of research as a Fellow with the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) where they are researching the role of conservative religious rhetoric and actors in shaping political discourse and legislation on LGBTQ rights.
In addition to their teaching at Rockhurst, Dr. Crasnow also volunteers their time to conduct broader community education work. These commitments primarily include leading workshops for educators and staff in K-12 settings regarding LGBTQ inclusion, as well as offering educational sessions in Jewish communities on the intersections of Jewish and LGBTQ identities.
