my approach to scholarship

Evidence-Based & Spirit-Led

Creating a Three-Way Conversation

  • Secular Social Sciences

    I look at the observations of psychology, sociology, anthropology, and criminology to understand violence, ideology, and peace. But, these western-dominated disciplines don’t get to dominate the discussion on violence.

  • Spiritual & Theological Frameworks

    Violence always means something to both its perpetrators and its victims. It is often full of symbolic meaning, and undergirded by theological and mythical frameworks (however distorted). But authentic spirituality and good theology subverts the patterns of violence.

  • Non-Western Perspectives

    Western culture—which dominates theology and social sciences—has serious limits when it comes to understanding violence and spirituality. Creating a three-way conversation which includes traditional cultures helps us to overcome those limits, and more clearly see both God and ourselves.

Secular experts also see the need to understand the spirituality of violence.

“Studying the symbolism of violence and, further, addressing its spiritual aspects will initially seem to lie outside the domain of a scientific study of violence. Nevertheless, it will increasingly become clear that it is difficult, if not impossible, to address the problem without this consideration.”


- Bandy X. Lee, Violence

But, we also need perspective from outside the majority West to help us see past the limits of individualism.

Individualism places limits on social-scientific research, theology, and on how we understand and respond to violence. Cultural perspective and knowledge from outside the majority West can help us to see connections in scripture, theology, and the social sciences that we haven’t seen yet.

It’s also one practical way to start building solidarity, and to experience the glory of unity-in-diversity that we’re made for.

Partner With Me by Helping Crowdfund This Work

All of my local solidarity building efforts, teaching, training, and resource development are crowdfunded. If you’re interested in becoming a crowdfunding partner, click the link below.