work_institution religion birth_place image_size nationality field birth_date known_for residence image article_title name alma_mater
university of california , santa barbara united methodist birmingham , alabama 200px american religion , new religious movements 19 september 1942 '' '' '' the encyclopedia of american religions '' religious leaders of america '' '' prime-time religion santa barbara , california jgordonmelton.jpg j. gordon melton
 john gordon melton birmingham university southern college , garrett theological seminary , northwestern
j. gordon melton

john gordon melton -lrb- born september 19 , 1942 -rrb- is an american religious scholar who was the founding director of the institute for the study of american religion and is currently a research specialist in religion and new religious movements with the department of religious studies at the university of california , santa barbara .
he is a distinguished senior fellow at baylor university 's institute for studies of religion .
he is an ordained minister in the united methodist church .
he is the author of more than twenty-five books , including several encyclopedias , handbooks , and almanacs on american religion and new religious movements .
he lives in santa barbara , california .
his areas of research include major religious traditions , new religions and alternative religions , occultism and parapsychology , new age , and vampirology .
