Douglas Davies

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The Reverend Professor
Douglas Davies
FBA FAcSS FLSW
Douglas Davies.jpg
Davies in 2006
Born (1947-02-11) 11 February 1947 (age 77)
Nationality Welsh
Citizenship United Kingdom
Academic work
Discipline Anthropology, Religious studies, Theology
Sub-discipline
Institutions

Douglas James Davies, FBA , FAcSS , FLSW (born 11 February 1947) is a Welsh Anglican theologian, anthropologist, religious leader and academic, specialising in the history, theology, and sociology of death. He is Professor in the Study of Religion at the University of Durham. His fields of expertise also include anthropology, the study of religion, the rituals and beliefs surrounding funerary rites and cremation around the globe, Mormonism and Mormon studies. His research interests cover identity and belief, and Anglican leadership.

Contents

Early life and education

Davies was born on 11 February 1947 in Llwynypia, the Rhondda Valley, but was brought up in Bedlinog, Wales. [1] He was educated at Lewis School, Pengam, an old Grammar school in South Wales. [1] He studied anthropology at St John's College, Durham, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1969. [1] [2] He studied for a Master of Letters (MLitt) research degree in Mormonism at St Peter's College, Oxford and the Oxford Institute of Social Anthropology under the supervision of Bryan R. Wilson; he completed the degree in 1972. [2] [3] In 1971, he joined Cranmer Hall, an Anglican theological college attached to St John's College, Durham, to train for ordained ministry. [2] During this time he also studied theology, graduating from Durham with a further BA degree in 1973. [1]

Davies continued his studies post-ordination. He undertook research in meaning and salvation at the University of Nottingham, [3] completing his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1980. [2] His doctoral thesis was titled "The notion of meaning and salvation in religious studies". [4] In 2004, he was awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree by the University of Oxford; this is a higher doctorate awarded for research. [1]

Career

Academic career

In 1974, Davies joined the University of Nottingham as a lecturer in theology. [1] He was promoted to senior lecturer in 1990, [2] and appointed Professor of Religious Studies in 1993. [1] [3] In 1997, he moved to Durham University, where he had been appointed Principal of the College of St Hild and St Bede and Professor of Theology. [1] [2] In 2000, he stepped down as Principal and was appointed Professor in the Study of Religion. [1] He was Head of the Department of Theology from 2002 to 2005, and has served as Director of the Centre for Death and Life Studies since 2007. [1]

His current projects include writings on 'The Encyclopedia of Cremation', 'The Clergy and British Society: 1940–2000', 'A Brief History of Death', 'Inner-speech and prayer' and 'Ritual purity'.

He has also published a large number of articles on death, and contemporary Christianity.

Davies has been involved with various editorial boards and conferences, including the 'Editorial Board of Mortality' and the 'British Sociological; Association Religion Group' (Chairman: 2000–2003). He was also guest speaker at both the Scandinavian Sociological Society Conference in 2004 and the International Cremation Federation Conference in Barcelona, 2003.

Within the University of Durham he teaches the undergraduate modules: 'Study of Religion', 'Death, Ritual and Belief', 'Sects, Prophets and Gurus' and 'Theology and Anthropology'. He also teaches 'Ritual, Symbolism and Belief' to those studying a taught master's degree in theology.

He is a member of the Senior Common Room of St Chad's College Durham.

Ordained ministry

Davies was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1975 and as a priest in 1976. [1] [2] From 1975 to 1997, he served a number of honorary curacies in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham: St Mary's Church, Attenborough (1975 to 1983); St Mary's Church, East Leake (1983 to 1985); and St Paul's Church, Daybrook (1991 to 1997). [2] Since 2013, he has held permission to officiate in the Diocese of Durham. [2]

Honours

In 2009, Davies was elected an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences (ACSS): the academicians were renamed as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) in 2014. [1] In 2012, he was elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (FLSW), the national academy of Wales. [5] In July 2017, Davies was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and social sciences. [6]

In 1998, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Theology (DTheol) degree by the Faculty of Theology at Uppsala University, Sweden. [1] [7]

His book, Reusing Old Graves: A Report on Popular British Attitudes , co-written with Alastair Shaw, won the 1995 Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year. [8]

Selected works

His list of books include:

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Davies, Rev. Prof. Douglas James, (born 11 Feb. 1947), Professor in the Study of Religion, since 2000, and director, Centre for Death and Life Studies, since 2007, University of Durham (Head, Department of Theology, 2002–05)". Davies, Rev. Prof. Douglas James. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2017. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U12999.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Douglas James Davies" . Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing . Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Professor DJ Davies". Department of Theology and Religion. Durham University. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Davies, Douglas James (1979). The notion of meaning and salvation in religious studies. E-Thesis Online Service (Ph.D). The British Library Board. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Douglas Davies". The Learned Society of Wales. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "Elections to the British Academy celebrate the diversity of UK research". British Academy. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Honorary Doctors of the Faculty of Theology". Uppsala University. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Burkardt, John (1 June 2007). "The Oddest Book Titles". John Burkardt. Archived from the original on 10 March 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  9. ↑ Davies, Douglas James (2015). Mors Britannica: lifestyle and death-style in Britain today (First ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-964497-1. OCLC   903804261.
  10. ↑ Davies, Douglas James, ed. (2013). Emotions and religious dynamics. Farnham, Surrey ; Burlington, VT, USA: Ashgate. ISBN   978-1-4724-1502-8.
  11. ↑ Davies, Douglas J.; Rumble, Hannah (2012). Natural burial: traditional-secular spiritualities and funeral innovation. London: Continuum. ISBN   978-1-4411-5278-7.
  12. ↑ Davies, Douglas James; Park, Chang-Won (2012). Emotion, identity, and death: mortality across disciplines. Farnham, Surrey Burlington, VT: Ashgate. ISBN   978-1-4094-2414-7.
  13. ↑ Davies, Douglas J. (2011). Emotion, identity, and religion: hope, reciprocity, and otherness (1. publ ed.). Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN   978-0-19-955152-1.
  14. ↑ Davies, Douglas J. (2010). Joseph Smith, Jesus, and Satanic opposition: atonement, evil and the Mormonvision. Farnham: Ashgate. ISBN   978-1-4094-0670-9.
  15. ↑ Davies, Douglas James (2008). The theology of death. London ; New York: T & T Clark. ISBN   978-0-567-03048-1. OCLC   124961757.
  16. ↑ Davies, Douglas James; Guest, Mathew (2007). Bishops, wives and children: spiritual capital across the generations. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN   978-0-7546-5485-8.
  17. ↑ Davies, Douglas J. (2005). A brief history of death. Blackwell brief histories of religion. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publ. ISBN   978-1-4051-0183-7.
  18. ↑ Davies, Douglas J.; Mates, Lewis H., eds. (2005). Encyclopedia of cremation. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN   978-0-7546-3773-8.
  19. ↑ Davies, Douglas J. (2003). An introduction to Mormonism (1. publ ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-81738-7.
  20. ↑ Davies, Douglas J. (2002). Anthropology and theology (1. publ ed.). Oxford: Berg. ISBN   978-1-85973-537-4.
  21. ↑ Davies, Douglas J. (2017). Death, ritual and belief: the rhetoric of funerary rites (Third ed.). London Oxford New York New Delhi Sydney: Bloomsbury. ISBN   978-1-4742-5095-5.
  22. ↑ Davies, Douglas James (2000). The Mormon culture of salvation: force, grace, and glory. Aldershot, Hants, England; Burlington, Vt: Ashgate. ISBN   978-0-7546-1328-2.
  23. ↑ Davies, Douglas (2000). Private Passions: Discipleship and Betrayal on the Journey to Jerusalem. Canterbury Press Norwich (published 1 November 2000). ISBN   978-1853113802.
  24. ↑ Davies, Douglas J.; Drury, Clare (1997). Themes and issues in Christianity. World religions Themes and issues (1. publ ed.). London, England Washington [D.C.]: Cassell. ISBN   978-0-304-33849-8.
  25. ↑ Davies, Douglas James, ed. (1996). Mormon identities in transition. Cassell religious studies. London; New York: Cassell. ISBN   978-0-304-33686-9.
  26. ↑ Davies, Douglas James, ed. (1991). Church and religion in rural England. Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark. ISBN   978-0-567-29201-8.
  27. ↑ Hodges, Susan; Bryant, M. Darrol, eds. (1978). Exploring unification theology. Symposium series. New York: E. Mellen Press. ISBN   9780889469259.
  28. ↑ Davies, J. D. (1990). Cremation today and tomorrow. Alcuin GROW liturgical study (1. impr ed.). Bramcote: Grove. ISBN   978-1-85174-165-6.
  29. ↑ Davies, Douglas (1987). Mormon Spirituality: Latter Day Saints in Wales and Zion. Utah State University Press (published 1 August 1987). ISBN   978-0951225103.
  30. ↑ Davies, Douglas James (1984). Meaning and salvation in religious studies. Studies in the history of religions. Leiden: E.J. Brill. ISBN   978-90-04-07053-0.
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