Biography
Michal Pagis is a sociologist of culture and religion. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago and is an associate professor at the department of Sociology and Anthropology at Bar Ilan University. Dr. Pagis studies the growing popularity of techniques of self-transformation in contemporary post-industrial culture and the connection between spirituality and popular psychology. Her current projects include the modern practice of Buddhist meditation, spiritual care providers in the Israeli health system and the spread of life-coaching both in the secular sphere and in the Ultra-orthodox Jewish society in Israel. Her published papers have appeared in journals such as Social Psychology Quarterly, Work and Occupations and Sociology of Religion. She is the author of "Inward: Vipassana Meditation and the Embodiment of the Self," published by the University of Chicago Press.
Michal Pagis's page on academia.edu is accessible here.
Michal Pagis's page on academia.edu is accessible here.
List of publications
BOOKS
Pagis, Michal. (2019). Inward: Vipassana Meditation and the Embodiment of the Self. University of Chicago Press.
ARTICLES in REFEREED JOURNALS
Pagis, Michal, Wendy Cadge and Orly Tal (2018) “Translating Spirituality: Universalism and Particularism in the Diffusion of Spiritual Care from the United States to Israel” Sociological Forum. 33: 596-618
Pagis, Michal, Orly Tal and Wendy Cadge (2017) “What do Non-Clergy Spiritual Care Providers Contribute to End of Life Care in Israel? A Qualitative Study” Journal of Religion and Health 56:614-622.
Pagis, Michal and Galit Ailon (2017) “The Paradoxes of Self-branding: An Analysis of Consultants’ Professional Webpages” Work and Occupations 44 (3):243-267
Pagis, Michal. (2016) “Fashioning Futures: Life-Coaching and the Self-made Identity Paradox.” Sociological Forum.
Pagis, Michal. (2015). “Evoking Equanimity: Silent Interaction Rituals in Vipassana Meditation Retreats.” Qualitative Sociology 38:37-56.
Pagis, Michal and Galia Sabar. (2014). “Enhancing the Spirit of Entrepreneurship: African Labor Migrant Returning from Israel.” Migration Studies 3:260-80.
Pagis, Michal. (2010) "From Abstract Concepts to Experiential Knowledge: Embodying Enlightenment in a Meditation Center." Qualitative Sociology 33: 469-489.
Pagis, Michal. (2010) “Producing Intersubjectivity in Silence: An Ethnography of Meditation Practices.” Ethnography 11: 309-328.
Pagis, Michal. (2009) “Embodied Self-Reflexivity.” Social Psychology Quarterly 72: 265-283. (Reprint in shorter version: SPQ Snaps, September 2009).
CHAPTERS in BOOKS
Pagis, Michal, Orly Tal and Wendy Cadge (Forthcoming). "“Re-enchanting the End of Life.” In Current Perspectives on Death in Israel. Editted by Haim Hazan and Shai Lavie. Tel Aviv: Hakibutz Hameuad.
Pagis, Michal (2016). "Integrating Positive Psychology into the Workplace: The Case of Life Coaching in Israel." In Outside of the Clinic edited by Jose Brunner and Galia Plotkin. Tel Aviv: Resling.
Pagis, Michal, (2015). “Can the Body Forget? The Deliberate Erosion of Embodied Memories.” In Forgetting edited by David Shulman. Jerusalem: Magnes.
Pagis, Michal. (2013) “Religious Self-constitution: A Relational Perspective.” In Religion on the Edge, Edited by Peggy Levitt, Courtney Bender, David Shields and Wendy Cage. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
REVIEWS of BOOKS in REFEREED JOURNALS
Pagis, Michal (2011) “Review of The Promise of Salvation: A Theory of Religion. By Martin Riesebrodt.” The Sociology of Religion.
Pagis, Michal. (2011) “Review of Society Without God: What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us about Contentment. By Phil Zuckerman.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion.
Pagis, Michal. (2008) “Review of Subjectivity, Ethnographic Investigations. By Joao Biehl, Byron Good, and Arthur Kleinman.” American Journal of Sociology, 113(4).
Pagis, Michal. (2019). Inward: Vipassana Meditation and the Embodiment of the Self. University of Chicago Press.
ARTICLES in REFEREED JOURNALS
Pagis, Michal, Wendy Cadge and Orly Tal (2018) “Translating Spirituality: Universalism and Particularism in the Diffusion of Spiritual Care from the United States to Israel” Sociological Forum. 33: 596-618
Pagis, Michal, Orly Tal and Wendy Cadge (2017) “What do Non-Clergy Spiritual Care Providers Contribute to End of Life Care in Israel? A Qualitative Study” Journal of Religion and Health 56:614-622.
Pagis, Michal and Galit Ailon (2017) “The Paradoxes of Self-branding: An Analysis of Consultants’ Professional Webpages” Work and Occupations 44 (3):243-267
Pagis, Michal. (2016) “Fashioning Futures: Life-Coaching and the Self-made Identity Paradox.” Sociological Forum.
Pagis, Michal. (2015). “Evoking Equanimity: Silent Interaction Rituals in Vipassana Meditation Retreats.” Qualitative Sociology 38:37-56.
Pagis, Michal and Galia Sabar. (2014). “Enhancing the Spirit of Entrepreneurship: African Labor Migrant Returning from Israel.” Migration Studies 3:260-80.
Pagis, Michal. (2010) "From Abstract Concepts to Experiential Knowledge: Embodying Enlightenment in a Meditation Center." Qualitative Sociology 33: 469-489.
Pagis, Michal. (2010) “Producing Intersubjectivity in Silence: An Ethnography of Meditation Practices.” Ethnography 11: 309-328.
Pagis, Michal. (2009) “Embodied Self-Reflexivity.” Social Psychology Quarterly 72: 265-283. (Reprint in shorter version: SPQ Snaps, September 2009).
CHAPTERS in BOOKS
Pagis, Michal, Orly Tal and Wendy Cadge (Forthcoming). "“Re-enchanting the End of Life.” In Current Perspectives on Death in Israel. Editted by Haim Hazan and Shai Lavie. Tel Aviv: Hakibutz Hameuad.
Pagis, Michal (2016). "Integrating Positive Psychology into the Workplace: The Case of Life Coaching in Israel." In Outside of the Clinic edited by Jose Brunner and Galia Plotkin. Tel Aviv: Resling.
Pagis, Michal, (2015). “Can the Body Forget? The Deliberate Erosion of Embodied Memories.” In Forgetting edited by David Shulman. Jerusalem: Magnes.
Pagis, Michal. (2013) “Religious Self-constitution: A Relational Perspective.” In Religion on the Edge, Edited by Peggy Levitt, Courtney Bender, David Shields and Wendy Cage. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
REVIEWS of BOOKS in REFEREED JOURNALS
Pagis, Michal (2011) “Review of The Promise of Salvation: A Theory of Religion. By Martin Riesebrodt.” The Sociology of Religion.
Pagis, Michal. (2011) “Review of Society Without God: What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us about Contentment. By Phil Zuckerman.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion.
Pagis, Michal. (2008) “Review of Subjectivity, Ethnographic Investigations. By Joao Biehl, Byron Good, and Arthur Kleinman.” American Journal of Sociology, 113(4).