Colleen Shantz, BA, MDiv, PhD (St. Michael's)
Associate Professor | New Testament Social World, Social Scientific Approaches, Early Christian Religious Experience
Biographical Summary
Colleen Shantz began her academic journey in the sciences, migrated to the humanities, and diverged into theology for a masters degree before arriving at last in Biblical Studies where she earned her doctorate. That multidisciplinary background continues to inform her teaching and research. She is especially interested in exploring embodied aspects of Christian origins. Professor Shantz joined the Faculty of Theology in 2003. She is Associate Professor in the area of New Testament Studies.
Research Interests
Religious experience in Christian origins, Pauline epistles, Cognitive Science of Religion
Teaching Areas
Pauline letters, social world of formative Christianity, cognitive approaches to the New Testament, Gospels (including: The Politics of Jesus, Passion Narratives and Art )
Professional Activities
Chair, Religious Experience in Early Judaism and Early Christianity Section, Society of Biblical Literature; Steering Committee, Mind Society and Tradition Section, Society of Biblical Literature; Book Review Editor (New Testament), Toronto Journal of Theology
Books
Paul in Ecstasy: The Neurobiology of the Apostles Life and Letters(New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009)
co-edited with Frances Flannery and Rodney A. Werline, Experientia, Volume 1: Inquiry into Religious Experience in Early Judaism and Christianity (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008)