Joseph Molleur, Ph.D.
Department of Religion
Cornell College
600 First Street SW
Mount Vernon, IA 52314
(319) 895-4237
jmolleur@cornellcollege.edu
CURRENT POSITION
Cornell College, Department of
Religion, Mount Vernon, IA.
•Associate Professor of Religion, 2007–Present
•Assistant Professor of Religion, 2001–2007
•Chair of Department of Religion, 2004–Present
•Departmental Assessment Coordinator, 2001–Present
•Committee on Committees Mmeber, 2008–Present
•Administration Committee Member, 2004–2007
•Faculty Salary Subcommittee Member, 2004–2007 (Chair, 2006–2007)
•Medieval and Early Modern Studies Program Member, 2001–Present
•Chaplaincy Advisory Committee Member, 2002–Present
•Small-Thomas Lecture Series Advisory Committee Member, 2002–Present
•All-College Assessment Committee Member, 2003–2004
•Lecturers, Artists, and Cultural Events Consortium Member, 2002–2004
•AAUP Chapter Member, 2004–Present (President, 2004–2006; Secretary-Treasurer, 2008–Present)
•Phi Beta Kappa Chapter Member, 2001–Present (Vice President, 2003–2005; President, 2005–2007)
•ACM India Studies Program Advisor, 2001–2005
•Students Together Eradicating Poverty (Living and Learning Community) Advisor, 2007–Present
•Sanctuary (Pagan Student Group) Advisor, 2004–2007
PREVIOUS ACADEMIC APPOINTMENT
Boston College, Department of Theology, Chestnut Hill, MA.
•Postdoctoral Fellow, 1999-2001.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Systematic and Comparative Theology, Boston
College,
Chestnut Hill, MA, 1999.
Dissertation: “Divergent Traditions, Converging Faiths: Troeltsch, Comparative Theology, and the Conversation with Hinduism”
M.A., Historical Theology, Episcopal
Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, 1995.
Thesis: “Newman’s Theory of Development and its Historical Context”
B.A., Religious Studies, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA, 1984.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Campbell R. McConnell Fellow, 2007–2008
Listed in Marquis Who’s Who in American Education, 2007 –2008
Listed in Marquis Who's Who in America, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 8th, 9th, and 10th eds.
University Fellowship, Boston College, 1995–1999.
M.A. Thesis with honors, Episcopal Divinity School, 1995.
James Arthur Muller Prize for work of distinction in the historical
field, Episcopal Divinity School, 1995.
George Mercer Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Episcopal Divinity School,
1995.
Nelson Waite Rightmyer Memorial Prize for the best paper in Church
History, Episcopal Divinity School, 1994.
Bachelor's degree with honors, Grinnell College, 1984.
Phi Beta Kappa, Grinnell College,
1984.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Academy of
Religion
Society for Hindu-Christian
Studies
American Association of University Professors
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Focus Group Participant, Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Iowa City, IA, March 2004
Dialogue Participant, Boston College Jewish-Christian-Muslim Interfaith Trialogue, Chestnut Hill, MA, 1996–2001
Editorial Board Member, Cowley Publications, Cambridge, MA, 1987–1991
PUBLICATIONS
Book
Divergent Traditions, Converging Faiths: Troeltsch, Comparative Theology, and the Conversation with Hinduism. American University Studies Series VII, vol. 213. New York: Peter Lang, 2000.
Chapter of a Book
"Troeltsch's Notion of the Cultural Validity of Religions." In Ernst Troeltsch et Paul Tillich: pour une nouvelle synthèse du christianisme avec la culture de notre temps. Edited by Jean Richard and Alfred Dumais, 359–79. Québec: Presse de l'Université Laval; Paris: L'Harmattan, 2002.
Journal Articles
"Troeltsch, Comparative Theology, and the Conversation with Hinduism: Toward a Comparative Systematic Theology." Studies in Interreligious Dialogue 11, no. 2 (2001): 133–47.
"The Notion of the Three Sabbaths in Aelred's Mirror of Charity." Cistercian Studies Quarterly 33, no. 2 (1998): 211–20.
"The Transformation of Dom Le Saux-Swami Abhishiktananda." Indian Journal of Theology 39, no. 1 (1997): 35–42.
"A Working Bibliography of Contemporary Anglican Theologians from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East" (with Fredrica Harris Thompsett). Sewanee Theological Review 40, no. 4 (1997): 503–27.
Encyclopedia Article
"Ernst Troeltsch." In Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development. Edited by E. M. Dowling and W. G. Scarlett, 457-58. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2006.
Book Reviews
"Mystics: Presence and Aporia, edited by Michael Kessler and Christian Sheppard." Anglican Theological Review 88, no. 1 (2006): 121–22.
"Mother of the Gods: From Cybele to the Virgin Mary, by Philippe Borgeaud." Anglican Theological Review 87:4 (2005): 676–77.
" The First and the Last: The Claim of Jesus Christ and the Claims of Other Religious Traditions, by George Sumner." Anglican Theological Review 87, no. 3 (2005): 521–22.
"Divinity and Diversity: A Christian Affirmation of Religious Pluralism, by Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki." Anglican Theological Review 87, no. 3 (2005): 518–20.
"Dictionary of Contemporary Religion in the Western World, edited by Christopher Partridge." Anglican Theological Review 87, no. 1 (2005): 161–62.
"An Introduction to the Theology of Religions: Biblical, Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, by Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen." Anglican Theological Review 86, no. 4 (2004): 694–97.
"Different Paths, Different Summits: A Model for Religious Pluralism, by Stephen Kaplan." Anglican Theological Review 86, no. 2 (2004): 381–83.
"Seeing with our Souls: Monastic Wisdom for Every Day, by Joan Chittister, O.S.B." Anglican Theological Review 86, no. 1 (2004): 140-42.
"Keeping Silence: Christian Practices for Entering Stillness, by C. W. McPherson." Anglican Theological Review 85, no. 3 (2003): 550–52.
"Zen Gifts to Christians, by Robert Kennedy." Anglican Theological Review 84, no. 3 (2002): 794-95.
"The Depth of the Riches: A Trinitarian Theology of Religious Ends, by S. Mark Heim." Anglican Theological Review 84, no. 2 (2002): 442–44.
"Bede Griffiths: A Life in Dialogue, by Judson B. Trapnell." Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society 28, no. 2 (2001): 359–60.
"The Philosophical Challenge of Religious Diversity, edited by Philip L. Quinn and Kevin Meeker." Religious Studies Review 27, no. 2 (2001): 155.
"The Intrareligious Dialogue (rev. ed.), by Raimon Panikkar." Islamic Studies 39, no. 3 (2000): 481–84.
Website Contributions
"Brahmananda Upanishad: ‘Move Onward! Light! More Light!’" (a collection of the teachings of Swami Brahmananda). Vedanta Society of Iowa, March 2008.
"Ramakrishna Upanishad: ‘I Have Seen God, and You Shall See Him Too’" (a collection of the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa). Vedanta Society of Iowa, September 2007.
"Gautama Upanishad: Heed the Buddha, and Awaken" (a collection of the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama). Vedanta Society of Iowa, August 2007.
"Jesus Upanishad: You Who Have Ears to Hear, Listen!" (a collection of the teachings of Jesus, with brief commentaries). Vedanta Society of Iowa, July 2007.
"Vivekananda Upanishad: Hear the Lion Roar" (a collection of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda). Vedanta Society of Iowa, June 2007.
"Sarada Upanishad: Listening at the Feet of Holy Mother" (a collection of the teachings of Sri Sarada Devi). Vedanta Society of Iowa, May 2007.
Sound Cassette
The Spirit of Orthodoxy: A Millennium of Russian Christianity (with Bob Greenfield and Martin L. Smith). Cowley Retreatape Series. Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications, 1989.
PRESENTATIONS
Conference Papers
"A Hindu Monk’s Appropriation of Eastern Orthodoxy’s Jesus Prayer: The ‘Inner Senses’ of Hearing and Seeing in Comparative Perspective." American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, November 2008.
"Supreme Divine Female Power in the Sri Lalita Sahasranama." American Academy of Religion Upper Midwest Regional Meeting, Saint Paul, MN, April 2006.
"The Ethical Function of the Atman in The Laws of Manu." Iowa Philosophical Society, Decorah, IA, October 2001.
"Troeltsch's Notion of the Cultural Validity of Religions." Troeltsch-Tillich Colloquium, Quebec, Canada, August 2000.
"Tillich's Notion of the Relation between the Historical Study of Religions and Christian Systematic Theology." North American Paul Tillich Society, Boston, MA, November 1999.
"Religious Interpretations of Sickness and Healing in Shatakopan's Tiruvaymoli." American Academy of Religion New England/Maritimes regional meeting, Newton, MA, April 1998.
Panel Presentations
"Stimulating Classroom Discussions." Conversations about Teaching Series, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, November 2006.
"Fareed Zakaria’s The Future of Freedom." Cole Library, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, November 2005.
"Reflections after the Holocaust: The Abrahamic Traditions as Resources for Global Peace and Reconciliation." Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, April 2005.
Community Lectures
"Plundering the Treasures of the 'Religious Other': A Hindu Monk’s Appropriation of Eastern Orthodoxy’s Jesus Prayer." Humanities and Arts Interest Group, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, November 2008.
"Making Sense of Religious Diversity: Different Paths, Same Destination?" Family Weekend Program, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, November 2007.
"Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism." Episcopal Diocese of Iowa Summer Ministry School & Retreat, Grinnell, IA, July 2007.
"Four Great Religions of the World: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam." Chautauqua Program, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, March 2006.
"Biblical Goddesses and Goddess-like Figures: Snapshots from a Work-in-Progress." Humanities and Arts Interest Group, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, April 2005.
"Maintaining Our Unique Christian Identity, as Inclusivists and Pluralists." Eastern Iowa Association of the United Church of Christ, Mount Vernon, IA, September 2003.
"Reflections on Religion in the Post-9/11 World." Humanities and Arts Interest Group, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA, January 2003.
Sermons
"Praying without Ceasing, Part Two: The Eastern Orthodox Practice of the Jesus Prayer." First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon, IA, July 2008.
"Praying without Ceasing, Part One: Some Strategies for Prayer, including Benedictine and Ignatian Meditation." First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon, IA, July 2008.
"Living in Accord with the Light Within: The Example of Early American Quaker John Woolman." First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon, IA, March 2005.
"Engaging the 'Religious Other.'" First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon, IA, July 2004.