David Chidester: An Appreciation

Abstract

When the editors asked if I would write a short reflection on my long and enduring friendship with David Chidester for a book honoring David’s brilliant career, I of course said,‘Yes’. David and I met in 1974 as graduate students atthe University of California, Santa Barbara, inthedepartment of Religious Studies. Along with two good friends and fellow graduate students, Jim McNamara and Deborah Sills-Gunn–who left us far too early–the four of us made up the Board of Directors (acknowledged in everyone of David’s books).