S. Brent Plate's teachings and writings explore relations between sensual life and spiritual life. He is a writer, editor, public speaker, and visiting associate professor of religious studies at Hamilton College. He has authored/edited twelve books and written for The Christian Century, The Islamic Monthly, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Huffington Post, Religion Dispatches, and other sites. He is co-founder and managing editor of Material Religion: The Journal of Objects, Art, and Belief; president of CrossCurrents/ The Association of Religion and Intellectual Life; and is a board member of the Interfaith Coalition of Greater Utica, NY. His most recent book is A History of Religion in 5½ Objects: Bringing the Spiritual to its Senses. Website: www.sbrentplate.net Twitter: @splate1