I am married to Dr. Elizabeth Flowers, associate professor of religion at Baylor University.

Biography

Born and raised in Nottingham, England, I earned a B.A. (Honours) degree in Religious Studies from The University of Manchester, 1989. I then moved south and attended The University of Oxford. I graduated with a M.Phil in Modern Christian Doctrine in 1991. I pursued doctoral studies in literature and theology at The University of Glasgow, specializing in Eastern Orthodox Christianity as well as Protestant philosophical theology in the selected novels of Nikos Kazantzakis. I received my Ph.D. in 1996.

For five years, 1993-1998, I was an instructor (after 1996, Assistant Professor) of Religion at Rhodes College. In the Fall of 1998, I took up my second academic position teaching religion at Texas Christian University.

Twenty-four years later, I accepted appointment as Director of the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC), which forms an important part of the Honors College at Baylor University. In addition to my administrative role, I hold a tenured faculty appointment in the BIC as Professor of Literature and Theology.

Honors

I have received the following academic honors:

2020 International Society of the Friends of Nikos Kazantzaki Special Distinction Award
2020 Frank P. Forwood Award for Academic Excellence in Presented Research
2015 TCU Deans' Award for Research and Creative Activity
2011 AddRan College of Liberal Arts (TCU), Division of the Humanities Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar
2007 AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences (TCU), Division of the Humanities Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar
2006 TCU Deans' Award for Teaching
2005 TCU Mortar Board Preferred Professor of the Year (in 2004, 2002, and 2001 also)
2001 TCU Honors Program Faculty Recognition Award

I currently serve as President of the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion

I served as President of the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, 2022-2023

I served as President of the American Academy of Religion (Southwest Region) in 2010-2011, 2004-2005

I secured the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies Junior Scholar Award in 2000

Besides the lectureships noted below, I have given invited talks to The Library of Congress, as well as a host of universities in Sweden, Belgium, Canada, the United Kingdom, Greece, France, Denmark, Germany, Jamaica, and the United States.

Invited talks

I was the Frank and Pauline Patterson Spring 2023 Colloquy XXXVII Speaker at The B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary, Grand Prairie, Texas, May 22-23, 2023.

I gave the 15th Fay and Alfred Grosse Seminar on Religion and the Literary Arts for the Stalcup School of Theology for the Laity, Fort Worth, Texas, on May 1, 2021.

I delivered the Pearl Blizek Lecture in Religion and the Arts at The University of Nebraska Omaha, September 20, 2017.

I presented the 6th Fay and Alfred Grosse Seminar on Religion and the Literary Arts for the Stalcup School of Theology for the Laity, Dallas, Texas, on November 12, 2011.

I was the 2011 Lecturer in TCU's AddRan College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series, Fort Worth, Texas, on March 24, 2011.

I presented the 3rd Fay and Alfred Grosse Seminar on Religion and the Literary Arts for the Stalcup School of Theology for the Laity, Dallas, Texas, on April 19, 2008.

I gave the Nellie Gordon Blasius Lectures in Christian Theology, Bayview Association of the United Methodist Church, Bayview, Michigan, June 13-16, 2000.