Douglas Bafford

Douglas Bafford is an anthropologist specializing in the intersection of religion and science and the role of culture in knowledge production. He has designed and conducted ethnographic research focusing on youth-earth creationism and evangelism in Africa and North America. His most recent project explored the spread of evangelical Christianity in South Africa, especially the place of conservative religion in mediating race relations in a post-apartheid context. Prior to coming to Babson, he served for five years in the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, a select-cohort preparatory curriculum that assists bright and promising students who have not had access to rigorous educational resources before college. Originally from Maryland, he has an MA in anthropology from Brandeis University, where he is currently finishing a PhD.

Academic Degrees

• MA, Brandeis University
• BA, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• AA, Carroll Community College

Academic Interest / Expertise

Anthropology of religion; evangelical Christianity; science and evolutionary discourse; cross-cultural epistemology; language and society; post-apartheid South Africa

Awards & Honors

• 2019 — Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, National Science Foundation
• 2018 — Provost Research Grant, Office of the Provost, Brandeis University
• 2017 — Teaching Innovation Grant, Center for Teaching and Learning, Brandeis University

Publications

Journal Articles

Bafford, D. (2019). Aging and the End Times: Evangelical Eschatology and Experiences of Elderhood in the United States and South Africa. Anthropology & Aging. Vol: 40, Issue: 1, Page: 32-47. University of Pittsburgh Press.

Other

Bafford, D. (2018). Religion and Science: The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Wiley-Blackwell.

Articles - Circular or newsletter (e.g., Babson Insight)

Bafford, D. (2020). Pentecostal Promise and a South African Dream Deferred: Africa Is a Country. link