Vivian Gonzalez, Ph.D
I work to understand how people live in very different worlds, together.
Since 1999, I have pursued two career paths simultaneously: I am a scholar of contemporary religion and a human services professional. On one hand, I maintain ReligiousGames.org, and document religion in, on, and through popular culture as @religiousgames on Twitter. On the other hand, I am currently a direct support professional assisting adults with developmental disabilities.
I published most of my work under the first of my middle names, "Vincent." Hopefully that will not be too confusing for anyone. |
(She/Her)
@religiousgames vivian.v.m.gonzalez@gmail.com |
Curriculum Vitae
EMPLOYMENT
Families First (Brattleboro, VT)
• Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional (2019-present)
Groundworks Collaborative (Brattleboro, VT)
• Director of the Groundworks Shelter (2018 - 2019)
United Counseling Service (Bennington, VT)
• Manager of South Street Group Home (2015 - 2018)
Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Vermont (Brattleboro, VT)
• Shift Lead at Meadowview Recovery Residence (2014 - 2015)
Residential Services Inc. (Chapel Hill, NC)
• Supported Employment Professional (2013 - 2014)
• Direct Service Provider for Residents with Developmental Disabilities (2007 - 2013)
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC)
• Instructor (2008 - 2011)
• Teaching Assistant (2007 - 2010)
Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
• Habilitation Provider with New Haven Support Services (2003)
• Habilitation Provider, Independent Contractor (1999 - 2002)
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, May 2014 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Masters of Arts in Jewish Studies, May 2006 Emory University
Bachelor of Arts, May 2003 Arizona State University
PUBLICATIONS
V. Gonzalez and Tine Rassalle, "Formless and Void: The Emergence of Biblical Lands in Early Religious Video Games (1982–1991)." Near Eastern Archaeology 84.1 (March 2021), 22-31.
“No Sympathy for Devils : What Christian Video Games Can Teach Us About Violence in Family-Friendly Entertainment.” Gamevironments 9 (2019), 53-106.
“Guest Commentary: On Games of Life,” www.judithmargolis.com, February 10, 2015.
"Occupy's Sacred Mob and the Politics of Vagrancy." Religion Dispatches, November 4, 2011.
"Feeling the Energies: The Kabbalah Yoga Series of DVDs." In Media Res, February 21, 2011.
“Crowdsourced Catholicism: New iPhone App Lets Users Forgive Sins.” Religion Dispatches, January 10, 2011.
Clark, Elena Pedigo, V. Gonzalez, Leigh-Anne Krometis, and Michelle Oates Leslie. “The 'Death' of Disciplines: Development of a Team-Taught Course to Provide an Interdisciplinary Perspective for First-year Students.” College Teaching 59.2 (Spring 2011).
"Harry Potter and the Satanic Spectres: The Franchise as Seen through Its Religious Metaliterature." In Media Res, November 18, 2010.
"Imagining the Self-Controller: 'The Wild Divine Project' as an Experiment in Religious Game Interface." In Media Res, April 15, 2010.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
"Smurfing Religion Among The Smurfs" Annual Implicit Religion Conference, May 18, 2019.
“Formless and Void: The Emergence of Biblical Lands in Early Religious Video Games (1982-1991).”
American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meeting, November 17, 2018.
“Immanence (Achievement Unlocked): Meditations on Player Embodiment in Deepak Chopra's Leela.”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. November 19, 2016.
“A Land Without Land for a People Without People: Mediations of the Land of Israel in Jewish Video Games."
International Conference on Digital Religion. January 14, 2012.
“The Intellectual Prospects of Mormonism.”
Faith and Knowledge Conference on Latter Day Saints in Religious Studies. February 12, 2011.
“Spirit Meters and Balls of Light: The Dynamics of Prayer in Bible Believing Video Games.”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. October 31, 2010.
“Kabbalah Yoga and Coca Cola: Notes on Real Things.”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. October 31, 2008.
“Do You See What I See? Light, Meaning, and the Gaze of Alternative Christmas Specials.”
Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion Annual Meeting. Greensboro, NC. March 15, 2009.
“Why Not, in Time, a Judeo-American? Transferrable Jewish Identity in Ben Katchor's The Jew of New York as in Nineteenth Century America”
Graven Images: Religion in Comics and Graphic Novels. Lucce Program in Scripture and Literary Arts Conference at Boston University. April 12, 2008.
“Born Digital/ Born Again Digital,”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. Religion and Culture Group. San Diego, CA. November 17, 2007
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Courses Taught:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Religion in America (Fall 2011)
Religious Things (Spring 2011)
Religious Games and Sacred Play (Fall 2010)
Cheating Death/Chasing Immortality (co-instructor, Fall 2008)
Teaching Assistantships:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Introduction to Religion and Culture with Todd Ochoa (Spring 2010)
Introduction to Jewish Studies with Jonathan Boyarin (Fall 2009)
Introduction to Religion in America with Laurie Maffly-Kipp (Spring 2009)
Introduction to Religion in America with Yaakov Ariel (Spring 2008)
Philosophical Approaches to the Study of Religion with Randall Styers (Fall 2007)
Emory University
Introduction to Judaism as a Civilization with Eric Goldstein (Fall 2005)
History of the Holocaust with Deborah Lipstadt (Spring 2004)
HONORS AND AWARDS
Coolidge Fellowship, Cross Currents Colloquium on “The Mediation of Meaning” (Summer 2010)
Perry Family Summer Research Fellowship (2010)
UNC Keenan Fellowship (2006 – 2011)
Outstanding Major, ASU Department of Religious Studies (May 2003)
Sun Angel Research Grant in the Humanities (Spring 2003)
Families First (Brattleboro, VT)
• Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional (2019-present)
Groundworks Collaborative (Brattleboro, VT)
• Director of the Groundworks Shelter (2018 - 2019)
United Counseling Service (Bennington, VT)
• Manager of South Street Group Home (2015 - 2018)
Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Vermont (Brattleboro, VT)
• Shift Lead at Meadowview Recovery Residence (2014 - 2015)
Residential Services Inc. (Chapel Hill, NC)
• Supported Employment Professional (2013 - 2014)
• Direct Service Provider for Residents with Developmental Disabilities (2007 - 2013)
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC)
• Instructor (2008 - 2011)
• Teaching Assistant (2007 - 2010)
Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
• Habilitation Provider with New Haven Support Services (2003)
• Habilitation Provider, Independent Contractor (1999 - 2002)
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, May 2014 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Masters of Arts in Jewish Studies, May 2006 Emory University
Bachelor of Arts, May 2003 Arizona State University
PUBLICATIONS
V. Gonzalez and Tine Rassalle, "Formless and Void: The Emergence of Biblical Lands in Early Religious Video Games (1982–1991)." Near Eastern Archaeology 84.1 (March 2021), 22-31.
“No Sympathy for Devils : What Christian Video Games Can Teach Us About Violence in Family-Friendly Entertainment.” Gamevironments 9 (2019), 53-106.
“Guest Commentary: On Games of Life,” www.judithmargolis.com, February 10, 2015.
"Occupy's Sacred Mob and the Politics of Vagrancy." Religion Dispatches, November 4, 2011.
"Feeling the Energies: The Kabbalah Yoga Series of DVDs." In Media Res, February 21, 2011.
“Crowdsourced Catholicism: New iPhone App Lets Users Forgive Sins.” Religion Dispatches, January 10, 2011.
Clark, Elena Pedigo, V. Gonzalez, Leigh-Anne Krometis, and Michelle Oates Leslie. “The 'Death' of Disciplines: Development of a Team-Taught Course to Provide an Interdisciplinary Perspective for First-year Students.” College Teaching 59.2 (Spring 2011).
"Harry Potter and the Satanic Spectres: The Franchise as Seen through Its Religious Metaliterature." In Media Res, November 18, 2010.
"Imagining the Self-Controller: 'The Wild Divine Project' as an Experiment in Religious Game Interface." In Media Res, April 15, 2010.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
"Smurfing Religion Among The Smurfs" Annual Implicit Religion Conference, May 18, 2019.
“Formless and Void: The Emergence of Biblical Lands in Early Religious Video Games (1982-1991).”
American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meeting, November 17, 2018.
“Immanence (Achievement Unlocked): Meditations on Player Embodiment in Deepak Chopra's Leela.”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. November 19, 2016.
“A Land Without Land for a People Without People: Mediations of the Land of Israel in Jewish Video Games."
International Conference on Digital Religion. January 14, 2012.
“The Intellectual Prospects of Mormonism.”
Faith and Knowledge Conference on Latter Day Saints in Religious Studies. February 12, 2011.
“Spirit Meters and Balls of Light: The Dynamics of Prayer in Bible Believing Video Games.”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. October 31, 2010.
“Kabbalah Yoga and Coca Cola: Notes on Real Things.”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. October 31, 2008.
“Do You See What I See? Light, Meaning, and the Gaze of Alternative Christmas Specials.”
Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion Annual Meeting. Greensboro, NC. March 15, 2009.
“Why Not, in Time, a Judeo-American? Transferrable Jewish Identity in Ben Katchor's The Jew of New York as in Nineteenth Century America”
Graven Images: Religion in Comics and Graphic Novels. Lucce Program in Scripture and Literary Arts Conference at Boston University. April 12, 2008.
“Born Digital/ Born Again Digital,”
American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. Religion and Culture Group. San Diego, CA. November 17, 2007
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Courses Taught:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Religion in America (Fall 2011)
Religious Things (Spring 2011)
Religious Games and Sacred Play (Fall 2010)
Cheating Death/Chasing Immortality (co-instructor, Fall 2008)
Teaching Assistantships:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Introduction to Religion and Culture with Todd Ochoa (Spring 2010)
Introduction to Jewish Studies with Jonathan Boyarin (Fall 2009)
Introduction to Religion in America with Laurie Maffly-Kipp (Spring 2009)
Introduction to Religion in America with Yaakov Ariel (Spring 2008)
Philosophical Approaches to the Study of Religion with Randall Styers (Fall 2007)
Emory University
Introduction to Judaism as a Civilization with Eric Goldstein (Fall 2005)
History of the Holocaust with Deborah Lipstadt (Spring 2004)
HONORS AND AWARDS
Coolidge Fellowship, Cross Currents Colloquium on “The Mediation of Meaning” (Summer 2010)
Perry Family Summer Research Fellowship (2010)
UNC Keenan Fellowship (2006 – 2011)
Outstanding Major, ASU Department of Religious Studies (May 2003)
Sun Angel Research Grant in the Humanities (Spring 2003)