Mary Thurlkill

My research interests focus on Christianity and Islam and, most recently pilgrimage. My currently book project, Abundant Bodies of Pilgrimage, considers what bodies experience while visiting sacred places. I'm also interested in 'sacred sounds,' particularly music, chant, and Quranic recitation. My next research project will consider how religious traditions understand 'sacred sounds' as healing modality.

I earned a PhD. in Religious Studies from Indiana University after completing my BA and MA in History at the University of Arkansas. I joined the University of Mississippi in 2003. I have two books on comparative Christianity and Islam, as well as several articles.