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.

Laura Vance is a professor of sociology and women’s studies at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C. She is the author of Women in New Religions. She is also an expert on Mormon women.

Cynthia Eller is a professor of religion at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif., where she specializes in women and religion and New Religious Movements. She has written several books on women and religion in prehistory and contemporary feminism.

Ruqayya Khan is an associate professor of religion at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif. She is an expert on women in Islam and Islam in the digital age. She teaches courses on feminism in the Quran and Islam and environmentalism.