Jeanne Halgren Kilde
Encyclopedia
Jeanne Halgren Kilde is an American
academic whose research centers on religion
and, most notably, religious architecture
. She currently serves as the chair of the University of Minnesota
's department of religious studies
. She previously served on the faculties of Macalaster College, Cleveland State University
, the University of Notre Dame
, and St. Francis University.
itself." Kilde proposes that the central purposes of church architecture are related to three specific kinds of power: divine power (theology
), personal power (the perceived relationship between the individual and God
), and social power (the whole host of human relationships within church settings). Ultimately, these three modalities of power become reified in church architecture.
Beyond her work with architecture, Kilde has published widely on a variety of subjects including the American
evangelical movement, women in religious contexts, apocalypse
, and the Left Behind
series.
. The Journal of Religion
reported that "Kilde's careful and thorough research in published and unpublished congregational, denomnational, and architectural records successfully engages architectural history, religious studies, and social and cultural history." The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians called Kilde's work the "Rosetta stone
for an undervalued genre of American ecclesiastical architecture." The Religious Studies Review
writes that Kilde's research "synthesizes, and enriches the narrative of both American religious history and American architectural history, which will enlighten professional and amateur scholars alike."
Literature
from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and completed her doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota
's Program in American Studies.
Americans
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
academic whose research centers on religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and, most notably, religious architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. She currently serves as the chair of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
's department of religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
. She previously served on the faculties of Macalaster College, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
, the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and St. Francis University.
Thought
Rather than seeing church architecture as being passively shaped by religion, Kilde views architecture as a force that exerts profound influence on religion. As one reviewer writes, church architecture is "Neither mere witnesses to transformations of religious thought nor simple backgrounds for religious practice, church buildings are, in Kilde's view, dynamic participants in religious change and goldmines of information on ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
itself." Kilde proposes that the central purposes of church architecture are related to three specific kinds of power: divine power (theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
), personal power (the perceived relationship between the individual and God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
), and social power (the whole host of human relationships within church settings). Ultimately, these three modalities of power become reified in church architecture.
Beyond her work with architecture, Kilde has published widely on a variety of subjects including the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
evangelical movement, women in religious contexts, apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
, and the Left Behind
Left Behind
Left Behind is a series of 16 best-selling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatological viewpoint of the end of the world. The primary conflict of the series is the members of the Tribulation...
series.
Reception
Kilde's work has been well-received within the academic pressAcademic publishing
Academic publishing describes the subfield of publishing which distributes academic research and scholarship. Most academic work is published in journal article, book or thesis form. The part of academic written output that is not formally published but merely printed up or posted is often called...
. The Journal of Religion
The Journal of Religion
The Journal of Religion is an academic journal published by the University of Chicago Press founded in 1882 as The American Journal of Theology. The journal "embraces all areas of theology as well as other types of religious studies ."...
reported that "Kilde's careful and thorough research in published and unpublished congregational, denomnational, and architectural records successfully engages architectural history, religious studies, and social and cultural history." The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians called Kilde's work the "Rosetta stone
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest Ancient Greek...
for an undervalued genre of American ecclesiastical architecture." The Religious Studies Review
Religious Studies Review
Religious Studies Review is the journal of the Council of Societies for the Study of Religion , which is based at Rice University. The journal is published quarterly by Wiley-Blackwell....
writes that Kilde's research "synthesizes, and enriches the narrative of both American religious history and American architectural history, which will enlighten professional and amateur scholars alike."
Education
Kilde received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in EnglishEnglish studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and completed her doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
's Program in American Studies.
Books
- Sacred Power, Sacred Space: An Introduction to Christian Architecture
- Rapture, Revelation and the End Times: Exploring the Left Behind Series
- When Church Became Theatre: The Transformation of Evangelical Architecture and Worship in Nineteenth-Century America