Catherine Bell

Catherine Bell (1953–2008) was an American scholar of religious studies best known for her influential work on ritual theory. She taught at Santa Clara University, where she served as professor of religious studies. Bell’s research examined how “ritual” is defined and used, emphasizing practice, power, and social dynamics rather than treating ritual as a fixed category. Her widely read book *Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice* (1992) helped shape contemporary debates about ritualization and the study of religion. She also authored *Ritual: Perspectives and Dimensions* (1997) and *The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure* is not her work.