CV of Andrea Molle - Chapman University

Curriculum Vitae
ANDREA MOLLE, PH.D., FRAS
Assistant Professor of Political Science
e-mail: [email protected] - mobile: +1.254.716.8036
Personal details
Nationality: Italian (EU)
Date and Place of Birth: 2nd September, 1975 in Genova, Italy
Marital status: Married
Education


Ph.D. (Dottorato di Ricerca), Sociology, Università di Milano, 24th March, 2006
Concentrations: Sociology and Anthropology of Religion; Ethnography
Intedisciplinary focus: Asian Studies, Japan
DISSERTATION: Ex oriente lux: analisi etnografica della Federazione Italiana Sūkyō Mahikari a Milano (Ethnographic Analysis of
Sūkyō Mahikari Headquarters in Milan)
B.Sc./M.Sc. (Diploma di Laurea), Political Science, Università di Genova, 15th November, 2001
DISSERTATION: Processi culturali globali e subculture: il caso degli Otaku (Global cultural processes and subcultures: the case
of Italian ‘otaku’ tribe)
Postgraduate certifications




Summer School, Analysis of International Affairs, ASERI Postgraduate School of Economics and International Relations,
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, July 6-10, 2009
Summer School, Computational Models of Social and Economic Phenomena, National Research Council (CNR), Roma, June 2226, 2009
Summer School, The 20th International Seminar of Budō Culture (第20 回国際武道文化セミナー), Nippon Budōkan &
International Budō University, Chiba, March 7-10, 2008
Summer School, Morte e trasformazione dei corpi. Interventi di tanatometamorfosi, Università di Torino, Torino, October 2123, 2004
Awards and Honors




Fellow, The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, (appointed) 2013
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2006 to 2008
Doctoral Studentship, Graduate School in Social, Economic and Political Sciences, Università di Milano, 2003 to 2006
Magna Cum Laude and Best Thesis Award, Faculty of Political Sciences, Università di Genova, 2001
Academic research and teaching activity


Assistant Professor, Political Science, Chapman University, 2013 to present.
Research: Religion, Terrorism, Martial Arts, Research Methods, and Computational Sociology.
Teachings: Departments of Political Science and Master in International Studies: Introduction to International Relations;
Research Design; Religion and Global Politics (forthcoming).
Post-doctoral Associate Researcher in Sociology, Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of
Sociology & Institute for the Study of Religion, Economics and Culture, Chapman University, 2011 to 2013. Supervisors:
Christopher D. Bader, Laurence Iannaccone.
Research: Grant funded research (Templeton Foundation): Social simulation, cross-cultural research in religion, research for
the Association of Religion Data Archives (www.thearda.com).
Teachings: Departments of Political Science & Sociology, Chapman University, 2011 to 2013. Courses: Introduction to
International Relations; Political Research Design; Introductory Sociology.
Molle, CV - Page 1 of 7







Post-doctoral Associate Researcher in Sociology, Baylor University, 2010 to 2011
Research: Sociology of Religion, Religious Terrorism, and Computational Sociology.
Associate Researcher in Anthropology, Italian School for East Asian Studies (Kyoto, Japan), 2009 to present
Research: Japanese Society, Culture and Politics.
Post-doctoral Associate Researcher in Sociology, Università di Padova, 2009 to 2010
Research: Sociology of Religion, Religious Pluralism, and Computational Sociology.
Adjunct Instructor, Università di Milano, 2008 to 2010
Teachings: Research Methods for Social Sciences.
Post-doctoral Visiting Research Fellow in Anthropology, Nanzan University, 2006 to 2008
Research: Sociology of Religion, Martial Arts, and Spiritual Warfare.
Teaching Fellow, Università di Milano, 2003 to 2006
Teachings: Research Methods for Social Sciences, Cultural Anthropology, and Sociology of Communications.
Adjunct Instructor, Università di Genova, 2001 to 2003
Teachings: Sociology of Cultural Processes and Sociology of Ethnic Relations.
Research activity
Current Research Agenda:

“MARS: Social Simulation of Conversion”, with Laurence Iannaccone (Chapman University)

“A Warrior Ethos: Religion, Economics and Politics of Budō”, with Alexander R. Bay (Chapman University), Alexander Bennet
(Kansai University, Osaka), David Brown (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
Grants and Funds

1.600.000¥, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, 2006 to 2008

28.800€, Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca Scientifica, Ph.D. Scholarship, 2003 to 2006
Previous research experience

Researcher, Department of Sociology, Università di Padova, 2010
Il pluralismo religioso in Italia, PRIN, 2010/2012, Keywords: Religious pluralism, Spirituality.

Visiting Researcher, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Nanzan University, 2006 to 2008
Spirituality as bridge-category to unite different worlds: the case of Japanese New Religions and Budō, JSPS Fellowship
Research project. Keywords: Budō, New Religions, Spirituality.

Ph.D. Student, Università di Milano, 2003 to 2006
Sūkyō Mahikari in Italy: An Ethnographic Analysis, Ph.D. Research project. Keywords: New Religions, Spirituality.

Research Assistant, Caritas Ambrosiana, Fondazione ISMU, and Regione Lombardia, 2006
Vivere ai margini. Un’indagine sugli insediamenti Rom e Sinti in Lombardia. Keywords: Religion, Ethnicity.

Research Assistant, Fondazione Casa America, 2003 to 2004
I latino-americani a Genova. Keywords: Immigration, Religion, Ethnicity.

Research Assistant, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Università di Genova, 2003
Il lavoro atipico nella provincia di Genova. Keywords: Employment, Social Policy.

Research Assistant, Department of Social and Political Studies, Università di Milano, 2002
Le trasformazioni del sapere medico. Salute e malattia tra scienza, esperienza e rappresentazioni pubbliche. Keywords: Health,
Alternative Medicines.

Research Assistant, Department of Anthropological Sciences, Università di Genova, 2002
L’impatto delle 'nuove guerre': aspetti sociologici, comunicativi e mediatici, Keywords: Mass Media, War Studies.

Research Assistant, Centro di Documentazione e Ricerca sui Trasferimenti di Tecnologia, 2001 to 2002
Analisi dei gradi di métissage culturale a Cornigliano. Keywords: Immigration, Ethnicity.

Consultant, Centro di Documentazione e Ricerca sui Trasferimenti di Tecnologia, 2000 to 2001
Partecipazione e solitudine nella scuola. Solidarietà e bullismo. Keywords: Violence, Education.

Investigator, The Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, 2000
European election study 1999. Keywords: Political Communication, Election Studies.
Molle, CV - Page 2 of 7
Publications
Books & Editors

Molle, A., Sterchele D., eds. (2011). Religioni e Società. Rivista di Scienze Sociali della Religione, 71. Special Issue on Religion
and Sport.

Molle, A. (2009) I Nuovi movimenti religiosi. Roma: Carocci.
Book Chapters

Molle, A., Bader, C. D. (forthcoming, 2013) “Paranormal science from America to Italy: a case of cultural homogenization”, in
O. Jenzen & S. R. Munt (eds.) The Ashgate Research Companion To Paranormal Cultures. London: Ashgate Publishing.

Molle, A. (2013) “L’Oriente Italiano”, in E. Pace (ed.) Le religioni nell’Italia che cambia, pp. 73-83. Roma: Carocci.

Molle, A. (2011) “Spiritual Life in Modern Japan: Understanding Religion in Everyday Life”, in G. Giordan & W. H. Swatos (eds.)
Religion, Spirituality and Everyday Practice, pp. 131-139. New York: Springer.

Molle, A. (2010) “Mahikari no Waza: Possessione, malattia e purificazione in un nuovo movimento religioso giapponese”, in M.
Bontempi & A. Maturo (eds.) Salute e Salvezza, pp. 181-194. Milano: Franco Angeli.

Molle, A. (2007) “I nomadi di Mantova e Casalmaggiore: tra mediazione e intervento”, in M. Ambrosini & A. Tosi (eds.) Vivere
ai margini. Un’indagine sugli insediamenti rom e sinti in Lombardia, pp. 189-209. Milano: Quaderni della Fondazione ISMU.

Barone, C., Molle, A. (2006) “Cosi vicini, cosi lontani: i percorsi di adattamento delle tradizioni buddhiste alla religiosità italiana
in Sōka Gakkai e Sūkyō Mahikari”, in F. Squarcini & M. Sernesi (eds.) Il buddhismo contemporaneo. Rappresentazioni,
istituzioni, modernità, pp. 163-186. Firenze: Societa Editrice Fiorentina.

Molle, A. (2005) “Morire per un gruppo che ci odia...”, in R. Ponticello & S. Scrivo (eds.) Con gli occhi a mandorla. Sguardi sul
Giappone dei cartoon e dei fumetti, appendix. Roma: Tunue.

Molle, A. (2004) “Gli immigrati latino-americani: la religiosità come fattore di mediazione e di resistenza”, in S. Vento (ed.) I
latinoamericani a Genova, pp. 192-206. Genova: DeFerrari Editore.

Molle, A., Superti, I. (2002) “La famiglia animata. Uno studio dei modelli familiari attraverso i cartoni animati giapponesi”, in G.
Carlini (ed.) La famiglia in trasformazione. Bambini Adulti Scuola, pp. 78-94. Genova: IRRELiguria.

Molle, A. (2001) “Otaku in Italia: se ne puo parlare?”, in A. Gomarasca (ed.) La bambola e il robottone. Saggi sul pop
giapponese, pp. 305-330. Torino: Einaudi Editore.
Peer-reviewed Articles

Bader, C. D., Baker, J. O. & Molle, A. (2012) “Countervailing Forces: Religiosity and Paranormal Belief in Italy”, Journal for the
Scientific Study of Religion, 51(4), pp. 705-720.

Brown, D.H.K., Jennings, G. & Molle, A. (2011) “Faith in the martial arts: Exploring relationships between Asian martial arts
and religion”, STADION, 35, pp. 47-66.

Molle, A. (2010) “Towards a sociology of budō’ Spirituality: Studying the implicit religious issues”, Implicit Religion, 13, pp. 85104.

Molle, A. (2009) “Gli spazi di negoziazione dell’appartenenza religiosa in Sūkyō Mahikari: un’analisi etnografica”, M@gm@.
Rivista elettronica di scienze umane e sociali, 7 (1), [http://www.analisiqualitativa.com/magma/0701/articolo_04.htm].

Molle, A. (2008) “Quali categorie sociologiche per l’analisi delle 'nuove' formazioni religiose giapponesi?”, Religioni e Società.
Rivista di Scienze Sociali della Religione, 62, pp. 46-54.

Molle, A. (2007) “Spiritualità da una galassia lontana lontana: il Jediismo come Nuovo Movimento Religioso”, Antrocom Online
Journal of Anthropology, 3 (1), pp. 14-19, 2007, [http://www.antrocom.net/upload/sub/antrocom/030107/04Antrocom.pdf].

Molle, A. (2006) “Piu spirituale che religiosa. L’identità multipla nel caso di Sūkyō Mahikari”, Religioni e Società. Rivista di
Scienze Sociali della Religione, 55, pp. 59-66.
Wider Dissemination (selected, nonreviewed)

Molle, A. (2008) “Technologies and Social Sciences: computer simulations, virtual worlds, and artificial intelligences usefulness
for the anthropological research of Japan”, Japan Anthropology Workshop Newsletter, 42, pp. 31-36.

Molle, A. (2008) “Trovare la fede nelle Galassie Lontane: il movimento del Jediismo”, Diogene Filosofare oggi, 11, pp. 36-39.

Molle, A. (2008) “Le ragioni 'terrestri' della minaccia 'extraterreste': riflessioni sul caso giapponese”, in Scienza & Paranormale,
78.

Molle, A. (2008) “Autodifesa femminile e mutamenti sociali: un’analisi sociologica”, Unione Femminile,
[http://www.unionefemminile.it/un/files/andrea_molle_autodifesa_analisi_sociologica.pdf].

Molle, A. (2007) “Is Aikidō a Religion?”, Japan Anthropology Workshop Newsletter, 41, pp. 68-72.

Molle, A., Pruzzo, A. (2002) “Italian Media Landscape 2002”, in European Media Landscape, Maastricht: European Journalism
Centre, [http://www.ejc.nl/jr/emland/italy.html].
Molle, CV - Page 3 of 7
Working Papers, proceedings and Research Reports

Molle, A. (2011) “MERCS: Models of Emerging Religious Conflict in Society”, poster presented at the 1st JSPS Multidisciplinary
Science
Forum,
University
of
Washington,
Seattle,
USA,
[http://www.jspsusa.org/Alumni_association/20110311_MSF/20110311_Proceedings_of_MSF.pdf].

Molle, A. (2008) “Spirituality as bridge-category to unite different worlds: the case of Japanese New Religions and Budō”,
Research Report for JSPS evaluation.

Molle, A. (2006) “L’internazionalizzazione dei nuovi movimenti religiosi giapponesi: problemi e strategie analitiche”, Working
Papers
of
the
Department
of
Social
and
Political
Sciences,
Università
di
Milano,
[http://www.socpol.unimi.it/papers/20060510_Andrea%20Molle.pdf].

Molle, A. (2005) “L’insegnamento divino della gradualità alla base della politica di espansione di Sūkyō Mahikari in Italia:
un’interpretazione socioantropologica”, International Conference: Religious Movements, Globalization and Conflict:
Transnational Perspectives, Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni, Palermo, [http://www.cesnur.org/2005/pa_molle.htm].

Molle, A. (2004) “Sociologia della Religione e potere accademico”, Preliminary research report, I meccanismi discorsivi del
potere, Department of Anthropological Sciences, Università di Genova.

Molle, A. (2003) “La religiosità dei latino-americani a Genova”, Preliminary research report.
Translations

Silverman, D. (2008) “Manuale di ricerca sociale e qualitativa” (G. Gobo, ed.). Roma: Carocci, 2008. Original edition: Silverman,
D. (2006) “Interpreting Qualitative Data. 3rd edition”. London: Sage.
Under Preparation (Working titles, 2013 – 2016)

Iannaccone, L. and Molle, A. “MARS: Social Simulation of Conversion”. (Journal Article).

Molle, A. “SimTerrorism: An Agent-based modeling of violence emergence in religiously homogenous populations”.
(Computational Model, JAVA applet)
Presentations
Conferences and Seminars

Molle, A. and Laurence Iannaccone (2012) “Long-run Trends in the International Growth and Outreach Activities of Mormons,
Witnesses, and Adventists”, Annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Phoenix (AZ), USA.

Molle, A. (2012) “Priests, Wizards, and Aliens: Problems and solutions on measuring non-conventional religious behaviors and
beliefs”, The Future of Social Science Research Methods Conference, Chapman University, Orange, USA.

Molle, A. (2011) “The Alien, the Devil and the Holy Water: Catholics and the Paranormal in Italy”, Seminar of the Institute for
the Study of Religion, Economics and Society, Chapman University, Orange, USA.

Molle, A. (2011) “Computer Simulations as a New Way to Understand Social Complexity: the Case of Future Religious
Terrorism”, Second Asian Conference on the Social Sciences, Osaka, Japan.

Molle, A. and Bader, C. D. (2011) “Relative Deprivation, Social Learning and Rebellion against Authority”, ASREC - Association
for the Study of Religion, Economics, and Culture Tenth Annual Conference, Washington DC, USA.

Molle, A. (2011) “MERCS: Models of Emerging Religious Conflict in Society”, 1st JSPS Multidisciplinary Science Forum,
University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

Molle, A. (2010) “Grounded Theory Driven Agent-Based Simulations (GTDABMS): exploring the potential of a new integrated
methodology to the study of religious terrorism”, International Conference: Innovative Methods in the Study of Religion,
AHRC/ESRC Religion&Society Programme, London, UK.

Molle, A. (2009) “Spiritual life in modern Japan: Understanding religion in everyday life”, International Conference: Religion,
Spirituality, and Everyday Practice, Italian Sociological Association, Association for the Sociology of Religion, and University of
Padua, Assisi, Italy.

Molle, A. (2009) “Come un rivolo d'acqua che purificato alla fonte purifica anche la foce: il legame tra spiritualità e fisicità in
Sukyo Mahikari”, Convegno intersezione dell'Associazione Italiana di Sociologia, Università di Padovam, Padova, Italy.

Molle, A. (2008) “Towards a sociology of Martial Arts’ Spirituality: a case study”, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture,
Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan.

Molle, A. (2005) “Piu spirituale che religiosa. L’identità multipla nel caso di Sūkyō Mahikari”, Annual Conference of the
Associazione Italiana di Sociologia: Una sociologia della “spiritualità”, Università di Aosta, Aosta, Italy.

Molle, A. (2005) “L’insegnamento divino della gradualità alla base della politica di espansione di Sūkyō Mahikari in Italia:
un’interpretazione socioantropologica”, International Conference: Religious Movements, Globalization and Conflict:
Transnational Perspectives, Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni, Palermo, Italy.

Molle, A. (2003) “Un percorso di lettura de 'Les formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse'. Concezione ed interpretazione del
senso del rito in Emile Durkheim”, Ph.D. Colloquia, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Molle, CV - Page 4 of 7



Molle, A. (2003) “I dilemmi etici nel fieldwork etnografico. Un punto nodale della riflessione socioantropologica”, Ph.D.
Colloquia, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Molle, A. (2003) “Note sull’evoluzione del sistema di regolazione delle trasmissioni televisive destinate ai minori. Un approccio
istituzionale”, Ph.D. Colloquia, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Molle, A. (2002) “Cultures des jeunes a Genes dans les annees '90”, International Conférence: Gestion territorialisée de la
question sociale: quels effets?, Faculté de Sciences sociales et humaines de l’Université d’Alger, Alger, Algeria.
Visiting Lectures

Molle, A. (2009) “Does 'a falling tree makes more noise than a growing forest’? Some sociological observations on Eastern
forms of religion in Italy”, XVI International Summer School on Religions, San Gimignano (Siena).

Molle, A. (2008) “Doing research in Japanese Martial Arts: Studying Religious Implications”, Nanzan Institute for Religion and
Culture, Nanzan University.

Molle, A. (2005) “Il sentimento religioso in Giappone e la nascita delle Nuove Religioni”, Faculty of Political Sciences,
Università di Milano.

Molle, A. (2004) “Relazioni di campo come rapporti di potere: brevi note etnografiche per il passaggio dalla Sociologia della
Religione ad una sociologia delle religioni”, Seminario Permanente di Antropologia Medica (I meccanismi discorsivi del potere),
Università di Genova.

Molle, A. (2002) “Giovani, cultura popolare e nuovo orientalismo: un confronto tra la realtà giapponese e quella italiana da
una prospettiva socioantropologica”, Faculty of Political Sciences, Università di Genova.

Molle, A. (2002) “Otaku: viaggio in una subcultura contemporanea” , Faculty of Political Sciences, Università di Genova.

Molle, A. (2001) “Globalizzazione, media e pregiudizio: il caso dei cartoni animati giapponesi e dei loro fan”, IRRE Liguria
(Sanremo).

Molle, A. (2001) “Il cartone animato ed il fumetto giapponese nella comunicazione interculturale: un’analisi etnografica”,
Faculty of Computer Sciences, Università di Milano.
Other Qualifications
Editorial experience

Editor, The IAFOR Journal of the Social Sciences, 2011 to present

Associate Editor, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science – US Alumni Association Newsletter, 2011 to 2013

Associate Editor, Guida multimediale alla ricerca sociale: Teorie, metodi, esempi, esercizi, 2005 and 2006

Reviewer, Qualitative Research; Japanese Journal of Religious Studies

Book Reviewer, International Journal of Social Research Methodology; Religioni e Società
Memberships

International Society for the Study of New Religions 2011 to Present

European Association for Japanese Studies, 2008 to Present

Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2008 to Present
Administration and Conference Planning

International Conference: “IAFOR Conference on the Social Science”, Osaka, Conference Chair, 2013.

International Conference: “JSPS US Alumni Multidisciplinary Scientific Forum”, Chapman University, Host Fellow, 2013.

Executive Committee: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science – US Alumni Association, Area of Social Sciences and
Humanities, 2012 to 2013.

Regional Workshop: “I Latino-americani a Genova”, Fondazione Casa America, Genova, 2004.

National Conference: “Partecipazione e solitudine nella Scuola. Solidarietà e bullismo”, Unione Regionale Province Liguri,
Genova, 2002.
Methodological Expertise

Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.

Research design, including content and ethnographic analysis.

Survey design and testing, including sample design, factor analysis and reliability analysis.

Agent-based models.
Molle, CV - Page 5 of 7
Computer Expertise

SPSS, NVivo, and Hyper-research, especially in the areas of data management and manipulation, and data analysis.

NetLogo, especially in the areas of simulation design and experiment management.

Trained in JAVA, a high level programming language that is integrated with Social Simulation.

Web site design, construction and usability.
Languages (according to the 'Common European Framework of Reference for Languages')

Italian: Native

English: Proficient, Fluent (Listening C1; Reading C2; Speaking C1; Writing C2)

French: Independent, Intermediate (Listening B2; Reading C1; Speaking B2; Writing B1)

Japanese: Independent
Personal Skills

Proven leadership abilities, including experience, training and education in group and organizational processes.

Excellent writing and communication skills.
Research statement
My research on religious beliefs and behaviors crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries between Political Science and Sociology.
Further, I have experience and interest in mixed-methods approaches that utilize both quantitative and qualitative techniques.
My research focuses upon the study of religious and quasi-religious experience. My specific research interests include cross-cultural
studies of new religions, fringe spiritualties, religious violence, and warfare studies. Much of my research in these areas focus upon
Asian societies, particularly Japan. In 2011 I was invited to become an Associate Researcher with the Institute for the study of Religion,
Economics and Society (Chapman University) which helped to broaden my experience and understanding of research design, scientific
collaboration, and interactions between scientists with different disciplinary background.
My current research projects focus on the investigation of the intersection of religion and politics in different fields of Sociology,
Political Science, Economics, and Anthropology. The following are some examples.
My first ongoing project is called SIMTERRORISM. The project addresses the problem of terrorism from the perspective of religious
studies using the innovative methodology of agent-based simulation. It is positioned within a broader body of academic work that seeks
to understand the sociological and political relevance of religion in connection with emerging forms of globalized terrorism and the
cultural significance of new religious movements with particular reference to their violent doctrines. The main question addressed is
how and under what conditions religious groups turn into terrorist organizations and which features might help to understand their
threat. In details, the project addresses the three key issues: the definition of religious terrorism; the impact of such terrorism; and the
options available to deal with it. In particular, the evolution of a terrorist group from an established non-violent movement is simulated.
It’s our goal that results from this project will be published in peer reviewed journals and a book.
I am also involved in a quantitative research project to explore the political implication of Japanese martial arts outside Japan. This
project will consider a range of issues surrounding the phenomenon of peace, violence, extremism, nationalism, and religion. Of central
interest is the issue of trust and exploring how social networks by which impact one’s sense of morality in different cultural contexts.
This research will challenge the paradox of conflict and cooperation in modern society focusing on a specific practice of ritualized
warfare and its social, economic, and political implications: Gendai Budō (roughly translated as modern Japanese Martial Arts). Using a
mixed-methods approach we will investigate both its spiritual and political nature and the effects of Gendai Budō practice with special
emphasis on the achievement of pro-societal skills at individual and network level (group and international.) It’s our goal that results
from this project will be published in peer reviewed journals and a book.
I am also writing a third research project with a colleague anthropologist in Japan that focuses on ‘possessions;’ their definition across
cultures, the differences, and the sense of how they are socially constructed, within networks of human (people who start to relate to
ghosts as a consequence of traumatic experiences, religious and spiritual specialists, specialists in psychology and psychoanalysis) and
non-human (e.g. the natural environment, the internet and the media, supernatural beings, personal memories and affections) actors.
In the past several years I have published one book, seven peer-reviewed articles and ten book chapters. My PhD original research
(2003/06) aimed to explore the role of membership networks in the expansion, and modification of doctrines, of a Japanese New
Religions in Europe. Following my PhD work I have published five contributions on Japanese new religions including a book, two peerreviewed articles, one in the most prominent Italian journal of Sociology of Religion “Religioni e Società”, and two book chapters.
While writing the book I have started to develop an interest to explain why and how violence can increase among new religions using
the models from Sociology, Anthropology, and Political Science. During my postdoc in Japan (2006/08), sponsored by the Japanese
Society for the Promotion of Science, I have extended my research to include an investigation of the religious dynamics of the control of
violence exploring the spirituality of martial artist groups. My work has been published in five important contributions, including the
prestigious British Journal “Implicit Religion.” I have also edited a special issue of “Religioni e Società” on the topic of Religion and Sport
Activities.
Molle, CV - Page 6 of 7
Since I discovered that violence and religion are, especially when politically framed, often time associated by means of supernatural
explanation as to justify anti-social behavior, I have developed a further interest in the study of the paranormal. An example of my work
in that area is in publication in the last issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion; the top journal in the social-scientific
study of religion.
In addition to my publishing activities, I am committed to being an active member of the research community. I have delivered papers
at international meetings such as the annual meeting of the “Society for the Scientific Study of Religion”, and at national meetings,
including the ones organized by the “Association for the Study of Religion, Economics, and Culture”. I am a member of several
professional associations. I also serve as Editor for the IAFOR Journal for the Social Sciences and Conference Chair for the annual Asian
Conference on the Social Sciences, and served as member of the Executive Committee of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
– Alumni Association for the United States. Further, I am very committed to providing research experience to our students by getting
them involved in research projects and offering them with a possible channel for their first publications.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
I declare that the information in this Curriculum Vitae is correct and true. I authorize the use of these personal data for the purposes of
review of my qualifications for no other purpose.
Anaheim, CA, 6/26/2013
Andrea Molle
Molle, CV - Page 7 of 7