Curriculum Vitae ANDREA MOLLE, PH.D., FJSPS e - Chapman ...

Personal details
Curriculum Vitae
ANDREA MOLLE, PH.D., FJSPS
e-mail: molle@chapman.edu - mobile: +1.254.716.8036
Nationality: Italian (EU)
Date and Place of Birth: 2nd September, 1975 in Genova, Italy
Marital status: Married
Interests
Focus is on the integration of Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, and Economics through the unifying principles of
Rational Choice. Specific research interests are cross-cultural study of New Religions, Fringe spiritualties, Religious Violence,
and Warfare Studies. Geographic and cultural foci are Asian societies, particularly Japan. Methodological approach
emphasizes integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches using Ethnography, Agent-based modeling, and
Experiments.
Education
Ph.D. (Dottorato di Ricerca), Sociology, Università di Milano, 24th March, 2006
DISSERTATION: Ex oriente lux: analisi etnografica della Federazione Italiana Sūkyō Mahikari a Milano (Ethnograpic Analysis of
Sūkyō Mahikari Headquarters in Milan)
B.Sc./M.Sc. (Diploma di Laurea), Political Sciences, Università di Genova, 15th November, 2001
DISSERTATION: Processi culturali globali e subculture: il caso degli Otaku (Global cultural processes and subcultures: the case
of Italian ‘otaku’ tribe)
Postgraduate certifications
Summer School, Analysis of International Affairs, ASERI Postgraduate School of Economics and International Relations,
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, July 6-10, 2009
Summer School, Computational Models of Social and Economic Phenomena, National Research Council (CNR), Roma, June 22-
26, 2009
Summer School, The 20th International Seminar of Budō Culture (第20 回国際武道文化セミナー), Nippon Budōkan &
International Budō University, Chiba, March 7-10, 2008
Summer School, Morte e trasformazione dei corpi. Interventi di tanatometamorfosi, Università di Torino, Torino, October 21-
23, 2004
Awards
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2006 to 2008
Doctoral Studentship, Graduate School in Social, Economic and Political Sciences, Università di Milano, 2003 to 2006
Magna Cum Laude, Faculty of Political Sciences, Università di Genova, 2001
Best Thesis Award, Faculty of Political Sciences, Università di Genova, 2001
Molle, CV - Page 1 of 6

Academic and teaching activity
Post-doctoral Associate Researcher, Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology &
Institute for the Study of Religion, Economics and Culture, Chapman University, 2011 to present. Supervisors: Christopher D.
Bader, Laurence Iannaccone.
Research: Grant funded research (Templeton Foundation): Social simulation, cross-cultural research in religion, research for
the Association of Religion Data Archives (www.thearda.com).
Teachings: Departments of Political Science & Sociology, Chapman University, 2011 to present. Courses: Introduction to
International Relations; Political Research Design; Introductory Sociology.
Post-doctoral Associate Researcher, Baylor University, 2010 to 2011
Research: Sociology of Religion, Religious Terrorism, and Computational Sociology.
Associate Researcher, Italian School for East Asian Studies (Kyoto, Japan), 2009 to present
Research: Japanese Society, Culture and Politics.
Post doctoral Associate Researcher, Università di Padova, 2009 to 2010
Research: Sociology of Religion, Religious Pluralism, and Computational Sociology.
Adjunct Instructor, Università di Milano, 2008 to 2010
Teachings: Research Methods for Social Sciences.
Visiting Research Fellow, Nanzan University, 2006 to 2008
Research: Sociology of Religion, Martial Arts, and Spiritual Warfare.
Teaching Fellow, Università di Milano, 2003 to 2006
Teachings: Research Methods for Social Sciences, Cultural Anthropology, and Sociology of Communications.
Adjunct Instructor, Università di Genova, 2001 to 2003
Teachings: Sociology of Cultural Processes and Sociology of Ethnic Relations.
Research activity
Current Research Agenda:
“Gabrielino/Tongva Indian Spirituality- A Mixed Method Approach”, with Christopher D. Bader, Paul Apodaca, Sheila Steinberg
(Chapman University)
“Social Simulation of Conversion”, with Laurence Iannaccone (Chapman University)
“MERCS: Models of Emerging Religious Conflict in Society”, with Christopher D. Bader (Chapman University)
“A Conflict of Spirits: Paranormal Beliefs in the United States and Italy”, with Christopher D. Bader (Chapman University)
“Martial Arts and the ‘Sacred Warrior’: the spiritual dimension of warfare and combat sports”, with Simone Di Zio (University
of Chieti)
“Italy in Japan”, with Silvio Vita (Italian School for East Asian Studies)
Grants and Funds
1.600.000¥, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, 2006 to 2008
28.800€, Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca Scientifica, Ph.D. Scholarship, 2003 to 2006
Previous research experience
Researcher, Department of Sociology, Università di Padova, 2010
Il pluralismo religioso in Italia, PRIN, 2010/2012, Keywords: Religious pluralism, Spirituality.
Visiting Researcher, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Nanzan University, 2006 to 2008
Spirituality as bridge-category to unite different worlds: the case of Japanese New Religions and Budō, JSPS Fellowship
Research project. Keywords: Budō, New Religions, Spirituality.
Ph.D. Student, Università di Milano, 2003 to 2006
Sūkyō Mahikari in Italy: An Ethnographic Analysis, Ph.D. Research project. Keywords: New Religions, Spirituality.
Research Assistant, Caritas Ambrosiana, Fondazione ISMU, and Regione Lombardia, 2006
Vivere ai margini. Un’indagine sugli insediamenti Rom e Sinti in Lombardia. Keywords: Religion, Ethnicity.
Research Assistant, Fondazione Casa America, 2003 to 2004
I latino-americani a Genova. Keywords: Immigration, Religion, Ethnicity.
Research Assistant, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Università di Genova, 2003
Il lavoro atipico nella provincia di Genova. Keywords: Employment, Social Policy.
Molle, CV - Page 2 of 6

Research Assistant, Department of Social and Political Studies, Università di Milano, 2002
Le trasformazioni del sapere medico. Salute e malattia tra scienza, esperienza e rappresentazioni pubbliche. Keywords: Health,
Alternative Medicines.
Research Assistant, Department of Anthropological Sciences, Università di Genova, 2002
L’impatto delle 'nuove guerre': aspetti sociologici, comunicativi e mediatici, Keywords: Mass Media, War Studies.
Research Assistant, Centro di Documentazione e Ricerca sui Trasferimenti di Tecnologia, 2001 to 2002
Analisi dei gradi di métissage culturale a Cornigliano. Keywords: Immigration, Ethnicity.
Consultant, Centro di Documentazione e Ricerca sui Trasferimenti di Tecnologia, 2000 to 2001
Partecipazione e solitudine nella scuola. Solidarietà e bullismo. Keywords: Violence, Education.
Investigator, The Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, 2000
European election study 1999. Keywords: Political Communication, Elections.
Publications
Books & Editors
Molle, A., Sterchele D., eds. (2011). Religioni e Società. Rivista di Scienze Sociali della Religione, 71. Special Issue on Religion
and Sport.
Molle, A. (2009) I Nuovi movimenti religiosi. Roma: Carocci.
Book Chapters
Molle, A. (2011) “Spiritual Life in Modern Japan: Understanding Religion in Everyday Life”, in G. Giordan & W. H. Swatos (eds.)
Religion, Spirituality and Everyday Practice, pp. 131-139. New York: Springer.
Molle, A. (2010) “Mahikari no Waza: Possessione, malattia e purificazione in un nuovo movimento religioso giapponese”, in M.
Bontempi & A. Maturo (eds.) Salute e Salvezza, pp. 181-194. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Molle, A. (2007) “I nomadi di Mantova e Casalmaggiore: tra mediazione e intervento”, in M. Ambrosini & A. Tosi (eds.) Vivere
ai margini. Un’indagine sugli insediamenti rom e sinti in Lombardia, pp. 189-209. Milano: Quaderni della Fondazione ISMU.
Barone, C., Molle, A. (2006) “Cosi vicini, cosi lontani: i percorsi di adattamento delle tradizioni buddhiste alla religiosità italiana
in Sōka Gakkai e Sūkyō Mahikari”, in F. Squarcini & M. Sernesi (eds.) Il buddhismo contemporaneo. Rappresentazioni,
istituzioni, modernità, pp. 163-186. Firenze: Societa Editrice Fiorentina.
Molle, A. (2005) “Morire per un gruppo che ci odia...”, in R. Ponticello & S. Scrivo (eds.) Con gli occhi a mandorla. Sguardi sul
Giappone dei cartoon e dei fumetti, appendix. Roma: Tunue.
Molle, A. (2004) “Gli immigrati latino-americani: la religiosità come fattore di mediazione e di resistenza”, in S. Vento (ed.) I
latinoamericani a Genova, pp. 192-206. Genova: DeFerrari Editore.
Molle, A., Superti, I. (2002) “La famiglia animata. Uno studio dei modelli familiari attraverso i cartoni animati giapponesi”, in G.
Carlini (ed.) La famiglia in trasformazione. Bambini Adulti Scuola, pp. 78-94. Genova: IRRELiguria.
Molle, A. (2001) “Otaku in Italia: se ne puo parlare?”, in A. Gomarasca (ed.) La bambola e il robottone. Saggi sul pop
giapponese, pp. 305-330. Torino: Einaudi Editore.
Peer-reviewed Articles
Bader, C. D., Molle, A. & Baker, J. O. (forthcoming) “Countervailing Forces: Religiosity and Paranormal Belief in Italy”, Journal
for the Scientific Study of Religion.
Brown, D.H.K., Molle, A. & Jennings, G. (2011) “Faith in the martial arts: Exploring relationships between Asian martial arts
and religion”, STADION, 35(2009), pp. 47-66.
Molle, A. (2010) “Towards a sociology of budō’ Spirituality: Studying the implicit religious issues”, Implicit Religion, 13, pp. 85-
104.
Molle, A. (2009) “Gli spazi di negoziazione dell’appartenenza religiosa in Sūkyō Mahikari: un’analisi etnografica”, M@gm@.
Rivista elettronica di scienze umane e sociali, 7 (1), [http://www.analisiqualitativa.com/magma/0701/articolo_04.htm].
Molle, A. (2008) “Quali categorie sociologiche per l’analisi delle 'nuove' formazioni religiose giapponesi?”, Religioni e Società.
Rivista di Scienze Sociali della Religione, 62, pp. 46-54.
Molle, A. (2007) “Spiritualità da una galassia lontana lontana: il Jediismo come Nuovo Movimento Religioso”, Antrocom Online
Journal of Anthropology, 3 (1), pp. 14-19, 2007, [http://www.antrocom.net/upload/sub/antrocom/030107/04Antrocom.pdf].
Molle, A. (2006) “Piu spirituale che religiosa. L’identità multipla nel caso di Sūkyō Mahikari”, Religioni e Società. Rivista di
Scienze Sociali della Religione, 55, pp. 59-66.
Wider Dissemination (selected, nonreviewed)
Molle, A. (2008) “Technologies and Social Sciences: computer simulations, virtual worlds, and artificial intelligences usefulness
for the anthropological research of Japan”, Japan Anthropology Workshop Newsletter, 42, pp. 31-36.
Molle, CV - Page 3 of 6

Molle, A. (2008) “Trovare la fede nelle Galassie Lontane: il movimento del Jediismo”, Diogene Filosofare oggi, 11, pp. 36-39.
Molle, A. (2008) “Le ragioni 'terrestri' della minaccia 'extraterreste': riflessioni sul caso giapponese”, in Scienza & Paranormale,
78.
Molle, A. (2008) “Autodifesa femminile e mutamenti sociali: un’analisi sociologica”, Unione Femminile,
[http://www.unionefemminile.it/un/files/andrea_molle_autodifesa_analisi_sociologica.pdf].
Molle, A. (2007) “Is Aikidō a Religion?”, Japan Anthropology Workshop Newsletter, 41, pp. 68-72.
Molle, A., Pruzzo, A. (2002) “Italian Media Landscape 2002”, in European Media Landscape, Maastricht: European Journalism
Centre, [http://www.ejc.nl/jr/emland/italy.html].
Working Papers, proceedings and Research Reports
Molle, A. (2011) “MERCS: Models of Emerging Religious Conflict in Society”, poster presented at the 1st JSPS Multidisciplinary
Science Forum, University of Washington, Seattle, USA,
[http://www.jspsusa.org/Alumni_association/20110311_MSF/20110311_Proceedings_of_MSF.pdf].
Molle, A. (2008) “Spirituality as bridge-category to unite different worlds: the case of Japanese New Religions and Budō”,
Research Report for JSPS evaluation.
Molle, A. (2006) “L’internazionalizzazione dei nuovi movimenti religiosi giapponesi: problemi e strategie analitiche”, Working
Papers of the Department of Social and Political Sciences, Università di Milano,
[http://www.socpol.unimi.it/papers/20060510_Andrea%20Molle.pdf].
Molle, A. (2005) “L’insegnamento divino della gradualità alla base della politica di espansione di Sūkyō Mahikari in Italia:
un’interpretazione socioantropologica”, International Conference: Religious Movements, Globalization and Conflict:
Transnational Perspectives, Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni, Palermo, [http://www.cesnur.org/2005/pa_molle.htm].
Molle, A. (2004) “Sociologia della Religione e potere accademico”, Preliminary research report, I meccanismi discorsivi del
potere, Department of Anthropological Sciences, Università di Genova.
Molle, A. (2003) “La religiosità dei latino-americani a Genova”, Preliminary research report.
Translations
Silverman, D. (2008) “Manuale di ricerca sociale e qualitativa” (G. Gobo, ed.). Roma: Carocci, 2008. Original edition: Silverman,
D. (2006) “Interpreting Qualitative Data. 3rd edition”. London: Sage.
Under Preparation
Molle, A. “The principle of ‘Dan Dan’: An anthropological analysis of religious accommodation in Sūkyō Mahikari”. To be
submitted to the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies.
Molle, A. “SimTerrorism: An Agent-based modeling of violence emergence in religiously homogenous populations”. To be
submitted to the American Political Science Review.
Molle, A., Bader, C. D. “Paranormal Attractions: The Paranormal Entertainment from the US to Italian Culture”. Book Chapter.
Presentations
Conferences and Seminars
Molle, A. (2012) “Priests, Wizards, and Aliens: Problems and solutions on measuring non-conventional religious behaviors and
beliefs”, The Future of Social Science Research Methods Conference, Chapman University, Orange, USA.
Molle, A. (2011) “The Alien, the Devil and the Holy Water: Catholics and the Paranormal in Italy”, Seminar of the Institute for
the Study of Religion, Economics and Society, Chapman University, Orange, USA.
Molle, A. (2011) “Computer Simulations as a New Way to Understand Social Complexity: the Case of Future Religious
Terrorism”, Second Asian Conference on the Social Sciences, Osaka, Japan.
Molle, A., Bader, C. D. (2011) “Relative Deprivation, Social Learning and Rebellion against Authority”, ASREC - Association for
the Study of Religion, Economics, and Culture Tenth Annual Conference, Washington DC, USA.
Molle, A. (2011) “MERCS: Models of Emerging Religious Conflict in Society”, 1st JSPS Multidisciplinary Science Forum,
University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Molle, A. (2010) “Grounded Theory Driven Agent-Based Simulations (GTDABMS): exploring the potential of a new integrated
methodology to the study of religious terrorism”, International Conference: Innovative Methods in the Study of Religion,
AHRC/ESRC Religion&Society Programme, London, UK.
Molle, A. (2009) “Spiritual life in modern Japan: Understanding religion in everyday life”, International Conference: Religion,
Spirituality, and Everyday Practice, Italian Sociological Association, Association for the Sociology of Religion, and University of
Padua, Assisi, Italy.
Molle, A. (2009) “Come un rivolo d'acqua che purificato alla fonte purifica anche la foce: il legame tra spiritualità e fisicità in
Sukyo Mahikari”, Convegno intersezione dell'Associazione Italiana di Sociologia, Università di Padovam, Padova, Italy.
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Molle, A. (2008) “Towards a sociology of Martial Arts’ Spirituality: a case study”, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture,
Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan.
Molle, A. (2005) “Piu spirituale che religiosa. L’identità multipla nel caso di Sūkyō Mahikari”, Annual Conference of the
Associazione Italiana di Sociologia: Una sociologia della “spiritualità”, Università di Aosta, Aosta, Italy.
Molle, A. (2005) “L’insegnamento divino della gradualità alla base della politica di espansione di Sūkyō Mahikari in Italia:
un’interpretazione socioantropologica”, International Conference: Religious Movements, Globalization and Conflict:
Transnational Perspectives, Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni, Palermo, Italy.
Molle, A. (2003) “Un percorso di lettura de 'Les formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse'. Concezione ed interpretazione del
senso del rito in Emile Durkheim”, Ph.D. Colloquia, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Molle, A. (2003) “I dilemmi etici nel fieldwork etnografico. Un punto nodale della riflessione socioantropologica”, Ph.D.
Colloquia, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Molle, A. (2003) “Note sull’evoluzione del sistema di regolazione delle trasmissioni televisive destinate ai minori. Un approccio
istituzionale”, Ph.D. Colloquia, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Molle, A. (2002) “Cultures des jeunes a Genes dans les annees '90”, International Conférence: Gestion territorialisée de la
question sociale: quels effets?, Faculté de Sciences sociales et humaines de l’Université d’Alger, Alger, Algeria.
Visiting Lectures
Molle, A. (2009) “Does 'a falling tree makes more noise than a growing forest’? Some sociological observations on Eastern
forms of religion in Italy”, XVI International Summer School on Religions, San Gimignano (Siena).
Molle, A. (2008) “Doing research in Japanese Martial Arts: Studying Religious Implications”, Nanzan Institute for Religion and
Culture, Nanzan University.
Molle, A. (2005) “Il sentimento religioso in Giappone e la nascita delle Nuove Religioni”, Faculty of Political Sciences,
Università di Milano.
Molle, A. (2004) “Relazioni di campo come rapporti di potere: brevi note etnografiche per il passaggio dalla Sociologia della
Religione ad una sociologia delle religioni”, Seminario Permanente di Antropologia Medica (I meccanismi discorsivi del potere),
Università di Genova.
Molle, A. (2002) “Giovani, cultura popolare e nuovo orientalismo: un confronto tra la realtà giapponese e quella italiana da
una prospettiva socioantropologica”, Faculty of Political Sciences, Università di Genova.
Molle, A. (2002) “Otaku: viaggio in una subcultura contemporanea” , Faculty of Political Sciences, Università di Genova.
Molle, A. (2001) “Globalizzazione, media e pregiudizio: il caso dei cartoni animati giapponesi e dei loro fan”, IRRE Liguria
(Sanremo).
Molle, A. (2001) “Il cartone animato ed il fumetto giapponese nella comunicazione interculturale: un’analisi etnografica”,
Faculty of Computer Sciences, Università di Milano.
Other Qualifications
Editorial experience
Editor, The IAFOR Journal of the Social Sciences, 2011 to present
Associate Editor, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science – US Alumni Association Newsletter, 2011 to present
Associate Editor, Guida multimediale alla ricerca sociale: Teorie, metodi, esempi, esercizi, 2005 to 2006
Reviewer, Qualitative Research, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies
Book Reviewer, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, Religioni e Società
Memberships
International Society for the Study of New Religions 2011 to Present
European Social Simulation Association 2009 to Present
European Association for Japanese Studies, 2008 to Present
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2008 to Present
Associazione Italiana di Sociologia, 2007 to Present
Japan Anthropological Workshop, 2006 to Present
Administration
Workshop: “I Latino-americani a Genova”, Fondazione Casa America, Genova, 2004
Conference: “Partecipazione e solitudine nella Scuola. Solidarietà e bullismo”, Unione Regionale Province Liguri, Genova, 2002
Molle, CV - Page 5 of 6

Methodological Expertise
Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
Sample design.
Statistical analysis.
Content analysis.
Agent-based models.
Research design, including content and ethnographic analysis.
Survey design and testing, including factor analysis and reliability analysis.
Computer Expertise
Expert in SPSS, NVivo, and Hyper-research, especially in the areas of data management and manipulation, and data analysis.
Expert in NetLogo, especially in the areas of simulation design and experiment management.
Trained in Python, a high level programming language that is integrated with Social Simulation especially with SWARM (agent
and individual based modeling platform).
Web site design, construction and usability.
Software Expertise (selection)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP (extensive) and 7 (good); Linux/Ubuntu (good).
DTP: MS Office (extensive); Open Office (extensive); Scribus (extensive).
Social Science: QSR NVivo (extensive); SPSS (good); NETLOGO (average); Pajek (basics).
Web editing: Joomla (extensive).
Languages (according to the 'Common European Framework of Reference for Languages')
Italian: Native
English: Proficient, Fluent (Listening C1; Reading C2; Speaking C1; Writing C2)
French: Independent, Intermediate (Listening B2; Reading C1; Speaking B2; Writing B1)
Japanese: Independent
Personal Skills
Proven leadership abilities, including experience, training and education in group and organizational processes.
Excellent writing and communication skills.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
I declare that the information in this Curriculum Vitae is correct and true. I authorize the use of these personal data for the purposes of
review of my qualifications for no other purpose.
Anaheim, CA, 04/04/2012
____________
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