Professor Christopher Southgate

Professor Christopher Southgate trained originally as a research biochemist. He has taught for the Dept on the science-religion debate (and related areas such as environmental ethics) since 1993. His research interests include the problem of suffering in evolution, the concept of glory in the natural world and in religious poetry, tragic events affecting church congregations, and the science of the origin of life.

Chris teaches the undergraduate modules 'Evolution, God and Gaia' and 'Big Questions in Science and Religion’. He has ten research students at present, and welcomes enquiries from others interested in his areas of expertise.

Chris's book 'The Groaning of Creation: God, Evolution and the Problem of Evil' was published by Westminster John Knox Press in 2008, and has become a seminal work on suffering in creation. He is also the editor of 'God, Humanity and the Cosmos' (Continuum, 3rd edition 2011), a standard text in the science-religion field. His most recent academic book is 'Theology in a Suffering World: Glory and Longing' (Cambridge University Press, 2018).

Chris is also the author of eight collections of poetry, the most recent being 'Rain Falling by the River (Canterbury, 2017) and 'Losing Ithaca' (Shoestring, 2023). For more information see Chris's website www.christophersouthgate.org.uk.

Research supervision:

I am currently first supervisor for

one full-time student working on the Book of Job in relation to trauma theory

one full-time student working on ecotheological justice in relation to climate aid

one full-time student exploring the theology of permaculture

one part-time student exploring the relation of God to non-human animals

one part-time student researching the origins of human sin

one part-time student working on ecospirituality

one part-time student exploring the links between poetry and natural theology

one part-time student exploring new directions in the theodicy of natural evil

I am also second supervisor for a range of other projects.

I am open to receiving research proposals in the areas of the sciences' dialogue with Christian theology, environmental ethics, practical theology for ministry, and the interface of poetry with theology.

Qualifications:
MA PhD