Religion
David Woodyard's personal and professional interests focus on the
intersection of religion and society. As a theologian he is interested
in developing--and helping students to develop--a public theology. He
aspires to explore the Christian tradition as it addresses the personal
sphere but also as it makes claims upon the social realm. Authentic
faith leads to civic responsibility as well as spiritual fulfillment.
In the classroom Woodyard is interested in enabling students both to
come to a clearer understanding of their identity and to challenge the
ways in which they have understood the world. As an academic advisor,
he is committed to creating an environment for students in which they
can explore why they are in a liberal arts institution and how they may
relate that to a vocation and a meaningful life. Woodyard's scholarly
interests in recent decades have been in collaborative work with a
colleague in economics. Their most recent book relates religion and
economics to ecological issues.
