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Andrew Davison (theologian)

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The Revd Canon
Andrew Davison
Born24 June 1974 (1974-06-24) (age 49)
Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
EducationUniversity of Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
University of Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
OccupationTheologian

Andrew Paul Davison (born 24 June 1974) is a Christian theologian, Starbridge Professor of Theology and Natural Sciences in the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, UK, and a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, where is he has also been Dean of Chapel since 2003. On 13 June 2024, Davison was appointed as Canon and Regius Professor of Divinity at Christ Church, Oxford.[1]

Davison was educated at Cottingham High School in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Merton College, Oxford (where he studied an undergraduate degree in chemistry and a DPhil in biochemistry) and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (where he studied an undergraduate degree and PhD in theology). He trained for ordination at Westcott House.

Following ordination, Davison served his curacy in Southeast London, in the parish of St Dunstan, Bellingham. His first teaching appointment was at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, as tutor in doctrine. He was concurrently junior chaplain of Merton College. He moved to Cambridge in 2010 to be Tutor in Christian Doctrine at Westcott House. In 2014, he was appointed as the second Starbridge Lecturer in Theology and Natural Sciences in the Faculty of Divinity of the University of Cambridge (subsequently senior lecturer, then associate professor and, from 2023, Starbridge Professor of Theology and Natural Sciences). Alongside his lectureship, he became a Fellow of Corpus Christi College.

He is a Canon Emeritus Philosopher at St Albans Cathedral, having been Honorary Canon Philosopher (2015–21), and a founding member of the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe. He has twice been a member of the Anglican Church-Roman Catholic dialogue for England and Wales, and participated in the Church of England's commission on marriage and sexuality. For the academic years 2022–2024, he is the Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Science and Theology at the Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, New Jersey.

Davison is a systematic and philosophical theologian, and a notable Anglican Thomist, who also writes on pastoral and liturgical topics. His Cambridge PhD, under the supervision of Professor Catherine Pickstock, was on understandings of finitude in the work of Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus. He is a prolific book author and editor, whose titles include Imaginative Apologetics: Theology, Philosophy and the Catholic Tradition,[2] Participation in God: A Study in Christian Doctrine and Metaphysics,[3] For the Parish: A Critique of Fresh Expressions,[4] and Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine: Exploring the Implications of Life in the Universe (2024).[5] His work on the theological implications of finding life or even intelligence beyond Earth have been the subject of attention in the media.[6][7][8][9]

Bibliography[edit]

  • For the Parish: A Critique of Fresh Expressions (with Professor Alison Milbank). London: SCM Press. 2010.
  • Lift Up Your Hearts (with Canon Andrew Nunn and Canon Toby Wright), London: SPCK. 2010.
  • Imaginative Apologetics: Theology, Philosophy and the Catholic Tradition, London: SCM Press. 2011; Ada, MI: Baker. 2012.
  • Why Sacraments? London: SPCK. 2013.
  • The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy for Theologians. London: SCM Press. 2013. (Translated into Dutch as Uit liefde voor de wijsheid: de grote filosofen en hun invloed op de theologie. Utrecht: Kok. 2014.)
  • Care for the Dying: A Practical and Pastoral Guide (with Dr Sioned Evans). London: Canterbury Press. 2014.
  • Blessing. London: Canterbury Press. 2014.
  • Amazing Love: Theology for Understanding Discipleship, Sexuality and Mission London: Darton, Longman and Todd. 2016 (written by Davison in collaboration with a working group)
  • The God we Proclaim: Sermons on the Apostles’ Creed (edited with Dr John Hughes), Eugene, OR: Cascade. 2017
  • Participation in God: An Exploration in Christian Doctrine and Metaphysics. Cambridge: Cambridge University. 2019.
  • Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine: Exploring the Implications of Life in the Universe. Cambridge University Press. 2023.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Appointment of Canon and Regius Professor of Divinity: 13 June 2024". www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-canon-and-regius-professor-of-divinity-13-june-2024. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024. The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Professor Andrew Davison to be appointed as Canon and Regius Professor of Divinity at Christ Church, Oxford.
  2. ^ Davison, Andrew, ed. (2012). Imaginative apologetics: theology, philosophy, and the Catholic tradition. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Academic. ISBN 978-0-8010-3981-2.
  3. ^ Davison, Andrew (2019). Participation in God: a study in Christian doctrine and metaphysics. Cambridge New York (N.Y.): Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-48328-5.
  4. ^ Davison, Andrew; Milbank, Alison (2011). For the parish: a critique of Fresh Expressions (2. impr ed.). London: SCM Press. ISBN 978-0-334-04365-2.
  5. ^ Davison, Andrew (2024). Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine: Exploring the Implications of Life in the Universe. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1009303163.
  6. ^ Davison, Andrew Paul (23 July 2013). "Professor Andrew Davison". www.divinity.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  7. ^ "The Revd Professor Andrew Davison | Corpus Christi College University of Cambridge". www.corpus.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  8. ^ Burgess, Kaya (1 June 2024). "How did life on Earth begin? Cambridge academics set out to answer the biggest question of all". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  9. ^ Burgess, Kaya (1 June 2024). "Heavens above: Nasa enlists priest to prepare for an alien discovery". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 1 June 2024.