Christina Ward on Harlem's Peace Mission cult leader Father Divine.

Especially for Archestratus, Christina will focus on Father Major Jealous Divine who founded the Peace Mission, an influential Harlem-based "cult" centered around food that held New Yorkers under his spell with his concepts of self-actualization, personal divinity, and Mutual Aid during the first half of the twentieth century. It's a twisty-turning tale with surprising connections to other infamous religious and cult leaders.

Christina talks about the dark side of cults and food.

A presentation about the the intersection of food and religion.

Christina talks about how Chicago became a locus of food-driven new religious movements.

A talk about Holy Food with a focus on Oregon’s most notorious cult, the Rajneeshies and their leader, Baghwan / Osho / Zorba the Buddha.

Book Larder is thrilled to welcome back Christina Ward in celebration of her new book, Holy Food: How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat! We will host Christina for a presentation, Q&A, and book signing at our store on Thursday, October 5, at 6:30pm.

Because Book Larder is a small space and we keep the door closed during author talks, a well-fitted face mask is strongly encouraged to be worn by all event guests. Thank you!

Reservations are non-refundable and include a copy of the $32.95 book. Sales tax and .75 transaction fee are also included. Can't attend but still want a signed book? Order here for shipping or in-store pickup.

FREE but Boswell asks that you reserve a spot via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christina-ward-author-of-holy-food-an-in-person-boswell-event-tickets-677668012267

Boswell Book Company presents an evening with Christina Ward, author of Holy Food: How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat - An American History.

Independent food historian Christina Ward’s highly anticipated Holy Food explores the influence of mainstream to fringe religious beliefs on modern American food culture. Ward unravels the numerous ways religious beliefs intersect with politics and economics and, of course, food to tell a different story of America. It's the story of true believers and charlatans, of idealists and visionaries, and of the everyday people who followed them—often at their peril. Holy Food explains how faith pioneers used societal woes and cultural trends to create new pathways of belief and reveals the interconnectivity between sects and their leaders. Ward skillfully navigates between academic studies, interviews, cookbooks, and religious texts to make sharp observations with new insights into American history in this highly readable journey through the American kitchen.

NOTE: Event begins at 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central / 4pm Pacific.

Register for this free talk here: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/events-tickets/free-online-talk-holy-food-recipes-and-foodways-from-cults-communes-and-new-religious-movements-with-food-historian-christina-ward

Does God have a recipe?

Join independent food historian and vice-president of Feral House Christina Ward for an exploration of the influence of fringe religious and spiritual beliefs in modern American food culture. Ward unravels the numerous ways religious beliefs intersect with politics and economics and—of course, food—to tell a different story of America. It's the story of true believers and charlatans, of idealists and visionaries, and of the everyday people who followed them—often at their peril.

In conversation with Colleen Sen and Sara Connell