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Sample topics

Find sources for your research project which is directly related to the subject of World Catholicism Week 2024: Is Idolatry Dead? Disenchantment and Misenchantment in the Contemporary World in DePaul's LibrarySearch or the ATLA religion database.

Below are some of the sample topics provided by Dr. Cavanaugh.  Suggested keywords to use in your search are highlighted in bold. 

  • Pope Francis' criticisms of the modern economic(s) system as idolatrous.

  • A biblical scholar from Africa, Asia, or Latin America on idolatry in the Bible.  Please note you will need to read enough about the author of the article(s) you find to determine their background/perspective/university affiliation and decide if they meet the suggested topic's focus.

  • The weaponization of idolatry-critique by the Spanish conquistadors against indigenous people in Latin America. Suggested search terms: colonization and idolatry.  Please note you will need to read the title and abstract for the source to determine if the article/book/chapter meets the suggested topic's focus.

  • The harmful effects of European colonizers labeling Africans or Southeast Asia people idolaters.  Suggested search terms: colonization and idolatryPlease note you will need to read the title and abstract for the source to determine if the article/book/chapter meets the suggested topic's focus.

  • The criticism of capitalism as idolatry by a Latin American liberation theologian such as Franz Hinkelmmert, Hugo Assmann, Jung Mo Sung, Pablo Richard, et al.  Alternative search terms: liberation theology and economics and Latin America

  • A Western scholar such as Paul Gifford on enchantment in Africa.  

  • Eugene McCarraher's critique of capitalism as the religion of modernity in his book The Enchantments of MammonPlease note that the library's print copy is checked out but an e-book has been ordered.  

  • A comparison and contrast of Western practices like collecting sports memorabilia with African practices such as witchcraft.  Please note that you will need to determine the practices you plan to compare and contrast and develop search terms based on your topic.

  • Tara Isabella Burton's examination of new religious practices in the West.  Please note than an e-book of Strange Rites: New Religions for a Modern World has been been ordered.

  • Scholarly work on nationalism or consumerism as religions.  Please note that "consumerism" is not a Library of Congress (LOC) subject heading; this term may appear in article titles or abstract notes, however, the LOC subject heading for this concept is "consumption (economics)."

  • Western views of fetishism in Africa vs. Karl Marx's analysis of commodity fetishism in capitalism.