Douglas Davies
Douglas James Davies, FBA (born 1947) is Professor in the Study of Religion in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Durham. He is an authority in the history, theology and sociology of death. His fields of expertise also include anthropology, the study of religion, the rituals and beliefs surrounding funerary rites and cremation around the globe, and Mormonism. His research interests cover identity and belief, and Anglican leadership.
Early life and education
Born in Wales, he read two Bachelor of Arts degrees at St John's College, University of Durham, before doing his PhD at the University of Nottingham. He then achieved both Master and Doctor of Letters at Oxford University and received, on May 28, 1998, an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Theology at Uppsala University, Sweden.[1]
Academic career
His book, Reusing Old Graves: A Report on Popular British Attitudes, co-written with Alastair Shaw, won the 1995 Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year.[2]
His current projects include writings on 'The Encyclopedia of Cremation', 'The Clergy and British Society: 1940-2000', 'A Brief History of Death', 'Inner-speech and prayer' and 'Ritual purity'.
He has also published a large number of articles on death, and contemporary Christianity.
Davies has been involved with various editorial boards and conferences, including the 'Editorial Board of Mortality' and the 'British Sociological; Association Religion Group' (Chairman: 2000-2003). He was also guest speaker at both the Scandinavian Sociological Society Conference in 2004 and the International Cremation Federation Conference in Barcelona, 2003.
Within the University of Durham he teaches three undergraduate modules: 'Study of Religion', 'Death, Ritual and Belief' and 'Theology and Anthropology'. He also teaches 'Ritual, Symbolism and Belief' to those studying a taught master's degree in Theology.
He is a member of the Senior Common Room of St Chad's College Durham.
Honours
In July 2017, Davies was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and social sciences.[3]
Selected works
His list of books include:
- A Brief History of Death, 2005
- Encyclopedia of Cremation, editor, 2005
- An Introduction to Mormonism, 2003
- Anthropology and Theology, 2002
- Death, Ritual and Belief, 2002, 1997
- Modern Christianity: Reviewing its Place in Britain Today, 2000
- The Mormon Culture of Salvation, 2000
- Private Passions: Betraying Discipleship on the Journey to Jerusalem, 2000
- Themes and Issues in Christianity, 1997
- Mormon Identities in Transition, editor, 1996
- British Crematoria in Public Profile, 1995
- Reusing Old Graves: A Report on Popular British Attitudes, 1995
- Church and Religion in Rural England, 1991
- Frank Byron Jevons: An Evolutionary Realist, 1991
- Cremation Today and Tomorrow, 1990
- Studies in Pastoral Theology and Social Anthropology, 1990
- A Study of the Deployment and Work of the Rural Clergy in Five English Dioceses, 1990
- Mormon Spirituality, 1987
- Meaning and Salvation in Religious Studies, 1984
References
- ↑ http://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/traditions/prizes/honorary-doctorates/
- ↑ Burkardt, John (2007-06-01). "The Oddest Book Titles". John Burkardt. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ↑ "Elections to the British Academy celebrate the diversity of UK research". British Academy. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
External links
 |
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Douglas Davies |