James F. McGrath
![]() | This biography of a living person includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (February 2017) |
James F. McGrath Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University | |
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Nationality | American |
Education | Dip.R.S. (1993), B.Div. (1995), Ph.D. (1998) |
Alma mater | University of Cambridge, University of London, Durham University |
Occupation(s) | Professor, Butler University |
Known for | Early Christianity, Mandean Studies, criticism of the Christ myth theory, Science fiction |
Dr. James F. McGrath is the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University[1] and is a known for his work on Early Christianity, Mandaean Studies, criticism of the Christ myth theory, and the analysis of religion in science fiction.[2] He received his Ph.D. from Durham University in 1998.
Biography
James McGrath earned his Diploma in religious studies (with distinction) from the University of Cambridge in 1993. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Divinity from the University of London, in which he was awarded Second Class, First Degree honors in 1995. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Durham in 1998, under the supervision of James D. G. Dunn. He has served as assistant professor of New Testament at Emmanuel University and the University of Oradea (1998-2001), an adjunct professor at Biblical Theological Seminary and Alliance Theological Seminary (2001-2002), and professor of Religion at Butler University (2002–present). In 2010, he was appointed the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair of New Testament Language and Literature.
McGrath is also the creator of Canon: The Card Game.
Academic Publications
Books Authored
- Theology and Science Fiction (Cascade Companions; Eugene: Cascade, 2016)
- The Burial of Jesus: What Does History Have To Do With Faith? (Patheos Press, 2012)
- The Only True God: Monotheism in Early Judaism and Christianity (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2009)
- John’s Apologetic Christology: Legitimation and Development in Johannine Christology (SNTS Monograph Series, Cambridge University Press, 2001)
Books Edited
- Time and Relative Dimensions in Faith: Religion and Doctor Who (co-edited with Andrew Crome; Darton, Longman, and Todd, 2013)
- Religion and Science Fiction (Pickwick Press, 2011; Lutterworth Press, 2012)
Articles & Book Chapters
- “A God Needs Compassion, but Not a Starship: Star Trek's Humanist Theology,” in The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy: The Search for Socrates, ed. Kevin S. Decker and Jason T. Eberl. Malden: John Wiley & Sons, 2016, pp. 315–325.
- “Foreword” to The Son of God: Three Views of the Identity of Jesus, by Charles Lee Irons, Danny Andre Dixon, and Dustin R. Smith. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2015.
- “Explicit and Implicit Religion in Doctor Who and Star Trek,” Implicit Religion 18:4 (2015) 471-484.
- “Polemic, Redaction, and History in the Mandaean Book of John: The Case of the Lightworld Visitors to Jerusalem,” ARAM Periodical 25 (2013) 375-382.
- “Monotheism,” in Vocabulary for the Study of Religion ed. Robert A. Segal and Kocku Von Stuckrad (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2015).
- “Mythicism and the Making of Mark” in The Bible and Interpretation August 2015
- “Religion’s Futures and the Future’s Religions through the Lens of Science Fiction” in The Changing World Religions Map, ed. Stan Brunn (New York: Springer, 2015) 2893-2905.
- “Monotheism,” in The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Ethics, ed. Robert L. Brawley (Oxford University Press, 2014) 57-64.
- “Did Jesus Die in Outer Space? Evaluating a Key Claim in Richard Carrier’s On the Historicity of Jesus” in The Bible & Interpretation October 2014
- “John 2:13-16,” “The Three Johns,” and “The Woman at the Well” - contributions to the Society of Biblical Literature Bible Odyssey website.
- “Mythicism and the Mainstream: The Rhetoric and Realities of Academic Freedom” in The Bible and Interpretation March 2014.
- “Epilogue” in Time and Relative Dimensions in Faith (see above).
- “Revisiting the Mandaeans and the New Testament” in The Bible & Interpretation August 2013
Science Fiction Short Stories
- "Biblical Literalism in the New Jerusalem," in Touching the Face of the Cosmos: On the Intersection of Space Travel and Religion edited by Paul Levinson and Michael Waltemathe, Fordham University Press, 2016, pp. 161–164.
Links
- Selected Works at Butler University
- Religion Prof: The Blog of James McGrath
- Author Page on Facebook
- Twitter Profile, @ReligionProf
Bibliography
- Marc Allan, "Professor McGrath Finds the Intersection of Theology and Science Fiction"
- Marc Allan, "Professor McGrath Offers a Scholarly Take on Religion and Doctor Who"
- Kevin van Bladel, From Sasanian Mandaeans to Ṣābians of the Marshes, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2017, p. 82.
- Eric Ditzian, "'LOST' Finale: Experts talk Impact of Religion on Finale," MTV News May 24, 2010.
- Albert de Jong, "Matthew's Magi as Experts on Kingship," in The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Experts on the Ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman World, and Modern Astronomy, edited by George H. van Kooten and Peter Barthel, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2015, p. 271 n.3.
- Robert A. Lee, "Review of Touching the Face of the Cosmos," National Space Society 2016.
- Jonathan Merritt, "Is AI a Threat to Christianity?" The Atlantic February 3, 2017.
- Kandra Polatis, "Faith in film: Why science-fiction movies abound with religious themes," Deseret News April 6, 2014.
- Andrew Philip Smith, John the Baptist and the Last Gnostics: The Secret History of the Mandaeans, London: Watkins, 2016, pp. 45. 173. 206.
- Jessica Smith, "Experts: 'Wait and See' how RFRA Impacts Court Cases," WISH-TV 8, July 1, 2015.
References
- ^ "A New Testament Scholar Is Named to a Long-Lost Chair at Butler U." Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
- ^ "Professor McGrath Finds the Intersection of Theology and Science Fiction". Butler Newsroom. Butler University. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- 20th-century births
- Living people
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- American non-fiction writers
- American speculative fiction writers
- Butler University faculty
- Critics of the Christ myth theory
- American biblical scholars
- Alumni of Durham University
- Religious studies scholars
- Science fiction academics
- Alumni of the University of Cambridge
- Alumni of the University of London
- American game designers