David Carlson

Dr. David Carlson, Professor, Philosophy and Religion Department and Charles B. and Kathleen O. Van Nuys Deans Fellow in Religious Studies David Carlson came to Franklin College in 1978 as a member of the Philosophy and Religion department and the College Chaplain. He became a full-time member of the Philosophy and Religion Department in 1981. David was educated at Wheaton College (B.A. Political Science, 1969), American Baptist Seminary of the West (M.A. Biblical Theology, 1972), and King’s College, University of Aberdeen, Scotland (Ph.D. New Testament Theology, 1977). He has conducted post-doctoral studies work in New Testament Studies at Duke University (NEH Fellowship Recipient, 1982) and in Jewish Studies at Indiana University (1985). David has twice received the Dietz Faculty Service Award at Franklin College as well as the Faculty Excellence Award. David Carlson’s scholarly interests include Jewish and early Christian apocalypticism, faith development of college students and adults, Orthodox-Catholic relations, monasticism, theology and literature, and trends in first-year college learning. He teaches the Introduction to Religion course as well as courses in Biblical Studies, Religion and Violence, Church History, Western Religions, Religion and Values, and Theology and Literature. David’s publications include scholarly articles on Jewish apocalypticism and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He has more recently published articles on the “dialogue of love” between Orthodoxy and Catholicism leaders. David also frequently contributes columns on the intersection of religion, culture, and politics for the Johnson County Daily Journal and the Indianapolis Star. David Carlson’s Peace Be with You: Monastic Wisdom for a Terror-Filled World will be available nationwide August, 2011, through Thomas Nelson publishers. Peace Be with You records over thirty interviews conducted by David Carlson with monks and nuns in Catholic and Orthodox monasteries on the topics of terrorism, religious hatred, and intolerance. Peace Be with You also follows the changes in David’s own theology brought about by these interviews. David is married to Kathleen and is the father of Leif and Marten Carlson. He resides in Franklin, IN. David can be contacted at dcarlson@franklincollege.edu.