A Digital Exploration of Secondhand Religion
At Secondhand Religion Project, we challenge traditional notions of religious practice and belief by highlighting the diverse and often surprising ways people engage with religious objects in their everyday lives. Our website is a digital exploration of the unexpected and often overlooked ways religion manifests in contemporary American life.
Both James Bielo and Heidi Campbell have been collecting secondhand religious materials for several years, as part of their individual research into American religious cultures. While these projects started independently of one another, Bielo and Campbell connected online in 2022 after seeing images of each other’s collections on social media. Through this they began a dialogue about their intersecting research interests which has led to this collaboration.
Our vision is to provide a platform for individuals to explore their relationship with religion and material culture in new and exciting ways, and to celebrate the unique and diverse ways faith is practiced in America today.
We hope to uncover the complex relationship between individuals, objects, and faith by exploring themes such as consumption, nostalgia, identity, and the role of material culture in shaping religious experience. We strive to challenge traditional notions of religious practice and belief by showcasing the unexpected ways religion manifests in contemporary American life.
Exploring American Religious Cultures Through Thrifting
Religious Items on Display for this Project
Thrift Stores in America
~ 30,000
Secondhand Market Growth
95% in last decade
Secondhand Market Revenue
> $50 billion
Percentage of US Thrift Store Consumers
16-18%
Breathing New Life into Sacred Objects
Consider how you would answer these questions?
The Resale Journey of Religious Art
Our team has been collecting and documenting diverse expressions of secondhand religion, focusing on how religious art and sacred objects are given a second life through resale practices and thrift stores. From vintage plaques to used bibles, rosaries, and religious figurines, these items found in thrift shops highlight the role traditional and contemporary sacred objects play in expressing and living out religious identities and beliefs.
Research and Exhibitions
Exhibits will be hosted featuring diverse examples of religious material culture in the venue city. This includes presenting findings from ethnographic research studies of local thrift stores and documenting the common religious objects, symbols, and ideas from these shops.
Religious Material Collections
Our team seeks to identify and study the prominent messages, symbols, and images contained within religious objects found in thrift stores, resale culture, and its related practices.
Funding and Support
This research collaboration project is supported by funding from Saint Louis University’s Center for Lived Religion, the “Where’s Religion? Project Grant”, and the Luce Foundation-American Academy of Religion Advancing Public Scholarship Grant.
Collaboration
Bielo and Campbell connected online in 2022 after seeing images of each other’s collections on social media. Through this, they began a dialogue about their intersecting research interests, leading to this collaboration project.
Secondhand Discoveries
Many of our secondhand discoveries include items that reflect the rich tapestry of spiritual expression found in local thrift stores. Here are just a few examples.
Bielo's Collection Began in
2020
Campbell's Collection Began in
2021
Get in Touch
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Bielo and Campbell would be happy to hear from you and explore ways to collaborate.
- Explore the unexpected ways religion manifests in American life
- Learn more about our recent projects and exhibitions
- Connect with our team to explore opportunities for collaboration