Ronald Nakasone is a senior lecturer in Buddhist art and culture at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. His research interests include Buddhist aesthetics, art, and ethics, spirituality and aging.

James Lawrence is an assistant professor of Christian spirituality and historical studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. He studies Protestant spiritual disciplines and practice, especially Swedenborgians, New Religious Movements, and sports and spirituality.

Barbara Green is a professor of biblical studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. Her research includes Christian spirituality and biblically based fiction.

Jennifer Wilkins Davidson is an associate professor of theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Her research areas include Communion and baptism among American Baptists, the Black Lives Matter movement and the spiritual practices of the “nones.”

Michael Dodds is a professor of philosophy and theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. He researches the philosophy of nature, God and suffering, and science and religion.

Ron Hassner is an associate professor of international relations in the political science department at the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include religion and conflict, religion in the military and territorial disputes. Hassner is the author of War on Sacred Grounds and editor of Religion in the Military Worldwide.

Kenneth A. Bamberger is professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley. He teaches administrative law, the First Amendment (speech and religion), technology and governance, and Jewish law. He researches the ways that governments, private actors and technology combine to regulate behavior, and ways to safeguard the exercise of that governance power.

Why do all the world’s religions emphasize giving thanks? What are the spiritual benefits of giving thanks? The physical benefits?

Paul Handley is the managing editor of Church Times, an Anglican newspaper based in London. He has written about the need to focus on giving thanks in November and lamented the rise of Black Friday as a shopping festival.