OLIVER DAVIES: CURRICULUM VITAE 2021
A. QUALIFICATIONS
HIGHER EDUCATION
1985-86: Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Wales, Bangor.
1979-86: D.Phil. Wolfson College, Oxford: 'Paul Celan: Innovator and Traditionalist'.
1975-79: B.A. Merton College, Oxford: Modern Languages (German and Russian). (Andrew Levens Prize for Oral Russian, 1977; Distinction in Finals for Oral Russian)
B. ACADEMIC POSTS
2017-2021: Distinguished International Research Professor in China (Science, Ethics and Philosophy),
School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Beijing, PRC.
2004 -: Professor of Christian Doctrine (Emeritus, 2017-), King’s College London.
1993-2004: Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Lampeter; Senior Lecturer, 1995; Reader, 1997.
1989-1993: Honorary Lecturer and part-time Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Bangor.
1986-89: Independent Scholar and Translator.
1982-84: Lektor für englische Sprache und Literatur, University of Cologne, (Lecturer in English Language and Literature).
1979-82: Part-time tutor in German language and literature for Merton and Balliol College, Oxford.
C. VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2018: Elected Fellow of International Society for Science and Religion
2018: Professorial Fellow of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Philosophy and Cognitive Science, School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Beijing
2012-7: Short term visiting professorships at the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China.
2016: Visiting Fellow, ‘Evolution and Theology’, University of Notre Dame.
2006-7: McCarthy Visiting Professorship, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
Jan-May, 2003: Visiting Professor, Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
Feb-April, 2002: Visiting Professor, Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
Jan-March, 1999: Visiting Fellow, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
Jan-March, 1998: Visiting Fellow, Regent’s Park College, Oxford (Fellow of the Centre for Christianity and Culture).
D. PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
Publication:
2006: CUP Nomination The Creativity of God shortlisted for American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence (Academic Theology).
2000: Catholic Press Association of North America Award for ‘Celtic Spirituality’ (Hardback Spirituality).
Teaching:
2012: Nomination for Teaching Excellence Award (King’s College London)
2003: Nomination for Teaching Excellence by the Jefferson Scholars Association, University of Virginia
E. RESEARCH GRANTS
2019: £2,000 from the Interdisciplinary Centre for Philosophy and Cognitive Science, Renmin University of China, and £1,200 from the Spalding Trust, for a colloquium ‘Cognitive Science, Evolution and Philosophy’.
2017: £1,500 from the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, for a colloquium ‘Comparative Perspectives on Fundamental Human Sociality — Confucianism, Daoism and Contemporary Science’.
2017: University of Notre Dame, Global Gateway Faculty Research Award ($40,000), ‘Love in Religion: Science, Philosophy and Human Flourishing’, Prof. Celia Deane-Drummond (PI), Center for Theology, Science and Human Flourishing and Prof. Oliver Davies (External Collaborator).
2016: Arts and Humanities Faculty award for innovative, interdisciplinary colloquium (£2,500, 'Understanding the Human')
2015-6: additional sabbatical term to work on Evolution and Theology ($44,000, John Templeton Foundation Research Fellowship)
2014-5: visiting scholars from China (£2,500, Spalding Trust).
2013-6: AHRC Large Research Grant: ‘Meister Eckhart and the Parisian University in the early 14th century - Codex Vaticanus Latinus 1086’ (£660,000, AH/K002066/1). CoI (10%).
2011-2: ‘The Global Body: A Theory of Consensual Change’ (Catholic University of Leuven Nomination for €3 million under the ‘Odysseus’ programme; final round, unfunded).
2012: visiting Chinese scholars, ‘China and the West: Religion, Politics and Ethics’ (£2,000, Spalding Trust).
2006-8: AHRC Collaborative Award for Postgraduate Training (with University of Oxford) in ‘Theology and Culture’ (£9,997.20).
2003-6: British Academy International Academic Links ('Athens and Jerusalem', £6,600).
2002: AHRB Research Leave Grant, (£15,000).
1998: Centre for the Study of Religion in Celtic Societies (£2,000, University of Wales Development Grant).
1992: Welsh Arts Council Literary Award for (£4,500 for the writing of a historical study of spirituality in Wales).
1979-82: Senior State Scholarship.
F. RESEARCH LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
2019: July 9th -10th: A colloquium ‘Cognitive Science, Evolution and Philosophy’. School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China. Co-Conveners: Oliver Davies, Dennis Schilling and Wang Xiaowei. Speakers: Agustin Fuentes (University of Notre Dame), Kai Vogeley (Institute of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Cologne), Duan Weiwen (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Shaomeng Li (Beijing Normal University), Xinzhong Yao (RUC), Dennis Schilling (RUC), Oliver Davies (RUC), Kyoo Li (City University of New York), Charlie Gere (Lancaster University), Liu Xiaoli, RUC.
2017: Oct. 7th: School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China. ‘Comparative Perspectives on Fundamental Human Sociality — Confucianism, Daoism and Contemporary Science’. Co-Conveners: Dennis Schilling (Prof. of Sinology, RUC) and Oliver Davies. Speakers: Prof. Jifen Li, Prof. Shaomeng Li, Prof. Xiangxiang Luo, Prof. Tao Liang, Prof. Dennis Schilling and Prof. Oliver Davies (‘Science, Technology and Sociality: Understanding the Human’).
2017: April 14th – 16th: Yale-NUS College, Singapore. ‘Explaining Religion: Evolutionary Anthropology, Social Cognition, and Phenomenology’. Co-Conveners: Gavin Flood (Professorial Research Fellow, Campion Hall, Oxford University and Yap Kim Hao Visiting Professor of Comparative Religious Studies, Yale-NUS, Singapore) and Oliver Davies (Renmin University of China; King’s College London): Professor Joseph S. Alter (Pittsburg); Professor Gary Bente (Cologne); Professor Johannes Bronkhorst (Lausanne); Professor Oliver Davies (RUC; KCL); Professor Gavin Flood (Yale-NUS and Oxford); Professor Agustin Fuentes (Notre Dame); Professor Donovan Schaefer (Oxford); Professor Kai Vogeley (Cologne); Professor Adam Zeman (Exeter)
2016: Oct. 14th - 15th: Somerset House, King’s College London (14th) and Regent’s Park College Oxford (15th): ‘Understanding the Human: a New Dialogue between Science and the Humanities'. Co-Conveners: Oliver Davies (King’s College London) and Kai Vogeley (University of Cologne): Agustín Fuentes (Prof. and Chair, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame)
Prof. Kai Vogeley (Dept. Director, Institute of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Cologne); Prof. Adam Zeman (University of Exeter), Prof. Oliver Davies (KCL); Oct. 14th : Additional speakers: Prof. Anthony David (Vice-Dean Academic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurology, KCL), Oliver Davies (KCL); Francesca Happé (Director Medical Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurology, KCL); Oct. 15th: Additional speakers: Prof. Paul Fiddes (Regent’s Park College Oxford), Prof. Mark Williams (Dept. of Psychology and Oxford Mindfulness Centre).
2012: Nov. 14-15th: Somerset House, King's College London: 'Towards a Science of Somatics: Explorations in Neuroscience, Phenomenology and Social Transformation’. Co-Conveners: Oliver Davies (King’s College London) and Kai Vogeley (University of Cologne). Additional speakers include: Rüdiger Seitz (Prof. of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Düsseldorf) and Gary Bente (Prof. of Psychology, University of Cologne).
2003-6: ‘Athens and Jerusalem’, British Academy International Networks scheme. Co-Conveners: Prof. Oliver Davies (KCL), Prof. Charles Mathewes (University of Virginia) and Prof Leora Batnitzky (Princeton University). I arranged two meetings in the USA and a final colloquium at King’s College London. This led to the publication of Oliver Davies (KCL) and Denys Turner (University of Birmingham), eds., Silence and the Word: Negative Theology and Incarnation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. The speakers and contributors included: Prof Bernard McGinn (University of Chicago), Prof David Ford (University of Cambridge), Prof Mark McIntosh (Loyola University, Chicago), Prof. Sarah Coakly (Harvard University), and Archbishop Rowan Williams.
1997-8: I served as British co-ordinator of the first stage of an EU Tempus-Tacis programme, with Linköping, Sweden, and the Herzen Pedagogical Institute in St Petersburg, to assist in setting up Theology and Religious Studies as a discipline in Higher Education in the former Soviet Union. One of my tasks as overall co-ordinator for the bid for second stage funding (one million Euro) was establishing networks for researching into the appropriate models for the discipline in a Russian context through comparison with the history and traditions of the academic study of religion in a number of EU states.
From 2004-2017 I was responsible for the organizing the Research Institute in Systematic Theology at King’s College London which met on a fortnightly basis throughout the academic year.
G. DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
Over the span of my career, I have brought some 25 students to the completion of their PhD (or MPhil) research degrees as first supervisor. The students have been of different ages, with differing social and cultural backgrounds. They have also addressed a wide range of topics. I have very much enjoyed working with research students and in almost all cases, unless other factors have intervened, our students have achieved very positive outcomes.
H. RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
2012-: Chair of departmental Postgraduate and Research Committee.
Member of departmental REF committee.
2008: Specialist Advisor for Theology in the Research Assessment Exercise.
2006-9: Member (Theology and Religious Studies) of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Peer Review Panel Eight (meeting four times a year, responsible for ranking all UK Government research applications in the areas of Philosophy, Religious Studies, Law).
2007-8 PhD Specialist Group, University of London.
2004-6: Member of Peer Review College (pool of reviewers), AHRC.
As Head of Department (2006-9), I held overall responsibility for developing an integrated departmental research strategy and research profile for the 2008 RAE, including both Theology and Religious Studies.
As President of the Society for the Study of Theology (2007-8), I represented the interests of theologians in the UK in national discussions on matters affecting the discipline, chiefly to do with the Research Assessment Exercise.
I. CLASS TEACHING
In recent years at King’s I taught:
MA in Systematic Theology
‘Revelation and Reason’ (40 credits, core module)
‘Modern Doctrine’ (20 credits, compulsory module)
MA in Christianity and the Arts
‘The Christian Text’ (20 credits).
BA Theology
‘Contemporary Theology and Philosophy’ (15 credits, final year module).
In 2017-9, at Renmin University of China, School of Philosophy, I taught:
‘Ethics and Globalization’ (Masters in Chinese Philosophy through the medium of English, 36 teaching hours)
‘The Western Mind: Philosophy, Ethics and Religion’ (BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, 2nd yr. module, 36 teaching hours).
J. CONSULTANCY
2014: External Consultant, Strategic Review, Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Glasgow.
2008-17: External Consultant and Panel Member for promotions at Heythrop College, University of London.
2011: External Consultant, Strategic Review, Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol.
2010-11: External Assessor for Research Fellowship Competition, St John’s College Cambridge.
2009-10: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, University of St Andrews.
2007-8: External Assessor for tenure, Yale Divinity School.
2006-7: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, Princeton University, USA.
2005-6: Specialist Reviewer for Centenary Fellowship Competition, Selwyn College, Cambridge; Full Professorship, Duke University, USA; Personal Chair, University of Bristol; Personal Chair, University of Wales, Bangor; Personal Chair, University of London; Senior Lectureship, Exeter University.
2004-5: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Peterhouse, Cambridge;
Junior Research Fellowship Election, Churchill College, Cambridge; Junior Research Fellowship Election, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
2002: External assessor for tenure-track appointment in Medieval Studies at the Divinity School, University of Chicago.
2000: ‘Manager’ for the Junior Fellowship Election at Trinity College, Cambridge.
1999: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship, Girton College, Cambridge.
K. EXTERNAL EXAMINERSHIPS
Taught Degree Schemes
BA Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2005-7); BA and MA Theology, University of Nottingham (2002-5); MA in the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion, Birkbeck, University of London (2001-2); BA Theology, MA in Christianity and Culture, University of Bristol (2000-3); MA in Systematic Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2000-4); BA Theology, University of Birmingham (1999-2003); MPhil (taught) in Theology and Religious Studies, Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge (1999-2001)
Research Degrees
Edinburgh, Oxford (2015), Canterbury Christ Church (2014), KU Leuven (2014), Cambridge (2009, 2006 and 2005), London (internal, 2017², 2016, 2015, 20133, 2012², 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005²), Oxford (2007), Nottingham (2007 and 2003), Bristol (2006), Edinburgh (2005 and 1999), Birmingham (2002 and 2000), Manchester (1998).
L. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
From 2006-9 I was Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London. From 2012 until my sabbatical in 2016-7, I was Chair of the departmental Postgraduate and Research Committee and member of the Faculty Postgraduate Studies Committee. I have been a member of a range of other departmental committees.
Other administrative duties include:
2004-6: Management Committee of St David’s Children Society, Wales, UK
2000-1: Subject Specialist Reviewer (Theology) for the Quality Assurance Agency.
2001-15: Trustee of the Spalding Trust
2000-15: Trustee of the Eckhart Society
M. SELECT GUEST LECTURES (principal lectures in bold)
Forthcoming:
2019:
October, 28th, 2nd Jiangnan Context Forum, Keynote Lecture on ‘The Social, the Technological and the Cosmic: Integrated Development in China’, Wuxi, Jiansu, China.
September 22nd, ‘History, Science and the Franciscan Revolution: Learning from the Past for the sake of our Future’, Trinity College Oxford (ERC funded project on the Summa Halensis).
May 18th, Colloquium, ‘Learning to Live Together in the Internet Age’, Moral Development Institute, Southeast University, Nanjing: ‘Human Self-Understanding and the Challenge of Social Media’.
2018: (I had a hip operation in mid-2018)
2017:
Nov. 2, 2017, Blackfriars, University of Oxford. Expert Colloquium, ‘Between Information and Language’: Luciano Floridi (Prof. of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford), Oliver Davies (Renmin University of China; King’s College London: ‘On Social Cognition and post-Ricoeurian philosophy’), Gabor Ambrus (Rome), Andrew Pinsent (Oxford), and Benedikt Gocke (Bochum and Oxford), organized by Sr Helen Alford OP.
Guest Presentations, PRC, 17th Sept - 12 Oct 2017: ‘Meister Eckhart’s ethical universalism and the Confucian political idea of ‘all under heaven’, in the light of the new science of human sociality’: 1) Tsinghua University (18th Sept) 2) Minzu University of China (19th Sept) 3) Zhezhiang University, School of Marxism (22-26th Sept), 4) Nanjing University (8-9th Oct), 5) Tongji University Shanghai (10th Sept), 6) Fudan University Shanghai (11th Sept)
Oct. 15-17th: Keynote address on ‘Martin Luther, Transformation Theology and the life of Christian Discipleship’ for the Salvation Army quinquennial international conference in Wittenberg.
17th Sept - 12th Oct: Guest Professorship, Institute of Sino-Christian Studies, Hong Kong. ‘Meister Eckhart’s ethical universalism and the Confucian political idea of “all under heaven”, in the light of the new science of human sociality’. Renmin University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Minzu University of China, Beijing Normal University, Fudan University Shanghai, and Nanjing University.
April 14-17th: ‘Towards an Integrated Hermeneutical Philosophy of the Human’, at the colloquium ‘Understanding Religion: Evolutionary Anthropology, Social Cognition and Phenomenology’, organizer Prof. Gavin Flood, Yale-NUS, Singapore.
Jan. 19th-22nd: ‘Option for the Other: the Key to Human Hyper-Cooperation’, at ‘Evolution and Theology’ Conference, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, co-organizers Agustin Fuentes and Celia Deane-Drummond (JTF funded).
Jan. 12-14th: ‘Theology, Transformation and the Self of Catholic Social Teaching’, Vatican, Rome, organized by Clemens Sedmak, University of Notre Dame.
Jan. 10th: Keynote address at the annual conference for University chaplains in the UK on ‘Transformation Theology, Secularism and the Future of Religion’.
2016:
Dec. 2th: 'Religion, Science and Love: Understanding the Human Today', 'President's Lecture', Yale-NUS, Singapore.
Nov. 17-24th: 'The Promise of Christianity in China in the light of the new Science of human Sociality', Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Institute of Sino-Christian Studies.
Nov. 16th: Two lectures at Beijing Normal University on 'Science, religion and the principle of love' and 'Religious community and the science of human sociality'.
Nov. 9-11th: Special Forum, 60th Anniversary of the Teaching of Philosophy at Renmin (I was representing King's, with Chairs of Philosophy from Princeton, Columbia, Berlin, Munich, Oxford, Sorbonne, to talk about the future of teaching Philosophy globally in the light of the Chinese emphasis on the place of religions and traditional philosophies).
Nov. 12-14th: 'Understanding the Human Today. Science, Religion and the Principle of Love', World Sinology Conference, Beijing.
Oct. 15th: ‘Towards an integrated, interdisciplinary theory of the human: the ‘option for the other’ in evolutionary anthropology, social cognition, consciousness and language’, at ‘Love in Religion’ Conference, Regent’s Park College Oxford (JTF funded).
Oct. 14th: 'Understanding the Human: a New Dialogue between Science and the Humanities', colloquium (co-organizer with Kai Vogeley), Somerset House, King's College London
Sept. 15-17th: ‘Integrating Advances in Evolutionary Anthropology and the Neuroscience of Social Cognition within a Theology of Love’, at ‘Relation, Vulnerability, Love. A Theological Anthropology for the 21st Century’, Anthropos, KU Leuven.
June 4-6th: presentation at JTF Seminar, ‘Evolutionary Anthropology and Theology’, University of Notre Dame.
March 11-12th: Keynote Address (‘New Birth’), The Wesleyan Theological Society, San Diego, CA.
2015:
Nov. 16th: ‘So what does our new scientific understanding of the human mean in human terms?’, UCL Philosophy Society.
July 26th-28th: 'Tracing a Transformational Self. An Experiment in Neuroanthropology', Keynote Address, Diversity in Social Cognition Conference, University of Cologne.
July 5-9th: ‘What Kind of Theology does the World need?’, China Theology Summer School, Anyang, China.
April 23rd: Rebecca Hussey Guest Lecture, Lambeth Palace. ‘On Reading. An Exploration of Science and the Human’
2014:
Nov. 5th: ‘Meister Eckhart’s Ethical Universalism, Confucianism and the Future of Christianity’, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
Nov. 4th: ‘Globalisation, Tradition and Innovation in China and the West: towards a Future Christian Theology’, Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
June 11-13th: Keynote address, ‘On Learning from Medieval Mystical Texts’, Mystical Texts and Continental Philosophy, Liverpool Hope University.
2013:
Nov. 21st: Royal Society for the Arts, ‘RSA Social Brain Centre’, ‘Spirituality, Tools of the Mind, and the Social Brain’. ‘Contemporary Neuroscience, Inclusivity and Human Relations’.
Nov. 14-15th: Max Weber Institute, Erfurt. Colloquium ‘Thomas von Erfurt und Meister Eckhart’: ‘Meister Eckhart, Transformational Hermeneutics and the Global Self’.
Nov. 8th: Trinity College Oxford, Panellist for Discussion of ‘Sacrifice and Modern Thought’ (OUP, 2013), ed. Julia Meszaros and Johannes Zachhuber.
Oct. 14th: ‘Rossotrudnichestvo’, under the framework of the diplomatic ‘International Dialogue of Cultures’, supported by the Embassy of the Russian Federation: ‘The Science of Social Cognition and the Dialogue of Cultures’.
August 14-15th: Morality and Religiosity: China and the West, Lau China Institute in conjunction with Journal of Chinese Philosophy: ‘Ethical Humanity: Neuroscience, Ethics and Philosophy’, King’s College London
August 4-7th: ‘Encounter Between China and the West: Towards a Universal Theory of the Practice of being Human’, China Theology Summer School, Shantou, China.
July 19-20th: International Comparative Literature Association, Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV): Scriptural Reasoning and Comparative Literature: ‘Scriptural Reasoning and New Theology’.
July 12th: Symposium on Lay Catholic Theologians, University of Roehampton. Keynote address, ‘Catholic Lay Theology’.
March, 19-20th: China and Enlightenment. ‘Second Person Neuroscience and the Evolution of the Scientific Self’, KCL.
Feb. 21st: ‘Religions, Politics and Globalisation: Imaging the Self of the Future’, Religions and Theology Staff-Student Seminar, University of Manchester.
2012:
Nov. 3-5th: ‘Confucianism, Christianity and the New Science’ (with Xinzhong Yao), World Sinology Conference, Renmin University of China, Beijing.
June 18-20th: ‘History, Scripture and Social Transformation’, China and the West: Religion, Politics and Ethics, Colloquium. King’s College London.
‘From Late Medieval to Late Modern Theology: The Case of Transformation Theology’, The Graduate Theology Society Conference (keynote address at founding meeting), University of Oxford.
‘Meister Eckhart and Contemporary Philosophy’, Contemporary Theological Explorations in Western Christian Mysticism, University of Oxford.
‘Love and Meaning: Language, Transformation and Embodiment’, The Trials of Desire and the Possibility of Faith. A Colloquy in Honor of Denys Turner. Yale Divinity School.
‘Introduction to Transformation Theology’, Jerusalem Chamber Seminar, Westminster Abbey.
2011:
‘A Phenomenology of Social Transformation’, The Structure of Creditions: the Role of Cognition, Emotion and Appraisal, University of Graz.
‘The Universal Christ’, RIST Seminar, King’s College London.
‘The Universal Christ’, Durham University Theology Seminar.
‘The Universal Christ’, Faculty of Theology Seminar, Cambridge University
July 29-31st: ‘The Science of Consensual Change’, Renmin University of China, Beijing; Beijing Normal University, Consensus, Culture and Reason: The Inaugural Conference for the International Centre of European-Chinese Philosophy and Religion’, Renmin University of China, Beijing.
‘Introduction to Transformation Theology’, Theological Chapter of the City of London and City of Westminster Dioceses.
‘How do we think a God who acts? Prolegomenon to a Theology of the Act’, Theology in Act: Christology and Politics. Colloquium, University of Nijmegen.
‘Freedom, Act and the Body of Christ’, Anthropos: Expert Consultation in Theological Anthropology, Catholic University of Leuven.
2010:
‘Phenomenology and Religion; a Critical Dialogue’, Oxford Forum for the Study of Religions, Oxford University.
‘The Challenge of the Past: Meister Eckhart, Reasoning and Contemporary Philosophy’, ‘Medieval Mysticism Colloquium’, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Bristol.
2009:
‘Credit and Creed: a Transformation Theology Response to the Banking Crisis’, Yale Divinity School.
‘Transforming Theology’, Cardinal Hume Lectures, Heythrop College, University of London.
‘Theology of Aid: Speaking across Boundaries’, Words in Action Conference, Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life.
‘On the Visibility of the Church in Contemporary Society’, Leadership and Ministry: the Theologies of Joseph Ratzinger and Rowan Williams in Conversation, A symposium at King’s College London.
2008:
‘Transformation Theology: a New Catholic Theology for Europe?’, Theology for the Twenty First Century Symposium, Catholic University of Leuven.
‘La teologia fondamentale e la Parola’, Faculty of Theology Annual Study Day, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (given in Italian).
‘Freedom, Sacrifice and the Act’, Systematic Theology Seminar, and Institute for Imagination, Theology and the Arts, University of St Andrews.
2007:
Presidential Address, Society for the Study of Theology.
‘The Interrupted Body’. Joseph McCarthy Lecture, Gregorian University, Rome.
‘World, Revelation and Human Rights’. Real Challenges to Contemporary Theology, Expert Study Day, Heyendaal Institute and The Netherlands School of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion, University of Nijmegen.
‘Doctrine and World’. Scottish Journal of Theology Lectures, Aberdeen.
Staff and Graduate Theology Seminar, University of Durham.
2006:
‘Theology and the Semiotics of Violence’, The Aquinas Lecture, University of Bristol.
2005:
‘Violence in Bloomsbury. A Theological Response’. Keynote address at University of London and University of Oxford Theology Study Day.
‘Letter on Spirit’, Geist und Buchstabe - Spirit and Letter Colloquium, Oxford University and Bonn University (Bible and Theology series).
University of Gloucestershire, Responses to ‘The Creativity of God’ at Postgraduate and Staff Reading Seminar.
‘Spiritual Information: Knowing the Unknowable about God and the Universe’, Trinity College Cambridge (Templeton Foundation)
‘Divine Silence and Human Rights’. The Aquinas Lecture, Blackfriars, Oxford (also given as
‘Horizon Lecture’, Birkbeck College, University of London).
‘Das Bekenntnis zum Monotheismus in einer pluralistischen Gesellschaft’. Symposium on “Der Monotheismus als theologisches und politisches Problem”. Theologisches Seminar, Elstal, Berlin (given in German).
2004:
‘Sacred Cosmology and Dante’s Smile’, Dante Lecture Series: Dante and the Human Body, UCD.
2003:
‘Silences of the Cross’. A plenary address at the annual conference of the SST.
‘On Reading Mystical Texts’, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
‘God, Language and Laughter in Dante’s Divine Commedy’, Dante and Theology Conference, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
2002:
‘Divine Creativity, Eucharist and the Word’, Divinity School, University of Chicago.
‘Inside Out: Celtic Identity and Contemporary Religion’, Medieval Studies Conference, Kalamazoo.
2001:
‘Compassionate Metaphysics and Metaphysics of Compassion’, Colloquium on ‘Metaphysics and Otherness’ at Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
‘Compassion as Revelation’. Staff and Graduate Seminar, Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol.
2000:
‘The Internalised Other: the Phenomenon of Celtic Christianity’, Medieval Society Seminar, University of Birmingham
1999:
‘Soundings: Towards a Theological Poetics of Silence’, ‘Apophasis and Incarnation’ Colloquium, University of Birmingham.
‘Celts and Christianity: Hermeneutical Perspectives’, Regent’s Park College, Oxford.
‘Living Speech: Questioning Postmodern Perspectives on Language’, Systematic Theology Seminar, University of Cambridge.
‘A Catholic Response to Radical Orthodoxy’, Heythrop College, University of London.
‘Rhetoric of the Gift: Inspiration, Pneumatology and Poetic Craft in Medieval Wales’, Exeter Symposium VI, The Medieval Mystical Tradition in England, Ireland and Wales.
‘Meister Eckhart, Emmanuel Levinas and the Language of Being’, Eckhart Society Conference, Plater College, Oxford.
1998:
‘Theology and Poetics’, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.
‘Revelation and Pragmatic Linguistic Theory’, Modern Doctrine Seminar, University of Oxford.
‘Theology and Poetics’, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.
‘The Nature of Revelation’, Emmanuel Baptist Seminary, Oradea, Rumania.
‘Christianity and Postmodernism’, Horizon Lecture, Birkbeck College, University of London.
‘Parody and Choice; Analysing the Thought of René Girard and Jacques Derrida’, Girard Colloquium, University of Lancaster.
N. GENERAL EDITORSHIPS
BOOK SERIES:
2012-: Series Editor (with Patricia Z. Beckman, Oliver Davies and George Pattison, ‘Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism’ (Routledge).
1994-2000: General Editor with Gavin Flood of ‘Religion, Culture and Society’ (University of Wales Press, Cardiff).
1991-1994: General Editor of ‘The Spirituality of the Fathers’ (New City, London and New York).
HIGHER EDUCATION
1985-86: Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Wales, Bangor.
1979-86: D.Phil. Wolfson College, Oxford: 'Paul Celan: Innovator and Traditionalist'.
1975-79: B.A. Merton College, Oxford: Modern Languages (German and Russian). (Andrew Levens Prize for Oral Russian, 1977; Distinction in Finals for Oral Russian)
B. ACADEMIC POSTS
2017-2021: Distinguished International Research Professor in China (Science, Ethics and Philosophy),
School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Beijing, PRC.
2004 -: Professor of Christian Doctrine (Emeritus, 2017-), King’s College London.
1993-2004: Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Lampeter; Senior Lecturer, 1995; Reader, 1997.
1989-1993: Honorary Lecturer and part-time Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Bangor.
1986-89: Independent Scholar and Translator.
1982-84: Lektor für englische Sprache und Literatur, University of Cologne, (Lecturer in English Language and Literature).
1979-82: Part-time tutor in German language and literature for Merton and Balliol College, Oxford.
C. VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2018: Elected Fellow of International Society for Science and Religion
2018: Professorial Fellow of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Philosophy and Cognitive Science, School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Beijing
2012-7: Short term visiting professorships at the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China.
2016: Visiting Fellow, ‘Evolution and Theology’, University of Notre Dame.
2006-7: McCarthy Visiting Professorship, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
Jan-May, 2003: Visiting Professor, Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
Feb-April, 2002: Visiting Professor, Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
Jan-March, 1999: Visiting Fellow, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
Jan-March, 1998: Visiting Fellow, Regent’s Park College, Oxford (Fellow of the Centre for Christianity and Culture).
D. PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
Publication:
2006: CUP Nomination The Creativity of God shortlisted for American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence (Academic Theology).
2000: Catholic Press Association of North America Award for ‘Celtic Spirituality’ (Hardback Spirituality).
Teaching:
2012: Nomination for Teaching Excellence Award (King’s College London)
2003: Nomination for Teaching Excellence by the Jefferson Scholars Association, University of Virginia
E. RESEARCH GRANTS
2019: £2,000 from the Interdisciplinary Centre for Philosophy and Cognitive Science, Renmin University of China, and £1,200 from the Spalding Trust, for a colloquium ‘Cognitive Science, Evolution and Philosophy’.
2017: £1,500 from the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, for a colloquium ‘Comparative Perspectives on Fundamental Human Sociality — Confucianism, Daoism and Contemporary Science’.
2017: University of Notre Dame, Global Gateway Faculty Research Award ($40,000), ‘Love in Religion: Science, Philosophy and Human Flourishing’, Prof. Celia Deane-Drummond (PI), Center for Theology, Science and Human Flourishing and Prof. Oliver Davies (External Collaborator).
2016: Arts and Humanities Faculty award for innovative, interdisciplinary colloquium (£2,500, 'Understanding the Human')
2015-6: additional sabbatical term to work on Evolution and Theology ($44,000, John Templeton Foundation Research Fellowship)
2014-5: visiting scholars from China (£2,500, Spalding Trust).
2013-6: AHRC Large Research Grant: ‘Meister Eckhart and the Parisian University in the early 14th century - Codex Vaticanus Latinus 1086’ (£660,000, AH/K002066/1). CoI (10%).
2011-2: ‘The Global Body: A Theory of Consensual Change’ (Catholic University of Leuven Nomination for €3 million under the ‘Odysseus’ programme; final round, unfunded).
2012: visiting Chinese scholars, ‘China and the West: Religion, Politics and Ethics’ (£2,000, Spalding Trust).
2006-8: AHRC Collaborative Award for Postgraduate Training (with University of Oxford) in ‘Theology and Culture’ (£9,997.20).
2003-6: British Academy International Academic Links ('Athens and Jerusalem', £6,600).
2002: AHRB Research Leave Grant, (£15,000).
1998: Centre for the Study of Religion in Celtic Societies (£2,000, University of Wales Development Grant).
1992: Welsh Arts Council Literary Award for (£4,500 for the writing of a historical study of spirituality in Wales).
1979-82: Senior State Scholarship.
F. RESEARCH LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
2019: July 9th -10th: A colloquium ‘Cognitive Science, Evolution and Philosophy’. School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China. Co-Conveners: Oliver Davies, Dennis Schilling and Wang Xiaowei. Speakers: Agustin Fuentes (University of Notre Dame), Kai Vogeley (Institute of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Cologne), Duan Weiwen (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Shaomeng Li (Beijing Normal University), Xinzhong Yao (RUC), Dennis Schilling (RUC), Oliver Davies (RUC), Kyoo Li (City University of New York), Charlie Gere (Lancaster University), Liu Xiaoli, RUC.
2017: Oct. 7th: School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China. ‘Comparative Perspectives on Fundamental Human Sociality — Confucianism, Daoism and Contemporary Science’. Co-Conveners: Dennis Schilling (Prof. of Sinology, RUC) and Oliver Davies. Speakers: Prof. Jifen Li, Prof. Shaomeng Li, Prof. Xiangxiang Luo, Prof. Tao Liang, Prof. Dennis Schilling and Prof. Oliver Davies (‘Science, Technology and Sociality: Understanding the Human’).
2017: April 14th – 16th: Yale-NUS College, Singapore. ‘Explaining Religion: Evolutionary Anthropology, Social Cognition, and Phenomenology’. Co-Conveners: Gavin Flood (Professorial Research Fellow, Campion Hall, Oxford University and Yap Kim Hao Visiting Professor of Comparative Religious Studies, Yale-NUS, Singapore) and Oliver Davies (Renmin University of China; King’s College London): Professor Joseph S. Alter (Pittsburg); Professor Gary Bente (Cologne); Professor Johannes Bronkhorst (Lausanne); Professor Oliver Davies (RUC; KCL); Professor Gavin Flood (Yale-NUS and Oxford); Professor Agustin Fuentes (Notre Dame); Professor Donovan Schaefer (Oxford); Professor Kai Vogeley (Cologne); Professor Adam Zeman (Exeter)
2016: Oct. 14th - 15th: Somerset House, King’s College London (14th) and Regent’s Park College Oxford (15th): ‘Understanding the Human: a New Dialogue between Science and the Humanities'. Co-Conveners: Oliver Davies (King’s College London) and Kai Vogeley (University of Cologne): Agustín Fuentes (Prof. and Chair, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame)
Prof. Kai Vogeley (Dept. Director, Institute of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Cologne); Prof. Adam Zeman (University of Exeter), Prof. Oliver Davies (KCL); Oct. 14th : Additional speakers: Prof. Anthony David (Vice-Dean Academic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurology, KCL), Oliver Davies (KCL); Francesca Happé (Director Medical Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurology, KCL); Oct. 15th: Additional speakers: Prof. Paul Fiddes (Regent’s Park College Oxford), Prof. Mark Williams (Dept. of Psychology and Oxford Mindfulness Centre).
2012: Nov. 14-15th: Somerset House, King's College London: 'Towards a Science of Somatics: Explorations in Neuroscience, Phenomenology and Social Transformation’. Co-Conveners: Oliver Davies (King’s College London) and Kai Vogeley (University of Cologne). Additional speakers include: Rüdiger Seitz (Prof. of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Düsseldorf) and Gary Bente (Prof. of Psychology, University of Cologne).
2003-6: ‘Athens and Jerusalem’, British Academy International Networks scheme. Co-Conveners: Prof. Oliver Davies (KCL), Prof. Charles Mathewes (University of Virginia) and Prof Leora Batnitzky (Princeton University). I arranged two meetings in the USA and a final colloquium at King’s College London. This led to the publication of Oliver Davies (KCL) and Denys Turner (University of Birmingham), eds., Silence and the Word: Negative Theology and Incarnation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. The speakers and contributors included: Prof Bernard McGinn (University of Chicago), Prof David Ford (University of Cambridge), Prof Mark McIntosh (Loyola University, Chicago), Prof. Sarah Coakly (Harvard University), and Archbishop Rowan Williams.
1997-8: I served as British co-ordinator of the first stage of an EU Tempus-Tacis programme, with Linköping, Sweden, and the Herzen Pedagogical Institute in St Petersburg, to assist in setting up Theology and Religious Studies as a discipline in Higher Education in the former Soviet Union. One of my tasks as overall co-ordinator for the bid for second stage funding (one million Euro) was establishing networks for researching into the appropriate models for the discipline in a Russian context through comparison with the history and traditions of the academic study of religion in a number of EU states.
From 2004-2017 I was responsible for the organizing the Research Institute in Systematic Theology at King’s College London which met on a fortnightly basis throughout the academic year.
G. DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
Over the span of my career, I have brought some 25 students to the completion of their PhD (or MPhil) research degrees as first supervisor. The students have been of different ages, with differing social and cultural backgrounds. They have also addressed a wide range of topics. I have very much enjoyed working with research students and in almost all cases, unless other factors have intervened, our students have achieved very positive outcomes.
H. RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
2012-: Chair of departmental Postgraduate and Research Committee.
Member of departmental REF committee.
2008: Specialist Advisor for Theology in the Research Assessment Exercise.
2006-9: Member (Theology and Religious Studies) of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Peer Review Panel Eight (meeting four times a year, responsible for ranking all UK Government research applications in the areas of Philosophy, Religious Studies, Law).
2007-8 PhD Specialist Group, University of London.
2004-6: Member of Peer Review College (pool of reviewers), AHRC.
As Head of Department (2006-9), I held overall responsibility for developing an integrated departmental research strategy and research profile for the 2008 RAE, including both Theology and Religious Studies.
As President of the Society for the Study of Theology (2007-8), I represented the interests of theologians in the UK in national discussions on matters affecting the discipline, chiefly to do with the Research Assessment Exercise.
I. CLASS TEACHING
In recent years at King’s I taught:
MA in Systematic Theology
‘Revelation and Reason’ (40 credits, core module)
‘Modern Doctrine’ (20 credits, compulsory module)
MA in Christianity and the Arts
‘The Christian Text’ (20 credits).
BA Theology
‘Contemporary Theology and Philosophy’ (15 credits, final year module).
In 2017-9, at Renmin University of China, School of Philosophy, I taught:
‘Ethics and Globalization’ (Masters in Chinese Philosophy through the medium of English, 36 teaching hours)
‘The Western Mind: Philosophy, Ethics and Religion’ (BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, 2nd yr. module, 36 teaching hours).
J. CONSULTANCY
2014: External Consultant, Strategic Review, Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Glasgow.
2008-17: External Consultant and Panel Member for promotions at Heythrop College, University of London.
2011: External Consultant, Strategic Review, Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol.
2010-11: External Assessor for Research Fellowship Competition, St John’s College Cambridge.
2009-10: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, University of St Andrews.
2007-8: External Assessor for tenure, Yale Divinity School.
2006-7: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, Princeton University, USA.
2005-6: Specialist Reviewer for Centenary Fellowship Competition, Selwyn College, Cambridge; Full Professorship, Duke University, USA; Personal Chair, University of Bristol; Personal Chair, University of Wales, Bangor; Personal Chair, University of London; Senior Lectureship, Exeter University.
2004-5: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Peterhouse, Cambridge;
Junior Research Fellowship Election, Churchill College, Cambridge; Junior Research Fellowship Election, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
2002: External assessor for tenure-track appointment in Medieval Studies at the Divinity School, University of Chicago.
2000: ‘Manager’ for the Junior Fellowship Election at Trinity College, Cambridge.
1999: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship, Girton College, Cambridge.
K. EXTERNAL EXAMINERSHIPS
Taught Degree Schemes
BA Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2005-7); BA and MA Theology, University of Nottingham (2002-5); MA in the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion, Birkbeck, University of London (2001-2); BA Theology, MA in Christianity and Culture, University of Bristol (2000-3); MA in Systematic Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2000-4); BA Theology, University of Birmingham (1999-2003); MPhil (taught) in Theology and Religious Studies, Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge (1999-2001)
Research Degrees
Edinburgh, Oxford (2015), Canterbury Christ Church (2014), KU Leuven (2014), Cambridge (2009, 2006 and 2005), London (internal, 2017², 2016, 2015, 20133, 2012², 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005²), Oxford (2007), Nottingham (2007 and 2003), Bristol (2006), Edinburgh (2005 and 1999), Birmingham (2002 and 2000), Manchester (1998).
L. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
From 2006-9 I was Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London. From 2012 until my sabbatical in 2016-7, I was Chair of the departmental Postgraduate and Research Committee and member of the Faculty Postgraduate Studies Committee. I have been a member of a range of other departmental committees.
Other administrative duties include:
2004-6: Management Committee of St David’s Children Society, Wales, UK
2000-1: Subject Specialist Reviewer (Theology) for the Quality Assurance Agency.
2001-15: Trustee of the Spalding Trust
2000-15: Trustee of the Eckhart Society
M. SELECT GUEST LECTURES (principal lectures in bold)
Forthcoming:
2019:
October, 28th, 2nd Jiangnan Context Forum, Keynote Lecture on ‘The Social, the Technological and the Cosmic: Integrated Development in China’, Wuxi, Jiansu, China.
September 22nd, ‘History, Science and the Franciscan Revolution: Learning from the Past for the sake of our Future’, Trinity College Oxford (ERC funded project on the Summa Halensis).
May 18th, Colloquium, ‘Learning to Live Together in the Internet Age’, Moral Development Institute, Southeast University, Nanjing: ‘Human Self-Understanding and the Challenge of Social Media’.
2018: (I had a hip operation in mid-2018)
2017:
Nov. 2, 2017, Blackfriars, University of Oxford. Expert Colloquium, ‘Between Information and Language’: Luciano Floridi (Prof. of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford), Oliver Davies (Renmin University of China; King’s College London: ‘On Social Cognition and post-Ricoeurian philosophy’), Gabor Ambrus (Rome), Andrew Pinsent (Oxford), and Benedikt Gocke (Bochum and Oxford), organized by Sr Helen Alford OP.
Guest Presentations, PRC, 17th Sept - 12 Oct 2017: ‘Meister Eckhart’s ethical universalism and the Confucian political idea of ‘all under heaven’, in the light of the new science of human sociality’: 1) Tsinghua University (18th Sept) 2) Minzu University of China (19th Sept) 3) Zhezhiang University, School of Marxism (22-26th Sept), 4) Nanjing University (8-9th Oct), 5) Tongji University Shanghai (10th Sept), 6) Fudan University Shanghai (11th Sept)
Oct. 15-17th: Keynote address on ‘Martin Luther, Transformation Theology and the life of Christian Discipleship’ for the Salvation Army quinquennial international conference in Wittenberg.
17th Sept - 12th Oct: Guest Professorship, Institute of Sino-Christian Studies, Hong Kong. ‘Meister Eckhart’s ethical universalism and the Confucian political idea of “all under heaven”, in the light of the new science of human sociality’. Renmin University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Minzu University of China, Beijing Normal University, Fudan University Shanghai, and Nanjing University.
April 14-17th: ‘Towards an Integrated Hermeneutical Philosophy of the Human’, at the colloquium ‘Understanding Religion: Evolutionary Anthropology, Social Cognition and Phenomenology’, organizer Prof. Gavin Flood, Yale-NUS, Singapore.
Jan. 19th-22nd: ‘Option for the Other: the Key to Human Hyper-Cooperation’, at ‘Evolution and Theology’ Conference, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, co-organizers Agustin Fuentes and Celia Deane-Drummond (JTF funded).
Jan. 12-14th: ‘Theology, Transformation and the Self of Catholic Social Teaching’, Vatican, Rome, organized by Clemens Sedmak, University of Notre Dame.
Jan. 10th: Keynote address at the annual conference for University chaplains in the UK on ‘Transformation Theology, Secularism and the Future of Religion’.
2016:
Dec. 2th: 'Religion, Science and Love: Understanding the Human Today', 'President's Lecture', Yale-NUS, Singapore.
Nov. 17-24th: 'The Promise of Christianity in China in the light of the new Science of human Sociality', Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Institute of Sino-Christian Studies.
Nov. 16th: Two lectures at Beijing Normal University on 'Science, religion and the principle of love' and 'Religious community and the science of human sociality'.
Nov. 9-11th: Special Forum, 60th Anniversary of the Teaching of Philosophy at Renmin (I was representing King's, with Chairs of Philosophy from Princeton, Columbia, Berlin, Munich, Oxford, Sorbonne, to talk about the future of teaching Philosophy globally in the light of the Chinese emphasis on the place of religions and traditional philosophies).
Nov. 12-14th: 'Understanding the Human Today. Science, Religion and the Principle of Love', World Sinology Conference, Beijing.
Oct. 15th: ‘Towards an integrated, interdisciplinary theory of the human: the ‘option for the other’ in evolutionary anthropology, social cognition, consciousness and language’, at ‘Love in Religion’ Conference, Regent’s Park College Oxford (JTF funded).
Oct. 14th: 'Understanding the Human: a New Dialogue between Science and the Humanities', colloquium (co-organizer with Kai Vogeley), Somerset House, King's College London
Sept. 15-17th: ‘Integrating Advances in Evolutionary Anthropology and the Neuroscience of Social Cognition within a Theology of Love’, at ‘Relation, Vulnerability, Love. A Theological Anthropology for the 21st Century’, Anthropos, KU Leuven.
June 4-6th: presentation at JTF Seminar, ‘Evolutionary Anthropology and Theology’, University of Notre Dame.
March 11-12th: Keynote Address (‘New Birth’), The Wesleyan Theological Society, San Diego, CA.
2015:
Nov. 16th: ‘So what does our new scientific understanding of the human mean in human terms?’, UCL Philosophy Society.
July 26th-28th: 'Tracing a Transformational Self. An Experiment in Neuroanthropology', Keynote Address, Diversity in Social Cognition Conference, University of Cologne.
July 5-9th: ‘What Kind of Theology does the World need?’, China Theology Summer School, Anyang, China.
April 23rd: Rebecca Hussey Guest Lecture, Lambeth Palace. ‘On Reading. An Exploration of Science and the Human’
2014:
Nov. 5th: ‘Meister Eckhart’s Ethical Universalism, Confucianism and the Future of Christianity’, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
Nov. 4th: ‘Globalisation, Tradition and Innovation in China and the West: towards a Future Christian Theology’, Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
June 11-13th: Keynote address, ‘On Learning from Medieval Mystical Texts’, Mystical Texts and Continental Philosophy, Liverpool Hope University.
2013:
Nov. 21st: Royal Society for the Arts, ‘RSA Social Brain Centre’, ‘Spirituality, Tools of the Mind, and the Social Brain’. ‘Contemporary Neuroscience, Inclusivity and Human Relations’.
Nov. 14-15th: Max Weber Institute, Erfurt. Colloquium ‘Thomas von Erfurt und Meister Eckhart’: ‘Meister Eckhart, Transformational Hermeneutics and the Global Self’.
Nov. 8th: Trinity College Oxford, Panellist for Discussion of ‘Sacrifice and Modern Thought’ (OUP, 2013), ed. Julia Meszaros and Johannes Zachhuber.
Oct. 14th: ‘Rossotrudnichestvo’, under the framework of the diplomatic ‘International Dialogue of Cultures’, supported by the Embassy of the Russian Federation: ‘The Science of Social Cognition and the Dialogue of Cultures’.
August 14-15th: Morality and Religiosity: China and the West, Lau China Institute in conjunction with Journal of Chinese Philosophy: ‘Ethical Humanity: Neuroscience, Ethics and Philosophy’, King’s College London
August 4-7th: ‘Encounter Between China and the West: Towards a Universal Theory of the Practice of being Human’, China Theology Summer School, Shantou, China.
July 19-20th: International Comparative Literature Association, Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV): Scriptural Reasoning and Comparative Literature: ‘Scriptural Reasoning and New Theology’.
July 12th: Symposium on Lay Catholic Theologians, University of Roehampton. Keynote address, ‘Catholic Lay Theology’.
March, 19-20th: China and Enlightenment. ‘Second Person Neuroscience and the Evolution of the Scientific Self’, KCL.
Feb. 21st: ‘Religions, Politics and Globalisation: Imaging the Self of the Future’, Religions and Theology Staff-Student Seminar, University of Manchester.
2012:
Nov. 3-5th: ‘Confucianism, Christianity and the New Science’ (with Xinzhong Yao), World Sinology Conference, Renmin University of China, Beijing.
June 18-20th: ‘History, Scripture and Social Transformation’, China and the West: Religion, Politics and Ethics, Colloquium. King’s College London.
‘From Late Medieval to Late Modern Theology: The Case of Transformation Theology’, The Graduate Theology Society Conference (keynote address at founding meeting), University of Oxford.
‘Meister Eckhart and Contemporary Philosophy’, Contemporary Theological Explorations in Western Christian Mysticism, University of Oxford.
‘Love and Meaning: Language, Transformation and Embodiment’, The Trials of Desire and the Possibility of Faith. A Colloquy in Honor of Denys Turner. Yale Divinity School.
‘Introduction to Transformation Theology’, Jerusalem Chamber Seminar, Westminster Abbey.
2011:
‘A Phenomenology of Social Transformation’, The Structure of Creditions: the Role of Cognition, Emotion and Appraisal, University of Graz.
‘The Universal Christ’, RIST Seminar, King’s College London.
‘The Universal Christ’, Durham University Theology Seminar.
‘The Universal Christ’, Faculty of Theology Seminar, Cambridge University
July 29-31st: ‘The Science of Consensual Change’, Renmin University of China, Beijing; Beijing Normal University, Consensus, Culture and Reason: The Inaugural Conference for the International Centre of European-Chinese Philosophy and Religion’, Renmin University of China, Beijing.
‘Introduction to Transformation Theology’, Theological Chapter of the City of London and City of Westminster Dioceses.
‘How do we think a God who acts? Prolegomenon to a Theology of the Act’, Theology in Act: Christology and Politics. Colloquium, University of Nijmegen.
‘Freedom, Act and the Body of Christ’, Anthropos: Expert Consultation in Theological Anthropology, Catholic University of Leuven.
2010:
‘Phenomenology and Religion; a Critical Dialogue’, Oxford Forum for the Study of Religions, Oxford University.
‘The Challenge of the Past: Meister Eckhart, Reasoning and Contemporary Philosophy’, ‘Medieval Mysticism Colloquium’, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Bristol.
2009:
‘Credit and Creed: a Transformation Theology Response to the Banking Crisis’, Yale Divinity School.
‘Transforming Theology’, Cardinal Hume Lectures, Heythrop College, University of London.
‘Theology of Aid: Speaking across Boundaries’, Words in Action Conference, Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life.
‘On the Visibility of the Church in Contemporary Society’, Leadership and Ministry: the Theologies of Joseph Ratzinger and Rowan Williams in Conversation, A symposium at King’s College London.
2008:
‘Transformation Theology: a New Catholic Theology for Europe?’, Theology for the Twenty First Century Symposium, Catholic University of Leuven.
‘La teologia fondamentale e la Parola’, Faculty of Theology Annual Study Day, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (given in Italian).
‘Freedom, Sacrifice and the Act’, Systematic Theology Seminar, and Institute for Imagination, Theology and the Arts, University of St Andrews.
2007:
Presidential Address, Society for the Study of Theology.
‘The Interrupted Body’. Joseph McCarthy Lecture, Gregorian University, Rome.
‘World, Revelation and Human Rights’. Real Challenges to Contemporary Theology, Expert Study Day, Heyendaal Institute and The Netherlands School of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion, University of Nijmegen.
‘Doctrine and World’. Scottish Journal of Theology Lectures, Aberdeen.
Staff and Graduate Theology Seminar, University of Durham.
2006:
‘Theology and the Semiotics of Violence’, The Aquinas Lecture, University of Bristol.
2005:
‘Violence in Bloomsbury. A Theological Response’. Keynote address at University of London and University of Oxford Theology Study Day.
‘Letter on Spirit’, Geist und Buchstabe - Spirit and Letter Colloquium, Oxford University and Bonn University (Bible and Theology series).
University of Gloucestershire, Responses to ‘The Creativity of God’ at Postgraduate and Staff Reading Seminar.
‘Spiritual Information: Knowing the Unknowable about God and the Universe’, Trinity College Cambridge (Templeton Foundation)
‘Divine Silence and Human Rights’. The Aquinas Lecture, Blackfriars, Oxford (also given as
‘Horizon Lecture’, Birkbeck College, University of London).
‘Das Bekenntnis zum Monotheismus in einer pluralistischen Gesellschaft’. Symposium on “Der Monotheismus als theologisches und politisches Problem”. Theologisches Seminar, Elstal, Berlin (given in German).
2004:
‘Sacred Cosmology and Dante’s Smile’, Dante Lecture Series: Dante and the Human Body, UCD.
2003:
‘Silences of the Cross’. A plenary address at the annual conference of the SST.
‘On Reading Mystical Texts’, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
‘God, Language and Laughter in Dante’s Divine Commedy’, Dante and Theology Conference, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
2002:
‘Divine Creativity, Eucharist and the Word’, Divinity School, University of Chicago.
‘Inside Out: Celtic Identity and Contemporary Religion’, Medieval Studies Conference, Kalamazoo.
2001:
‘Compassionate Metaphysics and Metaphysics of Compassion’, Colloquium on ‘Metaphysics and Otherness’ at Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
‘Compassion as Revelation’. Staff and Graduate Seminar, Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol.
2000:
‘The Internalised Other: the Phenomenon of Celtic Christianity’, Medieval Society Seminar, University of Birmingham
1999:
‘Soundings: Towards a Theological Poetics of Silence’, ‘Apophasis and Incarnation’ Colloquium, University of Birmingham.
‘Celts and Christianity: Hermeneutical Perspectives’, Regent’s Park College, Oxford.
‘Living Speech: Questioning Postmodern Perspectives on Language’, Systematic Theology Seminar, University of Cambridge.
‘A Catholic Response to Radical Orthodoxy’, Heythrop College, University of London.
‘Rhetoric of the Gift: Inspiration, Pneumatology and Poetic Craft in Medieval Wales’, Exeter Symposium VI, The Medieval Mystical Tradition in England, Ireland and Wales.
‘Meister Eckhart, Emmanuel Levinas and the Language of Being’, Eckhart Society Conference, Plater College, Oxford.
1998:
‘Theology and Poetics’, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.
‘Revelation and Pragmatic Linguistic Theory’, Modern Doctrine Seminar, University of Oxford.
‘Theology and Poetics’, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.
‘The Nature of Revelation’, Emmanuel Baptist Seminary, Oradea, Rumania.
‘Christianity and Postmodernism’, Horizon Lecture, Birkbeck College, University of London.
‘Parody and Choice; Analysing the Thought of René Girard and Jacques Derrida’, Girard Colloquium, University of Lancaster.
N. GENERAL EDITORSHIPS
BOOK SERIES:
2012-: Series Editor (with Patricia Z. Beckman, Oliver Davies and George Pattison, ‘Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism’ (Routledge).
1994-2000: General Editor with Gavin Flood of ‘Religion, Culture and Society’ (University of Wales Press, Cardiff).
1991-1994: General Editor of ‘The Spirituality of the Fathers’ (New City, London and New York).