Dr. John Sheveland is Professor of Religious Studies and the current Flannery Chair of Catholic theology at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. In 2019 he began a four year term serving on the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic...
B.A. History & Theology, University of Portland, 1996
M.A.R. Theology, Yale University Divinity School, 1999
Ph.D. Systematic & Comparative Theology, Boston College, 2006RELI 305 - Religion and Violence
RELI 355 - Interreligious Dialogue
RELI 270 - Theology in Global Contexts
RELI 492 - Religions of Asia
RELI 193 - First Year Seminar: Violence and the Humanities
Dr. John Sheveland is Professor of Religious Studies and the current Flannery Chair of Catholic theology at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. In 2019 he began a four year term serving on the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. At Gonzaga he organizes the annual lecture series called "Being Religious Interreligiously" which advances the Jesuit commitment to interreligious dialogue. He received in 2013 a Faculty Diversity Leadership Award and in 2015 an Exemplary Faculty Award from Gonzaga University. He serves on the board of directors of the Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies, the steering committee of the Interreligious and Interfaith Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion, the advisory board for the Currents of Encounter monograph series with Brill, and is a book review editor for Horizons.
[A] Book
2011—Piety and Responsibility: Patterns of Unity in Karl Rahner, Karl Barth, and Vedanta Desika. New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology, and Biblical Studies. Farnham & Burlington: Ashgate, 2011. [Acquired by Routledge in 2015. Series website: Here
Reviews of Piety and Responsibility:
[B] Roundtable Guest-Editor
John N. Sheveland and Frans Wijsen, eds., “Roundtable: Exploring the field of intercultural theology,” Interreligious Studies and Intercultural Theology 1/1 (March 2017): 91-92 [91-152]. Here
[C] Peer-Reviewed Articles and Chapters
2019 – Forthcoming: “Radicalization and Bold Mercy,” Buddhist-Christian Studies 39 (2019).
2018 – Forthcoming: “Redeeming Trauma: an agenda for theology fifteen years on,” American Catholicism in the 21st Century, eds. Nicholas Rademacher and Benjamin Peters(Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2018).
2016 – “Receptive Theological Learning in and from the Asian Bishops,” Asian Horizons 10/3 (September 2016): 545-560.
2016 – “Review Symposium.” Interreligious Friendship after Nostra Aetate, eds. James Fredericks and Tracy Sayuki Tiemeier (New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2015), in Horizons 43/1 (2016): 168-172. Here
2014 – “Toward a Fuller Catholicity: the promise of Asian theological method,” Louvain Studies 38/2 (2014): 184-197. Here
2014 – “Restoring Intimacy: Christian-Buddhist resources toward solidarity,” Studies in Interreligious Dialogue 25/2 (2014): 152-170. Here
2014 – “In Search of Wisdom and its Blind Spots: Catholic theological reflections on the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.” International Journal of Dharma Studies 2/1 (2014): 1-16. Here
2014 – “The Rich Soil of Asia: a North American appreciation of theological method in the Federations of Asian Bishops’ Conferences,” in Shaji George Kochuthara, ed., Revisiting Vatican II: Fifty Years of Renewal (Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2014), 322-336.
2014 – “What has Renaissance Polyphony to offer Theological Method?” in Peter Phan and Jonathon Ray, eds., Understanding Religious Pluralism: Perspectives from Religious Studies and Theology (Eugene: Pickwick Publications, 2014), 264-276.
2010 – “Solidarity in Three Sacred Texts: Bhagavad Gītā, Dhammapada, 1 Corinthians,” Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection 74/8 (August 2010): 593-605.
2008 – “The Meaningfulness of Yoga to Christian Discipleship,” The Way: A Review of Christian Spirituality Published by the British Jesuits 47/3 (2008): 49-62. Here
2007 – “The Gita’s ‘Equal Eye’: Resourcing a Christian Concept of Neighbor without Limit,” Louvain Studies 32/4 (2007): 408-21. Here
2004 – “Tears of Dependence: Anselm and Barth on Intelligere,” The Expository Times 115/6 (March 2004): 181-186. Here
2002 – “Interreligious Momentum in David Tracy’s Postmodern Christian Theology,” Studies in Interreligious Dialogue 12/2 (2002): 207-225. Here
[D] Book Chapters and Essays
2017 – Forthcoming: “Facing Religious Neighbors: Nostra Aetate Fifty Years On,” in John K. Downey, Steven Ostovich, and Johann Vento, eds., Facing the World: Political Theology and Mercy (Paulist Press, 2017). [Invited]
2017 – Forthcoming: “Do Not Grieve: Reconciliation in Barth and Vedanta Desika,” in Christian T. Collins Winn and Martha Moore-Keish, eds., Karl Barth and Comparative Theology (New York: Fordham University Press, 2017). [Invited]
2017 – Forthcoming: “Existential Poverty, Christian and Hindu: Barth in dialogue with Vedanta Desika,” in Susanne Hennecke and George Pfleiderer, eds., ______________ (Brill, 2017). [Invited]
2011 – “Is Yoga Religious?”, The Christian Century 128/12 (June 14, 2011): 22-25. [Invited]
2010 – “Solidarity through Polyphony,” in Francis X. Clooney, S.J., ed., The New Comparative Theology: Interreligious Insights from the Next Generation (London & New York: T&T Clark International, 2010): 171-190. [Invited]
2009 – “Polyphony and the Aesthetics of Interreligious Dialogue,” in Arvind Sharma, ed., Windows to World’s Religions: Selected Proceedings of the Global Congress on World Religions After September 11th (Delhi: D.K. Printworld, 2009): 3-13. [Editor-selected]
[E] Sermon Resources for The Expository Times
2016 – “Redemptive Reversals,” The Expository Times 128/2 (November 2016): 83-84.
2015 – “For all the Saints,” The Expository Times 127/1 (October 2015): 25-26.
2015 – “Accepting Acceptance,” The Expository Times 126/5 (February 2015): 233-235.
2014 – “Listening Church, Humbled Church,” The Expository Times 125/11 (August 2014): 549-551.
[F] Encyclopedia Entries
2017 – “Nostra Aetate,” in Jeffrey Shaw and Timothy J. Demy, eds., War and Religion: an Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict. Volume II. (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, March 2017).
2007 – “Divine Love in Christianity,” in Yehudit Kornberg Greenberg, ed., Encyclopedia of Love in World Religions (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2007): 161-62.
2004 – “Sin,” in Hans J. Hillerbrand, ed., Encyclopedia of Protestantism, Volume 4. (New York: Routledge, 2004): 1733-34.
[G] Book Reviews
2018 – Solicited: Peter C. Phan, The Joy of Religious Pluralism (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2017), for Horizons.
2015 – David Cheetham, Douglass Pratt, and David Thomas, eds., Understanding Interreligious Relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), in Theological Studies 76/1 (2015): 219-220.
2014 – Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Christ and Reconciliation. A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, Volume 1 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2013), in Horizons 41/1 (2014): 186-189.
2013 – Reid B. Locklin, Liturgy of Liberation: a Christian Commentary on Shankara’s Upadesasahasri (Louvain & Grand Rapids: Peeters & Eerdmans, 2011), in Horizons 40/2 (2013): 298-300.
2008 – John Makransky, Awakening Through Love: Unveiling your Deepest Goodness (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2007), in Journal of Buddhist Ethics 15 (2008): 31-39. Here
2007 – Catherine Cornille, ed., Song Divine: Christian Commentaries on the Bhagavad-Gita (Louvain: Peeters & Eerdmans, 2006), in Theological Studies 67 (2007): 710-712.
[H] Book Review Notes for Religious Studies Review
2018 – Elizabeth J. Harris, Paul Hedges, and Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi, eds., Twenty-First Century Theologies of Religions: Retrospection and Future Prospects. Currents of Encounter, 54. (Leiden & Boston: Brill-Rodopi, 2016), for Religious Studies Review.
2014 – Catherine Cornille, ed., The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Inter-religious Dialogue (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013), in Religious Studies Review 40/2 (2014): 83.
2014 – David Cheetham, Ways of Meeting and the Theology of Religions. Transcending Boundaries in Philosophy and Theology. (Farnham: Ashgate, 2013), in Religious Studies Review 40/1 (2014): 21.
2014 – Marianne Moyaert, Fragile Identities: Towards a Theology of Interreligious Hospitality. Currents in Encounter, v. 39 (Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2011), in Religious Studies Review 40/1 (2014): 25-26.
2014 – Roger D. Haight, Christian Spirituality for Seekers: Reflections on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2012), in Religious Studies Review 39/4 (2013): 242.
2012 – Richard Kearney and James Taylor, eds., Hosting the Stranger: Between Religions (Continuum, 2011), in Religious Studies Review 38/4 (2012): 221.
2012 – Leo Lefebure and Peter Feldmeier, The Path of Wisdom: a Christian Commentary on the Dhammapada. Christian Commentaries on Non-Christian Sacred Texts (Leuven: Peeters & Eerdmans, 2011), in Religious Studies Review 38/4 (2012): 226.
2012 – Francis Schussler Fiorenza and John P. Galvin, eds., Systematic Theology: Roman Catholic Perspectives, 2nd edition (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011), in Religious Studies Review 38/3 (2012): 145-146.
2012 – Stephen B. Bevans, Prophetic Dialogue: Reflections on Christian Mission Today (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2011), in Religious Studies Review 38/1 (2012): 10-11.
2011 – Ian A. McFarland, In Adam’s Fall: A Meditation on the Christian Doctrine of Original Sin (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010), in Religious Studies Review 37 (2011): 272-73.
2011 – Paul Collins, The Trinity: A Guide for the Perplexed (New York: Continuum, 2008), in Religious Studies Review 37 (2011): 267-68.
2011 – Gregory Baum, Signs of the Times: Religious Pluralism and Economic Justice (Toronto: Novalis, 2007), in Religious Studies Review 37 (2011): 110.
2010 – Susannah Heschel, The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), in Religious Studies Review 36 (2010): 277.
2010 – Kate McCarthy, Interfaith Encounters in America (Piscataway: Rutgers University Press, 2007), in Religious Studies Review 36 (2010): 62.
2009 – George Hunsinger, The Eucharist and Ecumenism: Let Us Keep the Feast (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008), in Religious Studies Review 35 (2009): 244.
2009 – David S. Cunningham, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Literary Meditations on Suffering, Death, and New Life (Louisville & London: Westminster John Knox, 2007), in Religious Studies Review 35 (2009): 35-36.
2008 – Norman Wirzba, Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2006), in Religious Studies Review 34 (2008): 278-279.
Conference Presentations
[A] International
2017 – “Karl Barth and the construction of an ecclesial theology of trauma,” Leuven Encounters in Systematic Theology XI, (“Ecclesia Semper Reformanda”), Katholiek Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), October 11-14, 2017. Funded by a research grant from the Gonzaga Academic Council.
2015 – Invited Lecture. “Existential Poverty, Christian and Hindu: Karl Barth in Dialogue with Vedanta Desika,” Karl Barth und die Religion(en): Erkundungen in der Weltreligionen und in der Ökumene – Internationale, interdisziplinäre wissenschaftliche Fachtagung. University of Bonn, September 6-9, 2015. (Delivered In Absentia due to illness.)
2013 – “Theological Method According to the Asian Bishops: From Mystery to Dialogue to Pluralism,” Leuven Encounters in Systematic Theology IX (‘Mediating Mysteries, Understanding Liturgies’), Katholiek Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), 23-26 October 2013.
2013 – “‘Seeing the world with fire as if ablaze’: opportunities and challenges in teaching Ashvagosha’s Buddhacarita in a Jesuit university,” European Network for Buddhist-Christian Studies, Ghent, Belgium, 27 June-July 1, 2013.
2013 – “‘The Rich Soil of Asia’: a North American appreciation of FABC Paper No. 96,” Revisiting Vatican II: 50 Years of Renewal, Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, India, January 31–February 3, 2013.
2009 – “Cultivations of Solidarity: A Textual Analysis,” Parliament for the World’s Religions, Melbourne, Australia, December 4, 2009.
* Respondents: Robert Cathey, Prabha Duneja, Jian Ying Shifu.
2009 – “The Corporate Body and Nonviolence: Exercises in Solidarity with Santideva and St. Paul,” World Religions After September 11th: An Asian Perspective, at Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi, India, January 17-20, 2009.
2006 – “Polyphony and the Aesthetics of Interreligious Dialogue,” World Religions After 9/11: A Global Congress, Montreal, Canada, September 14, 2006.
[B] National
2017 – “Radicalization and Mercy: Christian theological learning from the Open Letter to al-Baghdadi,” Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies, American Academy of Religion, Boston, MA. November 2017.
2017 – “Redeeming Trauma: an agenda for theology fifteen years on,” College Theology Society, Salve Regina University, Rhode Island, June 1-4, 2017.
2015 – Co-presenter with Prabha Duneja, “Remembering Swami Vivekananda for 2015: a Catholic theological appreciation,” Parliament of the World’s Religions. Salt Lake City, UT. October 15-19, 2015.
2015 – Invitation: Panel review of: James Fredericks and Tracy Tiemeier, eds., Interreligious Friendships (Palgrave MacMillan, 2015). College Theology Society, University of Portland, OR. May 28-31, 2015.
2015 – “Ties that Bind: Toward a Political-Theological Reading of Nostra Aetate,” Vatican II – Remembering the Future. Georgetown University, May 21-24.
2014 – “Karl Barth and Vedanta Desika: Anthropological Gleanings,” American Academy of Religion. Additional Meeting: Barth and Comparative Theology. San Diego, CA., Friday November 21, 2015.
2014 – “Comparative Theology as Receptive: the Asian Bishops as Resource,” Receptive Ecumenism III: Receptive Ecumenism in International Perspective – Contextual Ecclesial Learning. Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT. June 9-12, 2014.
2013 – Invited Lecture. “In Search of Wisdom and its Blind Spots: Mine, Swami Vivekananda’s, and the Church’s,” Hindu-Catholic Dialogue Group, Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University, June 15, 2013.
2012 – “Renaissance Polyphony as a Model for Comparative Theology,” Understanding Religious Pluralism, Georgetown University, May 23-25, 2012.
2011 – Panel with Christian Krokus and Thomas Cattoi, “Bodhisattvas, Walis, and Sadhus: Saints in other traditions as a resource for Christian comparative theology,” Catholic Theological Society of America, San Jose, CA., June 2011. Sheveland paper title: “Sanctity as Solidarity: Gandhi, Catholic Social Teaching, and the Victims of History.”
2008 – “Undoing Religious Violence: Buddhist-Christian Resources,” Convivencia: Religious Identities in the New World. A Lilly Fellows Program National Research Conference, hosted by Loyola Marymount University, March 27-29.
2007 – “The Public Significance of Comparative Theology Curricula at Jesuit Universities,” College Theology Society, University of Dayton, Ohio, June 2007.
* Respondent: Maureen O’Connell, Fordham University.
2006 – “The Gita’s Equal Eye: a Resource for a Christian Concept of Neighbor without Limit,” Catholic Theological Society of America, San Antonio, June 2006.
2006 – “Catholics and Hindus on Human Rights: Contributions from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” College Theology Society, Regis University, Denver, CO., June 2006.
2005 – “Initial Theses on a Christian Appropriation of Yoga,” College Theology Society, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL., June 2005.
2004 – “Unexpected Correspondences in Karl Barth’s Theological Anthropology and Yoga Discipline,” Engaging Particularities II: New Directions in Comparative Theology, Interreligious Dialogue, Theology of Religions and Missiology, Boston College, 27 March 2004.
2004 – “Developing Comparative Theology Research: A Round-Table Discussion,” with Dan Joslyn-Siemiatkoski and Tracy Tiemeier, Engaging Particularities II: New Directions in Comparative Theology, Interreligious Dialogue, Theology of Religions and Missiology, Boston College, 28 March 2004.
2003 – “The Church as a ‘School of Wisdom’: Learning from Karl Rahner and Vedanta Desika,” College Theology Society, Marquette University, 30 May 2003.
2001 – “‘I am the Way’: The Fourth Gospel and Bhagavad-Gita on Incarnation,” College Theology Society, University of Portland, 1 June 2001.
[C] Regional
2017 – “Anti-Muslim Sentiment: what hate studies can tell us, and what Islamic studies cannot,” Fourth International Conference on Hate Studies, Gonzaga University, Oct. 19-21.
2017 – “Justice and the Teaching of Islam at a Jesuit University,” with Brian Siebeking & Shannon Dunn. Through the Eye of the Needle: Conference on the Commitment to Justice in Jesuit Higher Education. Seattle University, August 10-13.
2017 – “All in the Family?: Hindutva, ISIS, and the Alt-Right,” American Academy of Religion Pacific Northwest Region, St. Mary’s University, Calgary, May 5-7, 2017.
2016 – Plenary Session with Paul Powers, Lewis & Clark College: “Making Sense of ISIS in the Classroom,” American Academy of Religion Pacific Northwest Region, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID., May 21, 2016.
2015 – “Seeing into the Radicalized?: lessons from the psychology of hate,” American Academy of Religion Pacific Northwest Region, Marylhurst University, Portland, OR., March 27-29.
2014 – “Feminist Analysis and Rehabilitation of Ashvaghosha’s Life of the Buddha,” American Academy of Religion Pacific Northwest Region, University of Calgary, May 9-11, 2014.
2001 – “Interreligious Momentum in David Tracy’s Postmodern Christian Theology,” American Academy of Religion (New England Region), Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA., 27 April 2001.