I am Professor of Sociology at Tampere University, Finland and lead the Tampere research group on Religion & Society.

My teaching, supervision, and research centre on sociology of religion (including comparative religions, Islam, and Orthodox Christianity), interdisciplinary study of mysticism, and critical realist social theory. Earlier I have been working on heresy and exclusion, as well as innovative approaches to boundary work in science and religion. I mostly focus on methodological and meta-theoretical studies as well as qualitative, empirical research.

Most of my time is presently devoted to planning a major Program in the Study of Mysticism (PRISM) for Templeton Religion Trust (https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/mysticism).

My recent book, co-authored with Dr. Tatiana Tiaynen-Qadir, was published by Anthem Press, entitled “Symbols and myth-making in modernity: Deep culture in art and action.” More information is available on my ResearchGate page.