Catherine Robinson
- Senior Lecturer: Study of Religions, Philosophies and Ethics
- Email: c.robinson@bathspa.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)1225 875658
- School or Department: School of Humanities
- Office: NP.CN.G03

Personal statement
Catherine Robinson has worked at Bath Spa University (then called Bath College of Higher Education) since 1990. A graduate of Stirling University, she gained a doctorate from Lancaster University for a study of the Indian women's movement which analysed how and why appeal was made to the Hindu tradition (later published by Curzon Press).
Her major research interests are issues of gender and sexuality in religions, as well as Indian religions in the modern period.
She has researched Sachkhand Nanak Dham, a Punjabi religious movement, and the history of scholarship of the Sikh tradition, with particular reference to the representation of Sikhism in educational contexts. A book linking interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita, arguably the most popular Hindu scripture, with images of the Hindu tradition, including universalist and theological perspectives, was published by Routledge in 2006.
She was also a co-editor of the Routledge Encyclopedia of Hinduism which was published in 2008. She has also researched the life and work of Sir Edwin Arnold, a Victorian poet, writer and journalist, who published widely on Indian themes.
She has revisited some earlier work on Indian soldiers and the role of religion in the British Indian Army with a particular focus on the centenary of the Great War. In addition, she has worked with Denise Cush on a Higher Education Academy-funded project on fieldwork placements and experiential learning in Theology and Religious Studies. This project was given the Shap Award for 2013 for its contribution to the field of the study of/education in religions. She has continued her collaboration with Denise Cush on educational themes, including issues of gender and feminism.
Academic Qualifications
- BA (Hons) - Stirling
- PhD - Lancaster
Professional Memberships
- Member - British Association for the Study of Religions
- Fellow - Higher Education Academy
Areas of expertise
- Hinduism
- Sikhism
- Indian Philosophy
- Religion, Gender and Sexuality
- Theory and Method in the Study of Religions
Research and academic outputs
Encyclopedia of Hinduism
book
Cush, D, Robinson, C and York, M, eds. (2007) Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge, Abingdon. ISBN 9780700712670
Interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita and images of the Hindu tradition: the song of the lord
book
Robinson, C (2006) Interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita and images of the Hindu tradition: the song of the lord. Routledge. ISBN 9780415346719
Tradition and liberation: the Hindu tradition in the Indian women's movement
book
Robinson, C (1999) Tradition and liberation: the Hindu tradition in the Indian women's movement. Routledge Studies in Asian Religion . Routledge. ISBN 9780700711437
Sachkhand Nanak Dham
book_section
Robinson, C (2017) 'Sachkhand Nanak Dham.' In: Jacobsen, K.A, Mann, G.S, Myrvold, K and Nesbitt, E, eds. Brill's encyclopedia of Sikhism: vol I. Brill, Leiden, pp. 97-402. ISBN 9789004297456
'Arthavada' - 'Punya' - Papa' - 'Svarga' -'Vidhi'
book_section
Robinson, C and Cush, D (2007) ''Arthavada' - 'Punya' - Papa' - 'Svarga' -'Vidhi'.' In: Cush, D, Robinson, C and York, M, eds. Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge, London. ISBN 9780700712670
'Bhagavad-Gita' - 'Subhadra' - 'Savitri'
book_section
Robinson, C (2007) ''Bhagavad-Gita' - 'Subhadra' - 'Savitri'.' In: Cush, D, Robinson, C and York, M, eds. Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge, London. ISBN 9780700712670
Learning and unlearning: some reflections on feminist praxis and pedagogic practice in religious studies and religious education
article
Robinson, C and Cush, D (2018) 'Learning and unlearning: some reflections on feminist praxis and pedagogic practice in religious studies and religious education.' Religions, 9 (4). ISSN 2077-1444
Brian Bocking and the defence of study of religions as an academic discipline in universities and schools
article
Cush, D and Robinson, C (2016) 'Brian Bocking and the defence of study of religions as an academic discipline in universities and schools.' Journal of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions, 3. pp. 27-41. ISSN 2009-7409
Indian soldiers on the Western Front: the role of religion in the Indian army in the Great War
article
Robinson, C (2015) 'Indian soldiers on the Western Front: the role of religion in the Indian army in the Great War.' Religions of South Asia, 9 (1). pp. 43-63. ISSN 1751-2697
Interpreter of Hinduism to the west? Sir Edwin Arnold's (re)presentation of Hindu texts and their reception
article
Robinson, C (2014) 'Interpreter of Hinduism to the west? Sir Edwin Arnold's (re)presentation of Hindu texts and their reception.' Religions of South Asia, 8 (2). pp. 217-236. ISSN 1751-2697
Developments in religious studies: towards a dialogue with religious education
article
Cush, D and Robinson, C (2014) 'Developments in religious studies: towards a dialogue with religious education.' British Journal of Religious Education, 36 (1). pp. 4-17. ISSN 1740-7931
Religions, philosophies and ethics: curriculum change in the marketised academy
article
Robinson, C and Cush, D (2013) 'Religions, philosophies and ethics: curriculum change in the marketised academy.' DISKUS: the Journal of the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR), 14. ISSN 0967-8948
Does religious studies work? Employability and experiential learning
article
Robinson, C and Cush, D (2011) 'Does religious studies work? Employability and experiential learning.' Discourse: Learning and Teaching in Philosophical and Religious Studies, 10 (3). ISSN 1741-4164
When the twain meet: redefining 'British' religions through student encounters with religious communities
article
Robinson, C and Cush, D (2011) 'When the twain meet: redefining 'British' religions through student encounters with religious communities.' Discourse: Learning and Teaching in Philosophical and Religious Studies, 10 (2). pp. 15-30. ISSN 1741-4164
‘Do they really believe that?’: Experiential learning outside the theology and religious studies classroom
article
Robinson, C and Cush, D (2010) '‘Do they really believe that?’: Experiential learning outside the theology and religious studies classroom.' Discourse: Learning and Teaching in Philosophical and Religious Studies, 10 (1). pp. 55-72. ISSN 1741-4164
'O our India!': towards a reassessment of Sir Edwin Arnold
article
Robinson, C (2009) ''O our India!': towards a reassessment of Sir Edwin Arnold.' Religions of South Asia, 3 (2). pp. 203-219. ISSN 1751-2689
Staff expectations and student experience: a case study of first year undergraduate curriculum planning and evaluation
article
Robinson, C and Reid-Bowen, P (2008) 'Staff expectations and student experience: a case study of first year undergraduate curriculum planning and evaluation.' Discourse: Learning and Teaching in Philosophical and Religious Studies, 8 (1). pp. 73-89. ISSN 1741-4164
Raj Karega Khalsa (the Khalsa shall reign): the legacy of Tat Khalsa in portrayals of the Khalsa, the impact on Sikh studies and implications for Sikhism in education
article
Robinson, C (2007) 'Raj Karega Khalsa (the Khalsa shall reign): the legacy of Tat Khalsa in portrayals of the Khalsa, the impact on Sikh studies and implications for Sikhism in education.' Religions of South Asia, 1 (1). pp. 65-80. ISSN 1751-2697
From Bhagvat-Geeta to Bagger Vance
article
Robinson, C (2007) 'From Bhagvat-Geeta to Bagger Vance.' Journal of Vaishnava Studies, 16 (1). pp. 3-21. ISSN 1062-1237
The living words of the living master: Sants, Sikhs, Sachkhand Nanak Dham and the academy
article
Cox, L and Robinson, C (2006) 'The living words of the living master: Sants, Sikhs, Sachkhand Nanak Dham and the academy.' Journal of Contemporary Religion, 21 (3). pp. 373-387. ISSN 1469-9419
Druids and Brahmins: a case of mistaken identity?
article
Robinson, C (2000) 'Druids and Brahmins: a case of mistaken identity?' DISKUS: the Journal of the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR), 6. ISSN 0967-8948
The sacred cow: Hinduism and ecology
article
Robinson, C and Cush, D (1997) 'The sacred cow: Hinduism and ecology.' Journal of Beliefs & Values, 18 (1). pp. 25-37. ISSN 1361-7672
Neither east nor west: some aspects of religion and ritual in the Indian Army of the Raj
article
Robinson, C (1996) 'Neither east nor west: some aspects of religion and ritual in the Indian Army of the Raj.' Religion, 26 (1). pp. 37-47. ISSN 1096-1151
'At the going down of the sun and in the morning...': remembering the Indian Soldiers of empire
conference_item
Robinson, C (2017) 'At the going down of the sun and in the morning...': remembering the Indian Soldiers of empire. In: Religion Department Research Seminars, 8 March 2017, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales.
Making the strange familiar and the familiar strange: fieldwork placements in religious communities
conference_item
Robinson, C (2016) Making the strange familiar and the familiar strange: fieldwork placements in religious communities. In: BASR Annual Conference, 5 - 7 September 2016, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.
One hundred years on: Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims on the Western Front
conference_item
Robinson, C (2014) One hundred years on: Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims on the Western Front. In: 39th Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions 2014, 25 April - 27 April 2014, Luther King House, Manchester.
Haile Selassie in Bath
conference_item
Robinson, C (2008) Haile Selassie in Bath. In: Celebrating Diversity Month, February 2008, University of Bath.
"[T]he intention of the author has been, in fulfilment of his promise to the Sikhs, to write from an orthodox Sikh point of view" (Max Arthur Macauliffe): the Khalsa and scholarship
conference_item
Robinson, C (2006) "[T]he intention of the author has been, in fulfilment of his promise to the Sikhs, to write from an orthodox Sikh point of view" (Max Arthur Macauliffe): the Khalsa and scholarship. In: 31st Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions, 31 March - 2 April 2006, Jesus College, Oxford.
Sikhism: sant-sipahi (soldier saints): beliefs, martial ideals & military traditions
conference_item
Robinson, C (2005) Sikhism: sant-sipahi (soldier saints): beliefs, martial ideals & military traditions. In: BRLSI Events, 9 May 2005, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Bath, UK.
Living religion [website]
other
Robinson, C, Cush, D and Wilshen, G (2011) Living religion [website].