Lecture: "The Fabric of Faiths: How Headwear Makes Religion Real"

As part of our Global Language of Headwear: Cultural Identity, Rites of Passage, and Spirituality exhibit, we are pleased to have John McCormack, PhD to present a lecture entitled, "The Fabric of Faiths: How Headwear Makes Religion Real."

Hats are more than mere fashion statements. Constructing, embellishing, and wearing hats is an essential way in which a community's religious beliefs are brought to life. Looking closely at some remarkable objects in "The Global Language of Headwear: Cultural Identity, Rites of Passage, and Spirituality," Dr. John McCormack explores how they function in religious rituals, express the identity and spiritual aspirations of peoples, and bind together members of a community.

John McCormack, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Religion and History at Aurora University. He specializes in the history of Christianity, religion and politics, world religions, and early Modern Europe, France, and Latin America. He earned his BA in History and MA in Religion from Yale University and both his MA and PhD in History from the University of Notre Dame.

This program has been made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities.