James M. Dawsey served as the Wolfe Chair and Professor of Religious Studies at Emory & Henry College, Virginia, and as the Alumni Professor of Religion at Auburn University.  He is the author of several works of theology, history, and fiction including Peter’s Last Sermon; Masters and Savages, The Confederados; From Wasteland to Promised Land; The Lukan Voice; and more than eighty other books, monographs, and articles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.  His latest book, Handbook for the Christian Faith: Essential Beliefs and Practices for Twenty-First Century American Methodists and Like-Minded Protestants. A Book About Extraordinary People, was released by Cascade Books, an imprint of Wipf and Stock in September 2023.  Dawsey is a retired ordained minister in the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

What does Dawsey say about religiousjourney.com?  “The site arose as a way of extending conversation with students who contact me with questions arising in their religion courses.  Most of the questions relate to the subject matter.  In such cases, I discovered that answers and discussions oftentimes hold interest for others too, even when not enrolled in that particular course.

“Sometimes, the students’ questions are more spiritual in nature, applying to the religious journey upon which they have embarked.  I too am on such a journey, so such questions hold special interest.  What is the path to that abiding peace (even in the midst of storms) characteristic of holy women and men?  How am I to be useful to God?  Does my life fill a purpose?  What is my responsibility to the rest of God’s creation?  How specifically am I to love God and my neighbor?

“This site is also a way of sharing resources with ministers, priests, and other religious professionals.  My Professorship at Emory & Henry College was generously endowed for this purpose by the John M. and Rebecca Mullin Wolfe family of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.

“And finally, religiousjourney.com facilitates and extends dialogue over distance.  It is not unusual to be contacted concerning a book or article I’ve authored, or a thought expressed at a workshop or forum.  These questions and responses often engender new ideas.  A book or a post is not the final word, but often only the beginning of a conversation from which unexpected insight emerges.”

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