Research Fellows

The Western Institute for Intercultural Studies, in cooperation with Sacred Tribes Journal, has put together a group of scholars working together in concert and applying their scholarship to the study of new religious movements. These scholars serve as Research Fellows for WIIS.

Frances S. Adeney, PhD

Expertise: Christian mission, sociology of religion, social ethics

Frances S. Adeney is the William A. Benfield Jr. Professor of Evangelism and Global Mission at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She specializes in issues of Christianity and culture, and more specifically, the place of religion in the social world and the implications for ethics in the interactions between religion and society.

Before coming to Louisville Seminary in 1999, Dr. Adeney held posts at the University of Southern California as the Distinguished Professor of Religion (1997-1999), Satya Wacana Christian University's Graduate Program in Religion and Society, Salatiga Indonesia as Associate Professor of Social Ethics (1991-1996), Jakarta Theological Seminary as Visiting Professor of Sociology of Religion (1996-1997) and the Graduate Theological Union, New College Berkeley as Assistant Professor of Christianity and Culture (1988-1991). She has also served as a visiting professor at seminaries in Southeast Asia and the United States.

In 1991 she was a Visiting Scholar at the Von Huegel Institute of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University. She is the author of Christian Women in Indonesia: A Narrative Study of Gender and Religion (Syracuse University Press, 2003) and the forthcoming Christianity and Human Rights: Influences and Issues (State University of New York Press) co-edited with Arvind Sharma and Christians Engage the World's Religions (Baker Academic Press), coauthored with Terry C. Muck as well as numerous chapters and scholarly articles on Christian mission, ethics, and gender studies.

James A. Beverley, PhD

Expertise: Apologetics, World and New Religions, Charismatic Christianity, Roman Catholic Theology, and Christian Ethics

James A. Beverley is Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Santa Barbara, California and professor of Christian Thought and Ethics at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Canada. He is the author of ten books, including Religions A to Z and Understanding Islam.

He is a specialist on the study of new religions and did his Ph.D. thesis on the inner teachings of Sun Myung Moon. He has been interviewed frequently by the media including BBC radio, Finnish television, CBC Radio, The Los Angeles Times, CBC television, Syrian television, CTV News, The Globe & Mail, etc. He has also written frequently for Christianity Today magazine, including a cover story on Islam and an article based on his personal interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India. Professor Beverley has lectured and done research in Canada, the U.S., Africa, the Middle East, South America, Europe, and India.

Professor Beverley holds an Honors B.A. in Philosophy (Acadia University 1974), Master of Divinity (Acadia 1977), Master of Theology (University of Toronto 1983) and Ph.D. (University of Saint Michael’s College). During his doctoral work Professor Beverley studied with Hans Kϋng, the famous Catholic scholar, and Antony Flew, one of the world’s leading philosophers.

Craig L. Blomberg, PhD 

Expertise: New Testament Theology, Mormon-Evangelical Dialogue

Dr. Craig Blomberg is Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado. He holds the B.A. from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, the M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and the Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen,Scotland. He is the author of twelve books and has co-authored orco-edited four more, along with dozens of journal articles and chapters inmulti-author works. His books include three on the historical reliability and interpretation of the gospels (one specializing in John), two on interpreting and preaching the parables, two commentaries (on Matthew and 1Corinthians), a textbook on Jesus and the Gospels and another on Acts through Revelation, and two books on material possessions in the Bible.

Ruth Bradby, PhD

Expertise: New Spiritualities, Hinduism

Ruth Bradby lived and taught in India for 20 years. She received an MTh from the University of Chester and a PhD from the University of Liverpool. Her PhD thesis examined the development of spiritualities based on the channeled text, A Course in Miracles, and the cultural diffusion of Course teaching through popular spiritual self-help literature.

She has published articles on Hinduism and alternative spiritualities and her research continues to focus on new holistic spiritualities.

James D. Chancellor, PhD

Expertise: Children of God/The Family, Islam in America

Dr. Chancellor has served as the W. O. Carver Professor of Christian Missions and World Religions at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1992 to the present. Prior to that he served as Dean of Arts and Sciences and professor of History and Religion at Colorado Christian University. He has a BA from Bellevue College, an MA from the University of Nebraska, an M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Duke University. Dr. Chancellor is the author of Life in the Family: An Oral History of the Children of God. Syracuse University Press, Spring 2000, and has contributed to a number of scholarly publications on new religions and Islam in America from a variety of perspectives, including ethnography and missiology.

Ross Clifford, ThD

Expertise: New Spirituality, Ethics, Apologetics

Ross Clifford has been Principal of Morling College since 1997, and has served as Lecturer in Theology, Ethics and Apologetics from 1992. He joined the College faculty after twelve years of pastoral work at South Windsor and Gymea. Before he entered the ministry he practiced law in New South Wales and the Northern Territory. He is a graduate of the Australian College of Theology, Simon Greenleaf, University of Sydney, as well as Morling College.

He is the author/co-author of eight books including Leading Lawyer’s Case for the Resurrection, John Warwick Montgomery’s Legal Apologetics, Jesus and the gods of the New Age, The Gods of Sport, Riding the Rollercoaster: How the Risen Christ Empowers Life and is a contributor to books such as A Spectator’s Guide to World Views.

Ross is currently President of the Baptist Union of Australia. He has served on a number of significant interdenominational committees including being President of the New South Wales Council of Churches (evangelical churches) and Chair of the Australian Lausanne Committee. He often speaks at conferences, conducts seminars and has his own Sunday night radio program - Connections. In particular, Ross is known for his work and writing in the areas of theology, apologetics and ethics.

Michael T. Cooper, PhD

Expertise: Comtemporary Druidry, Western Paganism, Religious Conversion

Dr.Michael Cooper earned a BED from Texas A&M University, MA from Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions and a PhD from Trinity EvangelicalDivinity school. He is the director of the School of Biblical and Religious Studies at Trinity International University and teaches New andWorld Religions and Missional Theology. He has contributed numerous articles and chapters dealing with missions in Western society and the revival of Pagan religions and has presented academic papers to the Center for Studieson New Religions, Midwest American Academy of Religion, Evangelical Missiological Society and Evangelical Ministries to New Religions. He isa member of the American Academy of Religion and the Evangelical Missiological Society and an academic advisor for the Lausanne Committee’s Issue Group addressing new spiritualities in a postmodern world.

Dean Flemming, PhD

Expertise: New Testament foundations for mission, Contextualization

Dean Flemming has been a lecturer in New Testament at European Nazarene College, Büsingen, Germany, since 2000. He received a B.A. from Mid-America Nazarene University, an M.Div. from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He previously served as professor of New Testament at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Manila, Philippines and was on the faculty of the Asia Graduate School of Theology. He has taught in many countries throughout the world.

In addition to writing numerous articles for scholarly and popular journals and chapters in multi-author works, Dean is the author of Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission (InterVarsity Press, 2005), which received a Christianity Today book award. He is a member of a study group on contextualization for the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance. He has been a missionary with the Church of the Nazarene since 1987. An ordained minister, he also served as a local church pastor in the U.S. and Japan.

Darwin Glassford, PhD

Expertise: Youth spiritualities, Goth Movement

Darwin Glassford is an ordained CRC minister serving as Associate Professor of Church Education and Director of the MA Programs at Calvin Seminary (MI) and a Visiting Professor at Salt Lake Seminary (UT). He holds a MA in Educational Ministries from Wheaton Graduate School, an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, a DMin from Covenant Seminary in Christianity and Contemporary Cultural and a PhD in Educational Foundations from Marquette University. His primary interest is the educational ministry of the church with a special concern for teenagers and the impact of alternative religions and philosophy on their spiritual lives. When he is not enjoying the outdoors or riding motorcycles with his family, he serves as Book Review Editor for the Journal of Youth Ministry.

A. William Heersink, DMin

Expertise: Pastoral and Missional Theology, Mormon-Evangelical Dialogue

Bill received his BA from Calvin College, his MDiv from Calvin Theological Seminary, and his DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an ordained pastor in the Christian Reformed denomination and he has over thirty years of experience as a pastor in northern Utah. He has ten years of experience as a professor at Salt Lake Theological Seminary teaching contextual theology, pastoral ministry, intercultural studies, and directing field education. He has a participant in multiple kinds of activities involving interaction with a large cross-section of Latter-day Saints. His professional affiliations include the American Academy of Religion.

Ole Skjerbaek Madsen, cand. theol.

Expertise: New spiritualities, liturgy

Ole Skjerbaek Madsen has his theological degree from The University of Copenhagen combined with a special study and thesis on Coptic Eucharistic prayers. He has been a parish poastor in the Danish Lutheran Church from 1975-1999; since 2000 he is a mission pastor and project manager in the mission organization, Areopagos. He has started a bridge building work between Church and new spiritualities under the title In the Master’s Light. He has written several articles, papers and books on liturgy, renewal of liturgy, charismatic renewal and new religious movements and of sharing the Gospel in new spirituality milieus. Most of his publications are in Danish. He was the convener of the Lausanne Group on Religious and Non-religious spirituality (New Age) at the Lausanne 2004 Forum.

Gerald R. McDermott, PhD

Expertise: Christian History and Theology, World Religions, Mormon-Evangelical Dialogue

Dr. Gerald McDermott earned a B.A. in New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago, a B.S. in history and education at North Dakota State University, an M.R.E. at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, and a Ph.D. in religion (history of Christianity and Asian religions)at the University of Iowa. He is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, where he teaches the history and theology of Christianity and world religions. An ordained Episcopal priest, he serves as Teaching Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Roanoke. McDermott’s most recent books are God’s Rivals: Why God Permits Different Religions—Insights From The Bible And The Early Church (InterVarsity Press, March 2007), and Claiming Christ: A Mormon- Evangelical Debate,co-authored with Brigham Young University theologian Robert Millet, which just appeared in September 2007 from Brazos Press. His Baker Pocket Guide to World Religions will be released by Baker Books in June 2008. McDermott lectures widely, both nationally and internationally.

J. Gordon Melton, PhD

Expertise: New Religions in America, Western Esotericism

J. Gordon Melton is the director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion, based in Santa Barbara, California, and is a research specialist with the Department of Religious Studies of the University of California--Santa Barbara.

He is the author of more than thirty book on American religion including the Encyclopedia of American Religion (7th edition 2003); the Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (2nd edition 1992); and The Encyclopedia of Religious Phenomena (2007).

Terry C. Muck, PhD

Expertise: Buddhism, Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

Terry C. Muck is professor of mission and world religion at Asbury Theological Seminary, in Wilmore Kentucky. He has a Ph.D. in religious studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

He has authored books and articles on world religions, mission, religious studies methodology. He has been active in the Society for Buddhist-Christian studies. He is general editor of the NIV Application Study Bible.

Sean O’Callaghan, PhD

Expertise: New and alternative spiritualities, Dark Occulture, Missiology, Christology, Cyberspirituality

Sean O’Callaghan gained his PhD in Theology from the University of Liverpool. Although Irish by birth and upbringing, Sean has lived in the UK since 1987. In 1985, he completed his first degree in Early Irish History and Gaelic language at University College Cork, Ireland and in 1999 was awarded his degree in Theology in the UK from the University of Liverpool, through Chester College. His PhD examined the interaction between Missiology and Christology in nineteenth and twentieth century British Theology.

Sean continued to apply his PhD research to his interest in New Religious Movements and the emergence of new spiritualities and has written articles on esoteric movements. He co-moderated a web forum discussing esoteric issues for several years as well. He has written a book on world religions for Lion which is due to be published in 2009. He has taught as visiting lecturer at Regents College, in Nantwich, Cheshire and is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Lancaster.

Christopher Partridge, PhD

Expertise: New religions, alternative spiritualities and the re-enchantment/resacralization of Western culture

Christopher Partridge is Professor of Religious Studies at Lancaster University and co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Popular Culture at the University of Chester, UK. His research and writing focuses both on new religions and also on popular culture. He has a particular interest in the relationship between popular music and religion. He is the author of The Re-Enchantment of the West, 2 volumes (2004, 2006) and the co-editor of the series ‘Studies in Popular Music’ (Equinox). He is the editor of several volumes on religious belief in the contemporary world, including The World’s Religions (2005), Encyclopedia of New Religions (2004), and UFO Religions (2003).

Bob Robinson, PhD

Expertise: Hinduism; New Spiritualities; Theory and Practice of Dialogue

Dr Robinson is Senior Lecturer at Laidlaw College in New Zealand, and its associated Tyndale-Carey Graduate School of Theology. He holds the MA from the University of Canterbury, and the PhD in Systematic Theology from the University of London. He worked in Singapore for a number of years before completing his doctoral dissertation: a Christological analysis of the recent Christian-Hindu encounter now published as Christians Meeting Hindus: an Analysis and Theological Critique of the Hindu-Christian Encounter in India (Carlisle, UK: Paternoster Press, 2004). He speaks and lectures widely on issues related to the constructive defense of the uniqueness and finality of Christ and advocates the incarnational and dialogical way of Jesus as the best way of reaching out to the new spiritualities.