Thus Have I Heard: American Buddhism Through the Lens of Tina Turner

Tina Turner (1939–2023) was known for her successful recording career, spanning some six decades. Her electrifying stage performances earned Turner the moniker of “Queen of Rock and Roll.” Beyond her career, she was perhaps one of the most famous Black Buddhist celebrities. Few, though, realize that Turner’s practice of Buddhism drew on influences from her Afro-Protestant upbringing, the cross-Atlantic flow of metaphysical religious ideas, and Soka Gakkai International Buddhism.

Ralph H. Craig III tracks these intertwined religious influences in his book, Dancing in My Dreams: A Spiritual Biography of Tina Turner (Eerdmans Publishing, 2023). Craig, who has a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Stanford University, works with a broad range of Buddhist textual materials in Sanskrit, Pāli, Buddhist Chinese, and Classical Tibetan. In his book, he shows how Turner exemplifies modern and contemporary trends in American religious history, African American Religion, and American Buddhism.

This conversation, with BCBS Director of Studies, William Edelglass, will explore Craig’s work at the intersection of memoir, race, popular culture, religious experience, and authority in Turner’s life and in the larger contexts of Buddhist traditions and African American religious life.  

Cancellation Policy:

There are no cancellation fees for donation-based programs.

Online Schedule:

This program is hosted on Zoom and closed captions are available. You can check the time of the group sessions in your timezone here: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com. The schedule for this program (shown in US Eastern Time) is as follows:

Event Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025

Event Time: 7:30 – 9:00 PM ET

Please note that sessions will be recorded and made available to participants within 48 hours of each session. Recordings remain available indefinitely.