At Maryville College, the fusion of intellect and academia has taken on a whole new dimension through the explorations of Dr. Phillip Sherman, professor of religion and chair of the Division of Humanities. Shaping his scholarly pursuit around the intersection of Animal Studies and Biblical Studies, Sherman has notably contributed to expanding the conversation around these seemingly divergent fields. According to a recent article on Maryville College’s news site, Sherman's courses like "Animals and Religion" and seminars such as "The Biblical Lives of Animals" are broadening the curriculum at the college.
Sherman's research truly came to international attention when he traveled to Europe to deliver a paper at the Society of Biblical Literature's event. His paper, “‘I Am a Worm and No Human’: Animality and Abasement in the Psalms,” put a spotlight on the rich use of animal metaphor within biblical text. Specifically, the professor unpacked the Psalm 22:6 phrase “I am a worm, and no human,” interpreting it as a deliberate lowering of oneself to draw the divine's gaze, Dr. Sherman told Maryville College’s news site.
The acclaim for Sherman's work continues as he prepares to give a paper virtually at a conference across scholarly institutions. The upcoming paper, titled "Houses full of Owls: Strigine Imagery in the Book of Isaiah," aims to explore cultural perceptions of owls during biblical times and how these views may color our understanding of certain passages. This work not only highlights how the ancient world viewed animals but also the sophisticated levels of meaning that such imagery carries in the text.
Sherman's career trajectory, he acknowledges, has been nurtured and thrived in the liberal arts setting provided by Maryville College. It's been a boon for interdisciplinary study, allowing him to draw on a variety of fields like sociology, history, and psychology to inform his Biblical research. "I could not have imagined my professional interests taking this direction when I first came to Maryville College," he explained about his evolving scholarly path, as stated in an article on the college's website.
Currently, Dr. Sherman is diligently working on a comprehensive project entitled "A Biblical Bestiary: An Introduction to the Bible and its Animals." Showcasing his commitment to further scholarship, this work promises to be significant to the istudy, potentially offering a new lens through which to view ancient texts and their cultural context. As his insights and academic contributions continue to grow, they underscore the caliber of Maryville College’s faculty and the intellectual curiosity they foster in their students.
