Sociology Department

James J. Preston

Office TBA, Phone TBA, prestojj@oneonta.edu

Dr. James Preston has taught for over thirty years at the State University of New York, College at Oneonta, where he was Professor of Anthropology and founding Chair of the Religious Studies Program. His research experiences include extensive field work in India and among Native American Catholic populations in the United States and Canada. Dr. Preston has published a wide range of articles and several books on the scientific study of religion. His books include Cult of the Goddess: Social and Religious Change in a Hindu Temple (Waveland Press) and Mother Worship: Theme and Variations ( University of North Carolina Press). At present Dr. Preston is interested in the impact of globalism on religions in complex societies. He is gathering data for future publication on pilgrimage traditions in the United States and Canada.