Honorary Life Members: A Brief Presentation

Giulia Gasparro Sfameni

Giulia Gasparro is professor for the History of Religions at the Department of Late Antiquity and Humanities at the University of Messina (Italy). Her main scholarly work is dedicated to the world of classical and late Antiquity and early Christianity, with particular interests in the mystery cults, oriental and Greek, phenomena of oracles and prophecy, hermetism, as well as Manichean religions and dualistic movements in medieval Christianity.

She has been active with the IAHR as a member of the direction committee and editorial board of Numen (1995-2000). In Tokyo (2005) she has been elected honorary member of IAHR.

Giulia Gasparro has been instrumental in creating the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR) and became its first president. She held this position from 2001 to 2007. In March 2001 Giulia Gasparro organized an International Conference in Messina where the future preoccupations and the perspectives of the EASR were discussed under the title "Themes and problems of the History of Religions in Contemporary Europe". During her presidency she has continued to convey her thoughts and preoccupations with important historico-religious themes in the framework of the traditions of Europe. Together with the Italian Association she will organize the 9 th meeting of EASR in Messina in 2009 on the theme of European History of Religions .

Giulia Gasparro has spent much time and energy to further the growth and expansion of the EASR, combining her scholarly expertise with a warm and pleasant leadership. In recognition of her contributions and with gratitude, we propose Giulia Gasparro as Honorary Member of EASR.

Michael Pye

Michael Pye has dedicated his scholarly work to East Asian Religions and methodology in the study of religions. He was professor for the Study of Religions in the University of Lancaster and professor for Religionswissenschaft at the University of Marburg from 1982 until his retirement in 2004. He has been very active on an international level, contributing to the exchange and cooperation of scholars. He was president of IAHR from 1995 to 2000 and is an honorary member of that Association. He has been actively committed to the creation of the European Association for the Study of Religions and has generously put his expertise and his long experience with the IAHR at disposition for making EASR a successful Association.

Since its beginning he occupied the position of Internet Officer until 2007. He created electronic networks in the form of the European discussion lists Candide, Dolmen, Most, Synkron, Tonantzin, and Yggdrasill that have allowed the Association to expand and to establish a well working network among European scholars. It has allowed the Association to become a democratic organisation, e.g. to help set up election procedures that gave all members the chance to shape their organisation.

The Association is deeply indebted to Michael Pye for his commitment and support and the Executive Committee is very happy to propose him as an honorary member of EASR.