Jonathan Reed During the summer of 2004, Jonathan Reed, professor of religion and philosophy, spent a summer on the Greek island of Tinos, studying marble sculpture with a master sculptor. “How can you beat that?” Reed asks. “It was fantastic. I got totally lost and absorbed working on marble.” Reed’s burgeoning hobby of marble sculpture is only a couple years old, but he says the fascination with marble began during his graduate work, when his curiosity about the tangible aspects of religion led him to focus on archaeology rather than theology. Reed enjoys marble among other activities because he prefers to do things hands-on, as opposed to just reading about them. For many years, Reed also worked on an archeological excavation in a Roman period city in Israel. During most of the late ‘80s and ‘90s he would bring students during the summer so they, too, could gain that valuable experience. Reed discontinued that program when “the peace process broke down and it became too dangerous.” Reed finds ancient religions most interesting: early Christians, Jews, and pagans. "Mainly what I'm curious about is how religion affected everyday people in the Greek and Roman world," he says. Combining his work and interest in religion, Reed wrote the book “Archeology and Galilean Jesus.” He also co-authored “Excavating Jesus” and “In Search of Paul.” “All three try to see how understanding the world of first Christians helps you understand the first Christians,” he says. “I’m much more interested in the everyday lives and everyday problems that people had in antiquity, and typically the texts are written by people from upper class who are men and are biased. Archeology helps understand the rest of the people and how they lived.” On a couple occasions, Reed will incorporate his books into his classes. Although he says, “Usually I feel bad making my students buy my book. I feel guilty.” Two books Reed does return to every chance he gets in his courses are “Night” by Elie Wiesel and “Black Elk Speaks,” a book about Native American Spirituality by John G. Neihardt. “They’re both great books with profound expressions about the way the world is and the way the world could be,” he says. In his religion classes, Reed prefers to read work done by ancient and primary authors “instead of reading contemporary authors about what the ancients or other people said.” Reed has a passion for teaching. And although his reputation is as a demanding teacher, students say he is also approachable and personable. "I like to make learning fun!" When he came to the University in 1992, Reed had not expected to stay as long as he has, “but I fell in love with ULV,” he says. “It has a really good feel to it, a very good sense of community. ULV grows on you.” “I’m lucky to be in a great department with great colleagues,” he adds. “And I like our student body profile, which is very diverse. It’s pretty remarkable.” When Reed has time for himself outside of the classroom, he plays in an adult soccer league in Claremont once a week. He also enjoys hiking and landscaping. “I’m always building and rebuilding and putting in walls or steps,” Reed says of the backyard project that was supposed to be a three-month project and has been ongoing for three years. “It’ll be another two years probably,” he says with a laugh. Reed also has two children who keep him very busy. “My wife and I also run a taxi service for them,” he says. RETURN TO FACULTY LISTmailto:reedj@ulv.edu?subject=HELLOHome.htmlshapeimage_1_link_1
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