Curriculum Vitae
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Education
1997 B.A., Columbia Bible College
2001 M.C.S., Regent College
2007 Ph.D., Purdue University
Academic Appointments
2005 – 2010 Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Trinity Western University
2010 – 2015 Associate Professor of Philosophy, Trinity Western University
2014 – Director, Humanitas Anabaptist-Mennonite Centre at Trinity Western University
2015 – 2017 Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Trinity Western University
2015 – Professor of Philosophy, Trinity Western University
2020 – 2023 Visting Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia
Areas of Specialization
Epistemology, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Science, Cognitive Science of Religion
Areas of Competence
Metaphysics, Twentieth Century Analytic Philosophy
Edited Books
2020 Recovering from the Anabaptist Vision: New Essays on Anabaptist Identity and Theological Method (Co-edited with Laura Schmidt Roberts and Paul H. Martens) T&T Clark
Articles and Book Chapters
2002 “The Quest for Natural Ontological Attitudes Within the Limits of Reason,” Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association (2002):103-16 https://doi.org/10.5840/acpaproc20027614
2003 “Why Mennonite Pacifists Should Be Reformed Epistemologists,” Conrad Grebel Review. Vol. 22 (Spring 2003):24-32
2003 “Normativity in Deleuze and Guattari’s Concept of Philosophy” Continental Philosophy Review. Vol. 36 (March 2003):45-59
2005 “The Pacifist’s Burden of Proof,” Philosophia Christi. Vol. 7, no. 1 (2005): 107-123 https://doi.org/10.5840/pc20057112
2006 “Minority Views and the Wider World: Yoder and Plantinga on Particularity” in Nathan E. Yoder, and Carol A Scheppard, eds., Exiles in the Empire (Pandora Press, 2006):149- 71
2006 “Divine Creation and Perfect Goodness in a ‘No-Best-World’ Scenario,” International Journal for Philosophy of Religion. Vol. 59 (2006):25-47 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11153- 005-2533-x
2013 “Analytic Philosophy, Theism, and Contemporary Philosophy of Religion,” Toronto Journal of Theology, Vol. 29 (2013):265-270 https://doi.org/10.3138/tjt.2092
2013 “The Rise of ‘New Calvinists’ Among Canadian Mennonite Brethren,” Direction. Vol. 42 (2013):148-165
2014 “Incommensurability, Incomparability, and Rational World-Choice,” International Journal for Philosophy of Religion. Vol. 75: (2014):13–25 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11153-013-9404-7
2014 “Religious Skepticism,” Toronto Journal of Theology, Vol. 30 (2014):111-130m https://doi.org/10.3138/tjt.2525
2015 “Personal Anti-Theism and the Meaningful Life Argument,” Faith and Philosophy, Vol. 32 (2015):325-337 https://doi.org/10.5840/faithphil201563039
2015 “Pro-theism and the Added Value of Morally Good Agents,” Philosophia Christi 17 (2015):53-70; co-authored with Kirk Lougheed https://doi.org/10.5840/pc20151714
2017 “Arguments from Evil and Evidence for Pro-Theism,” in Does God Matter: Essays on the Axiological Consequences of Theism, Klaas J. Kraay ed. Routledge (2017):192-202; co-authored with Ben Arbour https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315210995-10
2018 “On the Objective Meaningful Life Argument: A Reply to Kirk Lougheed,” Dialogue, Vol. 57 (March 2018):173-182 https://doi.org/10.1017/s0012217317000968
2018 “Cognitive Science of Religion, Atheism, and Theism,” Faith and Philosophy, Vol. 35 (2018):105-131 https://doi.org/10.5840/faithphil201811795
2019 “Nuclear Chemistry and Medicine: Why Young-Earthers Can’t have it Both Ways,” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith Vol. 71 (December 2019):203-217; co-authored with Amanda J. Nichols
2021 “Selective Scientific Realism and Truth-Transfer in Theories of Molecular Structure,” in Contemporary Scientific Realism: The Challenge from the History of Science. Eds. Peter Vickers and Timothy D. Lyons. Oxford University Press (2021):130-158; co-authored with Amanda J. Nichols https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190946814.003.0007
2022 “Realism About Molecular Structures,” in Routledge Studies in the Philosophy of Mathematics and Physics, Eds. Insa Lawler, Kareem Khalifa, and Elay Shech. Routledge (2022): 178-198; co-authored with Amanda J. Nichols https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003202905-16
2022 “Lived Faith and Cognitive Intuitions: Some Theological Implications of Cognitive Science of Religion,” in The Oxford Handbook of the Cognitive Science of Religion, Ed. Justin Barrett. Oxford University Press (2022): 411-429; co-authored with Laird R. O. Edman https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190693350.013.20
2023 “Sex Determination and the Human Person.” TheoLogica: An International Journal for Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology, 7(1), 27-55; co-authored with April Cordero and Amanda J. Nichols https://doi.org/10.14428/thl.v7i1.65183
Book Review
2016 “John Stackhouse’s Vocation-Centered Epistemology,” Journal of Analytic Theology, Vol. 4 (2016):211-214 https://doi.org/10.12978/jat.2016-4.122413150417a
Grants, Fellowships, and Awards
2001 Master’s Thesis Prize, Regent College, awarded to the author of the outstanding thesis written for the degree of Master of Christian Studies (2001)
2001 – 2004 Teaching Assistant Fellowship, Purdue University
2004 – 2005 Visiting Graduate Fellow, University of Notre Dame Center for Philosophy of Religion ($14,000)
2004 – 2005 Doctoral Fellowship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada ($20,000)
2004 – 2005 Research Grant, Purdue Research Foundation ($12,000)
2011 Cognitive Science of Religion and Christianity, Calvin College Summer Seminars in Christian Scholarship ($2,000 USD)
2013 – 2014 John Templeton Foundation Visiting Research Fellow, Ryerson University ($30,000)
2015 Fundamental Practices of Intellectual Humility, Calvin College Summer Seminars in Christian Scholarship ($1,000 USD)
2015 - 2016 Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford, “Bridging Two Cultures” Grant, Wycliffe Hall Oxford, Templeton Religion Trust ($17,500)
2017 “Resourcing Christian Faith: Lessons from the Cognitive Science of Religion” Grant, Templeton Religion Trust (Co-PI: Laird Edman; $217,000 USD)
2018 – 2019 “Science, Faith, and Human Flourishing: Conversations in Community.” Science, Theology and Religion Office, Fuller Seminary (Co-PI’s: Jaime Palmer-Hague and Arnold Sikkema; $25,000 USD)
2019 “On Human Natures: Psychological Science in the Service of Theology” Fellowship. Science, Theology and Religion Office, Fuller Seminary ($2,500 USD)
2020 Collaborator, “The meaning of virtual virtue: The role of frames in video game players’ moral and ethical decision making” SSHRC Explore Grant (Co-PI’s Drs. Kevin Schut and Kelly Arbeau; $5,391 CDN)
2020 – 2022 “The Science of Sex Development: Philosophical and Theological Implications,” Follow-On Funding Grant, New Visions in Theological Anthropology, University of St. Andrews (24,712 GBP)
2020 – 2022 “Fellowship in Science-Engaged Theology,” University of St. Andrews (4,000 GBP)
2020 – 2023 “Academic Cross Training Fellowship,” in Cognitive Science of Religion. John Templeton Foundation ($217,208 USD)
2021 Participant, SET (Science-Engaged Theology) Foundations Summer Seminar, Causation and Explanation in Science ($4,000 USD)
2022 - 2024 Collaborator, CCCU Initiative Grant “Religious Faith and Meaning-Making: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach” (PI: Kirk Lougheed; $30,000 USD)
2023 - 2026 “Beauty and Truth in Science and Religion”. Templeton Religion Trust, (Co-PI: Amanda J. Nichols; $250,910 USD)
2024 - 2026 “Objects of Spiritual Yearning Among the Spiritual, But not Religious” John Templeton Foundation Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative (Co-PI’s: Emily Reed Burdett and Adam Baimel; $758,425 USD)
Selected Presentations
2006 “The Doctrine of the Hermeneutical Circle and Traditional Epistemology.” American Philosophical Association, Central Division Meeting, April 28, 2006
2006 “Philosophy of Religion and the Analytic/Continental Divide.” American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Nov. 19, 2006
2007 “Yoder and Christian Unity.” John Howard Yoder Conference, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, May 25, 2007
2008 “Skeptical Theism: An Explanation and Defense.” Christian Reasoning Colloquium, Trinity Western University, Oct. 9, 2008
2008 Should Beliefs Matter for the Believers Church?” Biennial Believers Church Conference, Canadian Mennonite University, June 13, 2008
2009 “Does Skeptical Theism Lead to Unfalsifiable and Crazy Theism?” Society of Christian Philosophers Western Region Meeting, Oct. 23, 2009
2012 “Incommensurability, Incomparability, and a Rational World-Chooser” Western Canadian Philosophical Association, University of Victoria, Oct. 20, 2012
2012 “Does Cognitive Science of Religion Support Reformed Epistemology?” Trinity Western University MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities Colloquium Series, March 28, 2012
2013 “Pro-Theism and the Added Value of Morally Good Agents,” Ryerson University Philosophy Department Colloquium, Oct. 21, 2013
2013 “Would it be Good for there to be God?” Concordia University College Faculty Colloquium, Oct. 16, 2013
2013 “Cognitive Science of Religion, Reformed Epistemology, and Theistic Arguments,” Is Christianity Natural? Evolutionary and Cognitive Science Perspectives, Seattle Pacific University, Sept. 14, 2013
2014 “Bounded Sets, Centered Sets, and Christian Identity: Navigating the Philosophical and Theological Landscape,” Evangelical Philosophical Association, Annual Meeting, Nov. 21, 2014
2014 “Skepticism, Skeptical Theism, and Moral Cognition,” Toronto Philosophy of Religion Work-in-Progress Group, Ryerson University, Nov. 4, 2014
2014 “Pro-Theism and the Added Value of Morally Good Agents,” Australasian Association of Philosophy Conference, Canberra, July 6-11, 2014. Kirk Lougheed (co-author) presented this paper on their behalf
2014 “Is it Rational to Prefer Atheism,” Canadian Philosophical Association, Canadian Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, May 28, 2014
2014 “Skeptical Theism and Proper Function,” Skeptical Theism Symposium, Canadian Philosophical Association, Canadian Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, May 28, 2014
2014 “Pro-Theism and the Added Value of Morally Good Agents,” (co-authored with Kirk Lougheed), Toronto Philosophy of Religion Work-in-Progress Group, Ryerson University, May 9, 2014
2014 “Is it Rational to Prefer Atheism?” University of Notre Dame Center for Philosophy of Religion Colloquium, Mar. 7, 2014
2015 “Arguments from Evil and Evidence for Pro-theism,” Evangelical Philosophical Society Annual Meeting, Nov. 19, 2015; with Ben Arbour
2015 “Arguments from Evil and Evidence for Pro-theism” Axiology of Theism Capstone Conference, Ryerson University, Sept. 12, 2015
2015 “Skepticism, Skeptical Theism, and Moral Cognition,” American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division Meeting, April 4, 2015
2016 “Molecular Symmetry, Beauty, and Truth,” Theology and Philosophy of Science Conference: Analytic, Scholastic, and Historical Perspectives, Concordia University of Edmonton. Oct. 14, 2016; with Amanda Nichols
2016 “Molecular Symmetry, Beauty, and Truth,” Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Meeting, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, May 28, 2016; with Amanda Nichols
2016 “Arguments from Evil and Evidence for Pro-theism,” American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division Meeting, March 30, 2016; with Ben Arbour
2016 “Doubt: Its Role and Proper Function,” Faith and Doubt Symposium, Tyndale University College, Mar. 10, 2016
2016 “Nuclear Chemistry and Medicine: Why Young-Earther’s Can’t Have it Both Ways,” Southern California Christians in Science Meeting, American Scientific Affiliation, Feb. 26, 2016; with Amanda Nichols
2016 “Molecular Symmetry, Beauty, and Truth,” Southern California Christians in Science Meeting, American Scientific Affiliation, Feb. 26, 2016; with Amanda Nichols
2016 Invited paper, “Skeptical Theism to the Rescue!,” Philosophy of Religion Group, American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division Meeting, Jan. 7, 2016
2017 “Selective Scientific Realism and Truth-Transfer if Theories of Molecular Structure.” Purdue University Philosophy Department Colloquium. Dec. 1, 2017; with Amanda Nichols
2017 “Selective Scientific Realism and Truth-Transfer if Theories of Molecular Structure.” University of Notre Dame Center for Philosophy of Religion. Dec. 1, 2017; with Amanda Nichols
2017 “The Making of disPLACE: Refugee Stories in Their Own Words.” Mennonite/s Writing VIII: Personal Narratives of Place and Displacement Conference, University of Winnipeg. Oct. 21, 2017
2017 “Scientific Realism, Anti-Realism, and Theologically Motivated Pessimism About Science." Science and Religion Seminar, Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford Group. Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford. Oct. 9, 2017; with Amanda Nichols
2017 “Symmetry, Asymmetry, and the Explanatory Value of Aesthetic Properties.” Institute for Advanced Study, Durham University, Durham, UK. Oct. 4-6, 2017; with Amanda Nichols
2017 “Scientific Realism, Molecular Bonding, and the Development of Coordination Chemistry.” Quo Vadis Selective Scientific Realism? Conference, Durham University, Durham, UK. Aug. 5-7, 2017; with Amanda Nichols
2017 “Scientific Realism, Molecular Bonding, and the Development of Coordination Chemistry.” Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Meeting, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, May 27-29, 2017; with Amanda Nichols
2017 “Science and Naturalistic Explanations of Religious Belief,” BioLogos 2017 Conference, Houston, TX, March 31, 2017
2018 “Armchair Chemistry and Theoretical Justification in Science.” Philosophy of Science Association, poster session. Nov. 3, 2018; with Amanda Nichols
2018 “The Bible, Science, and Human Flourishing: Exploring the Role of Scripture in Shaping a Christian View of the World.” Conversations in Community Lecture Series, Trinity Western University. Oct. 24, 2018
2018 “Molecular Symmetry, Beauty, and Truth.” Canadian Philosophical Association Annual Meeting. June 4, 2018; with Amanda Nichols
2018 “Armchair Chemistry and Theoretical Justification in Science.” Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Meeting, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, May 26, 2018; with Amanda Nichols
2018 “Applications of the Cognitive Science of Religion in Faith-Based Settings.” Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation Conference, Trinity Western University. May 13, 2018; with Laird Edman
2018 “Philosophical and Theological Skepticism about Science.” Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation Conference, Trinity Western University. May 13, 2018; with Amanda Nichols
2018 “Theological Anthropology and the Cognitive Science of Religion.” Invited lecture, Analytic Theology Seminar, Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA. May 9, 2018
2019 “Cognitive Science of Religion, Mental States, and Prayer.” Hope College Philosophy Department Colloquium, Oct. 14, 2019; with Laird Edman
2019 “Cognitive Science of Religion, Ritual, and Christian Liturgies.” Western Theological Seminary, Oct. 14, 2019, and Calvin Institute for Christian Worship, Oct. 15, 2019; with Laird Edman
2019 “Realism About Molecular Structures.” 16th International Congress on Logic, Methodology, and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Aug. 5-10, 2019; with Amanda Nichols
2019 “The Moral Consequences of Belief in God.” Canadian Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, June 1-3, 2019
2019 “Realism About Molecular Structures.” Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Meeting, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, June 1-3, 2019; with Amanda Nichols
2019 “Philosophical and Theological Skepticism about Science.” BioLogos 2019 Conference. March 29, 2019; with Amanda Nichols
2020 “Representation, Understanding, and Realism About Molecular Structures.” 2nd SURe (Scientific Understanding and Representation) Workshop, Mar. 12-13, 2020; with Amanda Nichols
2021 “Sex Determination and the Human Person.” Science-Engaged Theology Workshop, American Academy of Religion, Nov. 19, 2021; with April Cordero and Amanda Nichols
2022 “Representative Technologies and Understanding.” Philosophy of Science Association poster session. Nov. 12, 2022
2022 “Sex Determination and the Human Person.” American Scientific Affiliation annual meeting, July 30, 2022; with April Cordero and Amanda Nichols
2022 “Technologies, Representation, and Understanding.” Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice, July 4, 2022
2022 “Technologies, Representation, and Understanding.” 4th SURe (Scientific Understanding and Representation) Workshop, April 21-23; with Amanda Nichols
2023 “Geometric Aesthetic Properties and the Development of Coordination Chemistry.” Beauty at Work Symposium, Washington D.C. May 24-27; with Amanda J. Nichols
Comments on Papers
2003 Comments on Kelly Becker’s “Why Justification is Important and Why it has Little to do with Knowledge,” Central States Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, October 18, 2003
2003 Comments on David Przekupowski’s “Religious Diversity: Belief and Explanation,” Ohio Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, April 5, 2003
2003 Comments on Matthias Steup’s “The Reliability of Memory and the Problem of the Crystal Ball,” 2003 American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division Meeting
2004 Comments on Richard Berg’s “David Hume on the Design Argument for God’s Existence Proving Too Little,” Canadian Society of Christian Philosophers, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, May 29, 2004
2004 Comments on Darren Domsky’s “Weeding Out Bad Solutions to the Problem of Moral Luck,” Canadian Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, May 30, 2004
2004 “Comments on Chad Mohler’s “Finding Small Comforts in One’s Doxastic Home: A New Defense of Epistemic Conservatism,” Inland Northwest Philosophy Conference, April 30, 2004
2006 Comments on Ken Boyd’s “Does Epistemic Luck Wear Off?,” Western Canadian Philosophical Association, Simon Fraser University, Oct. 14, 2006
2008 Comments on Christopher Lepock’s “Knowledge and Credit,” Western Canadian Philosophical Association, University of Alberta, Oct. 17, 2008
2008 Comments on Ian Wilks’s “Skeptical Theism and Empirical Unfalsifiability,” Canadian Society of Christian Philosophers, Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, June 4, 2008
2009 Comments on Yual Chiek’s “Why Williamson Need Not Be a Skeptic.” Canadian Philosophical Association, Canadian Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, May 26, 2009
2009 Comments on Klaas Kraay’s “Incommensurability, Incomparability, and God’s Choice of a World.” Canadian Philosophical Association, Canadian Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, May 25, 2009
2013 Comments on Alexander Pruss’s “The Divine Belief Theory of Truth: Might it Work?” Canadian Society of Christian Philosophers, Canadian Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, June 3, 2013
2013 Comments on Steven Bland’s “Methodological Principles and the Structure of Knowledge.” Canadian Philosophical Association, Canadian Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, June 2, 2013
2013 Comments on Charles Ives’ “Socrates Request: Praise, Education, and War in Plato’s Timaeus-Critias.” Canadian Philosophical Association, Canadian Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences, June 2, 2013
2013 Comments and panel response to Ian Hutchinson’s (MIT) “Faith, Evidence, and Reason,” public lecture, Trinity Western University, Jan. 24, 2013
2014 Comments on Allison Barnes’ “Indexical Representation in Mind Reading: How is Content Fixed?,” 2014 Western Canadian Philosophical Association, Annual Meeting, Oct. 4, 2014
2014 Comments on Aaron Rizzieri’s “Theodicy’s Limited Prospects,” 2014 American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division Meeting, April 18, 2014
Works in Progress
God and Cognitive Science of Religion. Cambridge University Press (signed contract)
“Sex,” forthcoming in Encyclopedia of Christian Theology. T&T Clark; co-authored with April Cordero and Amanda J. Nichols (signed contract)
“The Blessing and Curse of Prosocial Religions,”
Professional Service
Society of Christian Philosophers Mountain-Pacific Region Committee, 2021 –term ending in 2024
Consulting Editor, Conrad Grebel Review, 2015 – 2021
Journal Referee (Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Faith and Philosophy, Sophia, International Journal of Philosophy and Traditions, Journal of Analytic Theology, Toronto Journal of Theology, Dialogue, Conrad Grebel Review, Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology)
University Service
Chair, Trinity Western University Faculty Association; member, Trinity Western University Board of Governors (May 2014 – August 2015)
Member, Provost’s Task Force on Academic Freedom (Nov. 2013 – 2018)
Trinity Western University Presidential Search Committee (April 2013 – January 2014)
Philosophy Stream Coordinator, MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities (Fall 2006 – 2017; 2019 –)
Interim Philosophy Department Chair, 2006 – 2007
Member, Faculty Association Executive (2007 – 2009; 2012 – 2015)
Member, Faculty Development Planning Committee (2008 – 2010)