Keith Ward
Keith Ward FBA (born 22 August 1938) is a British philosopher, theologian, and ordained priest of the Church of England.[1][2] He has authored numerous books addressing the philosophy of religion, interfaith relations, and the compatibility of Christian theology with scientific inquiry. Ward earned degrees including a BA from the University of Wales, MAs from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, a BLitt from Oxford, and DDs from both Cambridge and Oxford.[2][1] His academic career spans lectureships in logic at the University of Glasgow and philosophy at the University of St Andrews, followed by roles such as Dean of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and F. D. Maurice Professor of Moral and Social Theology at the University of London.[2] He served as Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford from 1991 to 2004 and as Gresham Professor of Divinity from 2004 to 2008, while also holding the position of Canon at Christ Church, Oxford, until 2003.[1][2] Elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2001, Ward has delivered prestigious lectures, including the Gifford Lectures, and received honorary doctorates from institutions such as the Free University of Amsterdam and the University of Glasgow.[1] His key publications, such as Christ and the Cosmos, The Christian Idea of God, and The Evidence for God, explore themes of divine revelation, religious pluralism, and the rational foundations of faith. Ward's work emphasizes a comparative approach to world religions, defending Christianity's intellectual coherence amid diverse beliefs and empirical challenges from science.Early Life and Education
Childhood and Upbringing
Keith Ward was born on 22 August 1938 in Hexham, Northumberland, England, the son of John Ward, a company director, and Evelyn Ward (née Simpson).[3] Ward spent his childhood in Northumberland, a rural region in northeast England known for its historical and natural landscape, which provided the setting for his early years.[4] In his autobiographical account, he describes this period as the starting point of his intellectual curiosity, though specific family religious practices or formative events from youth remain sparsely detailed in public records.[4]Formal Education and Influences
Ward earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of Wales (at Cardiff University) in 1962.[3] [5] He then pursued graduate studies in theology at the University of Oxford, obtaining an MA, a B.Litt. from Linacre College in 1967, and later a Doctor of Divinity (DD).[3] [2] Ward also holds an MA from the University of Cambridge and a DD from Cambridge.[1] His formal training in analytic philosophy and Christian theology provided a foundation for his later idealist critiques of materialism, with key influences including Plato and Aristotle, whose conceptions of divine perfection he has analyzed in relation to Christian doctrine.[6] Ward's engagement with Immanuel Kant shaped his emphasis on the limits of empirical knowledge and the role of reason in theology, while Alfred North Whitehead's process thought informed his views on God as dynamic and relational rather than static.[4] These influences, drawn from both classical philosophy and modern revisions, underscore Ward's synthesis of personal idealism with comparative religion.[7]Academic and Ecclesiastical Career
Key Academic Positions
Keith Ward commenced his academic career with a lectureship in logic at the University of Glasgow, serving from 1964 to 1969.[1] He then moved to the University of St Andrews as a lecturer in philosophy from 1969 to 1971, followed by a lectureship in philosophy of religion at King's College London from 1971 to 1976.[1] During this period, he also held concurrent roles, including as a fellow, dean, and director of studies in philosophy and theology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, alongside a university lectureship in divinity, from 1976 to 1983.[1] Ward advanced to professorial ranks with the F. D. Maurice Professorship of Moral and Social Theology at the University of London from 1983 to 1986, succeeded by his role as professor and head of the Department of the History and Philosophy of Religion at the same institution until 1991.[1] In 1991, he was appointed Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford, a position he held until 2003, during which he also served as canon of Christ Church.[1] [2] Post-Oxford, Ward continued as Gresham Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, London, from 2004 to 2008.[1] [2] He later took up a professorial research fellowship at Heythrop College, University of London, from 2009 to 2019, and concluded his formal academic appointments as professor of philosophy of religion at Roehampton University from 2019 to 2021.[1]| Position | Institution | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lecturer in Logic | University of Glasgow | 1964–1969 |
| F. D. Maurice Professor of Moral and Social Theology | University of London | 1983–1986 |
| Professor and Head of Department of the History and Philosophy of Religion | University of London | 1986–1991 |
| Regius Professor of Divinity | University of Oxford | 1991–2003 |
| Gresham Professor of Divinity | Gresham College, London | 2004–2008 |
| Professor of Philosophy of Religion | Roehampton University | 2019–2021 |