Mary Beth Mathews
Professor of Religion
- Fredericksburg VA UNITED STATES
Dr. Mathews is knowledgeable about American religious history, Protestant fundamentalism and evangelicalism.
Media
Social
Biography
A self-titled “guide on the side,” the University of Mary Washington professor encourages her students and audiences to engage in her lectures by asking questions.
“We have a lot of diversity in terms of religious faith and backgrounds,” says Dr. Mathews. “Our [classics, philosophy and religion] department does everything it can to foster that.”
The author of "Rethinking Zion: How the Print Media Placed Fundamentalism in the South," Dr. Mathews is an expert in American religious history, Protestant fundamentalism and evangelicalism, African-American religions, and religion and politics in the United States.
Dr. Mathews previously worked for a U.S. senator and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Areas of Expertise
Education
University of Virginia
Ph.D.
European and American Religious History
2002
University of Virginia
M.A.
European and American Religious History
2000
The College of William and Mary
A.B.
Government and Religion
1986
Affiliations
- American Historical Association : Member
- American Society of Church History: Member
Media Appearances
Fredericksburg fêted as home of religious freedom
Fredericksburg.com online
2015-01-12
There, Mary Beth Mathews, an associate professor in the department of classics, philosophy and religion at the University of Mary Washington, spoke on the nation’s history of religious freedom. She noted that the framers of the U.S. Constitution were primarily Protestants of European descent, which informed their approach to the document. “Christianity was their common background,” she said, pointing out that they were Anglicans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed and a few were deists...
Event Appearances
Religious Liberty Presentation
Religious Freedom Day Celebration, Frederickburg, Virginia
2015-01-11