Philip Clayton is a philosopher and theologian specializing in the entire range of issues that arise at the intersection between science and religion. Over the last several decades he has published and lectured extensively on all branches of this debate, including the history of modern philosophy, philosophy of science, comparative religions, and constructive theology. Clayton received the PhD jointly from the Philosophy and Religious Studies departments at Yale University and is currently Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Claremont Graduate University and Ingraham Professor at Claremont School of Theology. In addition to a variety of named lectureships, he has held visiting professorships at the University of Cambridge, the University of Munich, and Harvard University. Above all, Clayton’s books and articles address the cultural battle currently raging between science and religion. Rejecting the scientism of Dawkins and friends, he argues, does not open the door to fundamentalism. Instead, a variety of complex and interesting positions are being obscured by the warring factions whose fight to the death is attracting such intense attention today. Clayton has drawn on the resources of the sciences, philosophy, theology, and comparative religious thought to develop constructive partnerships between these two great cultural powers. As a public intellectual he seeks to address the burning ethical and political issues at the intersection of science, ethics, religion, and spirituality (e.g., the stem cell debate, euthanasia, the environmental crisis, interreligious warfare). As a philosopher he works to show the compatibility of science with religious belief across the fields where the two may be integrated (emergence theory, evolution and religion, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience and consciousness). Office: Craig 209; Claremont School of Theology 1325 North College Avenue Claremont, California 91711 (909) 447-2570 email: pclayton@cst.edu

Upcoming Talks & Lectures

  • July 3-5, Cambridge, UK: Speaking on a panel addressing scientific and philosophical critiques of current views on the evolution of religion at “Evolution, Religion and Suffering,” a two-day conference by the International Society for Science and Religion, St. Edmunds College. Click here to visit the website.
  • July 5-10, Cambridge, UK: Speaking on the evolution of religion and theology in a Darwinian context at “Darwin Festival 2009,” a five-day festival celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. Click here to visit the website.
  • September 9-11, Chicago, IL: Having a conversation about Jürgen Moltmann at the 2009 Emergent Villiage gathering entitled “A Theological Conversation with Jürgen Moltmann.” Click here to visit the website.
  • September 24-26, Claremont, CA: Co-organizer of a three-day meeting of presidents and academic deans of seminaries and divinity schools across the United States, as part of the Ford Foundation project, “Rekindling Theological Imagination: Transformative Thought for Progressive Action,” including a public event at Claremont School of Theology on Sept. 25th, 7-9pm: “Visions for the Future of Theological Education.” Click here to visit the website.
  • September 28-30, Berlin, Germany: Opening keynote at “God and the Future,” a two-day conference sponsored by the Guardini Foundation and the DFG, which will discuss eschatological, historical, cosmological aspects, the question of God’s foreknowledge, and the openness of the future and freedom at Humboldt-University.
  • October 12, Cambridge, MA: Board of Advisors meeting, John Templeton Foundation, Harvard University.
  • October 20, Laurinburg, NC: Giving John Calvin McNair Annual Lecture on Science and Theology, St. Andrews Presbyterian College.
  • October 21, Hamilton, Ontario: Speaking on Science and Religion, McMaster University.
  • October 22, Toronto, Ontario: Giving a lecture at University of Toronto.
  • November 7-9, Montreal, Quebec: Speaking on the problem of evil, “The Argument from Neglect,” American Academy of Religion annual conference. Click here to visit the website.
  • November 10-11, Burnstown, Ontario: Giving a lecture at the Madawaska Institute. Click here to visit the website.
  • November 20-22, San Diego, CA: Opening keynote at the Darwin Festival, California State University San Diego. Click here to visit the website.
  • December 3-9, Melbourne, Australia: Organizing and speaking at a one-day session on “Science and Spirituality in Light of the World Environmental Crisis,” Parliament of the World Religions five-year conference. Click here to visit the website.

[ complete list of talks & lectures ]

Books: Forthcoming Titles

  • Beyond the Religion Wars: The Path from Reduction to Reenchantment (forthcoming).
  • The Challenge of Ultimacy (with Steven Knapp), in preparation.
  • This Sacred World: What the New Integration of Science and Religion Has to Say about Ecology, Politics, and Human Spirituality, in preparation.

[ complete list of books ]