Michael Pasquier is Jaak Seynaeve Professor of Christian Studies and Professor of Religious Studies and History at Louisiana State University. He is the author of RELIGION IN AMERICA: THE BASICS and FATHERS ON THE FRONTIER, editor of GODS OF THE MISSISSIPPI, and producer of the documentary film WATER LIKE STONE. His work has been supported by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Whiting Foundation.