Brian D. Birch

Director, Religious Studies Program

Associate Professor of Philosophy

Education

Ph.D., Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Claremont Graduate University (1998)

M.S., Philosophy, University of Utah (1992)

B.S., Philosophy, University of Utah (1990)

Areas of Specialization

Philosophy of Religion

Ethics

Comparative Christian Thought

Wittgenstein

Research Interests

Theological and ethical dimensions of religious diversity.

Mormon studies with particular attention to theological and methodological questions.

Philosophical hermeneutics and the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Courses Taught

1. Philosophy of Religion 

2. Approaches to Religious Studies

3. Ethics and Values 

4. Mormon Theology and the Christian Tradition

Recent Publications

Books

1. Mormonism and Christian Thought, under contact with Oxford University Press (forthcoming 2009)

2. Radical Pluralism: Essays in Honor of D.Z. Phillips, ed. with Patrick N. Horn (forthcoming)

3. What is Postmodernism? ed. with David R. Keller (Center for the Study of Ethics, 2003)

Journals

1. editor, Element: The Journal of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology (2005-present)

2. editor, Teaching Ethics: The Journal of the Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum (2000-2005)

Other

1. "Theological Method and the Question of Truth: A Postliberal Approach to Mormon Doctrine and Practice," in Discourses in Mormon Theology: Theoretical Possibilities, ed. James M. McLachlan and Loyd Ericson (Greg Kofford Books, 2007)

2. "Religion and Friendly Fire: Examining Assumption in Contemporary Philosophy of Religion," book review with Patrick N. Horn, Philosophical Investigations 31 (July, 2007)

3. "The CIA Leak Investigation: A Case Study," Teaching Ethics, 6:1 (Fall, 2005)

4. "Mormonism and War" Encyclopedia of Religion and War (Routledge, 2003)

Select Recent Presentations

1. “On Being Christian: Doing Justice to the Tradition” 2008 Annual Meeting European Mormon Studies Association, Turku, Finland., August, 2008.

2. “Rethinking Atheology” 2008 Annual Meeting of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology, University of Utah, April, 2008

3."Mormon Atheology and Its Implications for Teaching Mormon Studies," Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Mormon Studies Consultation, San Diego, CA, November, 2007.

4. "Mormonism and War," Interfaith Conference on War and Peace, Salt Lake City, Utah, October, 2007

5. "The Ethics of Inclusion in a Homogenous Culture," Presidential Colloquium, Clemson University, April, 2007

6. "A Confessional Approach to Religious Diversity: Implications for Latter-day Saint Self-Understanding," Annual Meeting of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology, Brigham Young University, March, 2007

7. "D.Z. Phillips and His Critics: Remarks on Religion and Friendly Fire," Annual Meeting of the Society for Philosophy of Religion, Hilton Head, SC, February, 2007.

8. "An Analysis of Latter-day Saint Conceptions of Damnation," Hell and Its Afterlife: An International and Interdisciplinary Conference, University of Utah, October, 2006

Pending Projects

1. Mormonism and Christian Thought (manuscript in progress)

2. "The Social Dimensions of Religious Experience: A Latter-day Saint Application" forthcoming (Greg Kofford Books)

3. "Mormonism and the Search for an Adequate Theodicy: A Reply to David Paulsen" forthcoming in Process Studies.

Current Professional Affiliations

1. American Academy of Religion (Steering Committee, Mormon Studies Consultation)

2. Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Board of Directors)

3. Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology (Executive Committee, editor, Element)

4. Society for Philosophy of Religion

5. Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum (Executive Committee)

Current Civic Engagement

1. Executive Committee, 3Rs Project (Rights, Respect, Responsibility), Utah State Office of Education

2. Board of Trustees, Salt Lake Center for Engaging Community