Staff

If you are at the Durham campus or Queen's Campus, Stockton, dial the last five digits of the phone number. From outside the UK, the number is +44 191 33 and the last five digits.

Revd Dr David Wilkinson

Principal St. John's College/part-time teacher in the Department of Theology and Religion

(email at david.wilkinson@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

Before working in Durham as a theologian, I was a scientist and then a Methodist minister in inner city Liverpool. My background is research in theoretical astrophysics, where my PhD was in the study of star formation, the chemical evolution of galaxies and terrestrial mass extinctions such as the event which wiped out the dinosaurs. I am a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and have published a wide range of papers on these subjects.

After this research I trained for the Methodist ministry, studying theology at Cambridge. I then served in a variety of appointments, including a growing church in Liverpool and as Methodist chaplain at Liverpool University.

I arrived in Durham in 1999 and held a Fellowship in Christian Apologetics at St John's College, and was also Associate Director of the Centre for Christian Communication. I am currently Wesley Research Lecturer in Theology and Science in the Department of Theology and Religion and in September will be Principal of St Johns College.

My current work involves the relationship of the Christian theology to contemporary culture, from science to pop culture. I have had a long interest in the dialogue of science and religion, especially as it impacts the physical sciences. God, Time and Stephen Hawking (Monarch, 2001) and Alone in the Universe: The X-Files, Aliens and God (IVP, 1997) are examples of that work. My PhD in Systematic Theology explored Christian eschatology and the future of the physical Universe. This work forms some of the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching that I do in the department where I teach modules in science and theology.

In addition, I am interested in the relationship of theology to contemporary culture in terms of preaching, missiology and apologetics. I have written on the spirituality in contemporary cinema in The Power of the Force: The Spirituality of the Star Wars Films (Lion, 2000), on the Christian doctrine of holiness in A Holiness of the Heart (Monarch, 2000) and a popular exposition of the biblical themes of creation in Creation: The Bible Speaks Today Bible Themes Series (IVP, 2002).

Publications

Books: authored

Wilkinson, D 2002. Creation. IVP.
Wilkinson, D. 2001. God, time and Stephen Hawking. Oxford: Monarch. (Additional information) (View publication online)

Edited works: contributions

D. Alexander 2005. ‘Hawking, Dawkins and The Matrix: The dialogue of science and religion in the media’. In Can We Be Sure About Anything? Science, Faith and Postmodernism. Leicester: IVP. 214-236. (Additional information)
Wilkinson, D. 2005. The end of it all contemporary cosmology and Christian eschatology in dialogue. In Creation and complexity interdisciplinary issues in science and religion. Ledger, C. & Pickard, S. Canberra: Australian Theological Forum. (Additional information) (View publication online)
Wilkinson, D. 2004. The activity of God a methodist perspective. In Unmasking methodist theology a way forward. Marsh, C., Beck, B., Shier-Jones, A. & Wareing, H. London: Continuum. 142-154. (Additional information) (View publication online)

Essays in edited volumes

Murray, Paul & Wilkinson, David 2005. 'The Significance of the Theology of Creation Within Christian Tradition'. In God, Humanity and Cosmos. Southgate, C. London: T & T Clark. 39-61. (Additional information)
Wilkinson, D. 2004. 'Jesus Christ: God's Way of Salvation'. In Proceedings of the Eighteenth World Methodist Conference. Lake Junaluska: World Methodist Council. 32-42. (Additional information)
Wilkinson, D. 2004. 'The God of the Physical Universe'. In Problems in Theology 4: Science and Religion. Astley, J., Brown, D. & Loades, A. London: T & T Clark. 49-51.

Journal papers: academic

Wilkinson, D 2002. ‘The Art of Apologetics in the 21st Century’. Anvil 19: 5-17. (Additional information)

Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

Theology: Relationship of Christian faith and pop culture
Ethics, Religion & Beliefs: Cosmology and Theology
Religion: Relationship of Christian faith and pop culture
Religious Education: Relationship of Christian faith and pop culture
Religious Education: Relationship of Science and Religion
Religion: Relationship of Science and Religion
Philosophy: Relationship of Science and Religion
Ethics, Religion & Beliefs: Relationship of Science and Religion
Astronomy, The Universe ...: Relationship of Science and Religion
Science: Education, industry & the community: Relationship of Science and Religion
Ethics, Religion & Beliefs: Relationship of Christian faith and pop culture
Theology: Relationship of Science and Religion
Science & Technology: Relationship of Science and Religion
Philosophy: Cosmology and Theology
Religion: Cosmology and Theology
Religious Education: Cosmology and Theology
Theology: Cosmology and Theology
Physics: Cosmology and Theology
Astronomy and Astrophysics: Cosmology and Theology
Science & Technology: Cosmology and Theology
Astronomy, The Universe ...: Cosmology and Theology
Ethics, Religion & Beliefs: Vocational formation in the Church of England and Methodist Church
Theology: Vocational formation in the Church of England and Methodist Church
Ethics, Religion & Beliefs: SETI and Religion
Philosophy: SETI and Religion
Religion: SETI and Religion
Religious Education: SETI and Religion
Theology: SETI and Religion
Physics: SETI and Religion
Astronomy and Astrophysics: SETI and Religion
Science & Technology: SETI and Religion
Astronomy, The Universe ...: SETI and Religion