Last week, I gave a short paper on transformative learning theory at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford. The event was part of an informal lecture series that brings together the Hall’s faculty, fellows, and students for evenings of discussion and conviviality. My paper was an edited version of a talk that I delivered in August for aContinue reading “Lecture: Should education be transformative? An Aristotelian critique”
Author Archives: Edward A. David
Lecture: Religious institutionalism at Oxford’s University Church
I recently spoke to the Graduate Theological Society at the University of Oxford about the moral foundations of religious institutionalism (or church autonomy doctrine) in the United States. James Hooks, a DPhil student, led the discussion. We spoke around the following theses: A predominate view of religious institutionalism tends to reduce the value of housesContinue reading “Lecture: Religious institutionalism at Oxford’s University Church”
Year in Review 20/21
As a new academic year begins, I look back on the previous twelve months in gratitude. Many thanks to my wonderful colleagues, mentors, family, and friends who’ve been with me along the way. I look forward with hope and excitement to the coming year. Proverbs 16:9. Sept Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June JulyContinue reading “Year in Review 20/21”
Video: Business ethics, saving grace or oxymoron?
I was recently on a panel with Georgetown University, discussing business ethics, human rights, and free speech. Many thanks to Professor Michael Scott and Sanford Ungar for the kind invitation! From Georgetown’s website: “As the Western world haltingly emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, many count on the international business community, practicing enlightened and ethical capitalism,Continue reading “Video: Business ethics, saving grace or oxymoron?”
Essay: On wisdom and women
My conference paper on moral reasoning and the Old Testament Wisdom Literature is now available online. The essay was delivered, first, to the Oxford Scriptural Reasoning Group and, most recently, to the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University. The paper discusses four dimensions of biblical wisdom: its practical moral focus, its embeddedness within aContinue reading “Essay: On wisdom and women”
Essay: Barry scholar James Pennell responds to my essay on church autonomy
James Pennell, a Barry Scholar at the University of Oxford, penned a response to my latest article for the Canopy Forum. He agrees that Christians should resist the Lockean image of religious associations, which views churches as mere loci for voluntarily consenting individuals. James, however, argues that courts need not affirm the truth of theContinue reading “Essay: Barry scholar James Pennell responds to my essay on church autonomy”
Radio: Fasting with the Voice of Islam UK
In this radio interview with the Voice of Islam UK, a London-based initiative of the global Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I discuss the Christian practice of fasting. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 I interpret Matthew 4, whichContinue reading “Radio: Fasting with the Voice of Islam UK”
Essay: Church autonomy and the corpus mysticum tradition
Today, the Canopy Forum at Emory University published my essay on church autonomy and the corpus mysticum tradition. I argue that church communities should reflect on the extent to which they’ve ‘bought into’ individual rights-talk, especially when describing themselves as religious groups. This individualist (or voluntarist) tendency can skew their ecclesiological self-understanding and contribute toContinue reading “Essay: Church autonomy and the corpus mysticum tradition”
Essay: Why do restrictions on public worship cause “irreparable harm”?
My latest essay for the Canopy Forum elaborates upon two points raised by the U.S. Supreme Court in Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo (2020): that New York’s COVID restrictions on religious attendance would cause “irreparable injury” to Catholics, and that relaxing the restrictions “would not harm the public interest.” The Court doesn’t explain the theologyContinue reading “Essay: Why do restrictions on public worship cause “irreparable harm”?”
Philosophy, psychology, and prayer with Voice of Islam UK
What better way to begin the morning than with prayer? On this particular morning, I had the pleasure of discussing prayer as well — this time with the Voice of Islam UK on their live radio programme, The Breakfast Show. You can hear my segment from 1hr 04min to 1hr 19min in the SoundCloud playerContinue reading “Philosophy, psychology, and prayer with Voice of Islam UK”
Edward A. David 