Research
The Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Winchester is a lively research community, and all members of staff are research active
The Department’s research culture is open, enquiring and engaged with the world in which we live. We hold regular national and international conferences. Below are brief details of our main research interests. Click on our names for more information on our publications and our contact details. For information on research supervision, visit our Research Supervisors page.
Dr Hedges' research is in three main areas:
- Modern and contemporary Christian theology in interreligious and intercultural perspective
- The history of interreligious encounter, especially Christianity in non-Christian, primarily Indian and Chinese, contexts
- Theory and meta-theory in the study of religion and theology
Research interests and publications have covered such areas as: interreligious ethics and human rights, pluralist and particularist paradigms in the theology of religions, the missionary imperative and the origins of religious studies, definitions of religion, the relationship of post-liberal and liberal theologies, intercultural theology, subversive/queer theology in interreligious perspective, Chinese religion in daily life, death studies, sacred space, and Christianity in relation to Buddhism and Daoism.
He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Religious History, and his latest book is Controversies in Interreligious Dialogue and Theologies of Religion (SCM, 2010). He invites prospective research students in areas relating to the theology of religions and interfaith dialogue, contemporary Christian theologies, the history of interreligious encounter and missionary thought as well as in theorizing religion and theology.
Dr King has a background in social anthropology and currently teaches Islam and Indian Religions. For the past decade her research has focused on Vaishnava beliefs and practices, Dalit ideologies and theologies, Islam post 9.11, and contemporary approaches to death and dying. Her broader research interests are in the areas of Indian Religions, particularly Hinduism; religion and violence; interfaith conflict and transformation; gender, sexuality and religion; and healing. Her most recent book is Indian Religions: Renaissance and Renewal (2006). She is presently engaged on a film project on the Guru in ISKCON. Anna is founder and co-editor of RoSA (Religions of South Asia) and the convenor of the annual Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions.
Dr Messer's research interests are in the areas of theological ethics, bioethics and the relationship between science and theology. His latest books is Respecting Life: Theology and Bioethics (SCM, 2010). His current research includes theological concepts of health and disease, and the engagement of theological traditions with public ethical and policy debates.
Dr Paddison has research interests in the relationship between theology and Scripture; the theologies of P.T. Forsyth, Stanley Hauerwas and John Howard Yoder; theological ethics and political theology. At present his research is centred on theological politics, democracy and the city in the company of (amongst others) John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas and Rowan Williams. His most recent book is Scripture: A Very Theological Proposal (T&T Clark, 2009).
Dr Pearson has published widely on the history of Wicca, Paganism and magic, her most recent monograph being Wicca and the Christian Heritage, (Routledge, 2007). She is currently engaged in research on disability and religion, spirituality and mental health, particularly with regard to ritual and pain management techniques.
Dr Welch has research interests in Indigenous religions, religions, nature and environmentalism, Death Studies, and religion in visual cultural. She is programme leader for the MA Death, Religion and Culture and co-edits the e-journal Faith, Spirituality & Social Change. She is currently co-authoring a book on religion and international relations.
Dr Andreopoulos's research interests are in Orthodox Theology, Greek Patristics, Iconology, Ecclesiology, Liturgy, Christian Semiotics, Sacred Art and Monasticism. He is Programme Leader of the MTh Orthodox Studies. His latest book is This is my Beloved Son: the Transfiguration of Christ.
Contact us and further information
We would be delighted to hear about your research plans and advise you as to how these can be supported at the University of Winchester. Contact the Head of Department, Prof. Neil Messer. For details of our research seminar programme and information on forthcoming conferences, please visit our News and Events page.