Arts

03 Jul 09

Professor Guy Stroumsa will start as Oxford's first Abrahamic Religions Chair on 1 October

A scholar of international standing has been appointed to a new Chair at Oxford University, enabling the University consolidate its leading role in teaching and research on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – religions which are at the forefront of so many contemporary world issues.

Guy Stroumsa, Martin Buber Professor of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, has been appointed to the Professorship of the Study of the Abrahamic Religions from 1 October 2009. He will be a Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall.

Professor Stroumsa, who has a BA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MA and PhD from Harvard, said: 'The comparative, scholarly study of religions, and in particular of the monotheistic religions, is an urgent need as contemporary problems, at the planetary level, demand intellectual attention on the religious and historical roots of our current predicaments.'

Oxford’s Theology Faculty is one of the oldest in the University, with one of the first courses of lectures being given in Theology more than 800 years ago. But as well as its impressive past and present achievements, particularly in Christian Theology, the Faculty is investing in its future. It has been strengthening its teaching and research opportunities relating to other religions and this appointment, which was created thanks to a generous benefaction of £2.5 million, will build on that. 

Dr Paul Joyce, Chairman of the Theology Faculty Board, said:'We are absolutely delighted with the appointment of Guy Stroumsa as the first incumbent of the Chair.  He is a scholar of the highest international distinction who also brings the personal gifts needed to meet the challenges of this exciting and demanding post

'Jews, Christians, and Muslims all refer to Abraham as a friend of God, and I hope that the establishment of this important post will contribute to deepening friendship among these three great religions.'

The term ‘Abrahamic Religions’ is increasingly used to refer to the three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam – all of which refer to the teachings of Abraham and his descendants. As an academic subject, Abrahamic Religions focuses especially on relations between the three religions.

Professor Stroumsa, a Jewish scholar of French origin, is a prolific author with a wide range of expertise in the Abrahamic traditions and he has made important contributions to the study of religion in general. Within Oxford itself he will establish wide contacts with a range of Faculties, not only Theology but also Oriental Studies, Classics and History, as well as with the various centres for Islamic, Jewish and Christian studies.