Eric Stoddart

Lecturer in Practical Theology and Distance Learning Officer

Please note that Eric Stoddart is on research leave until 8 February 2010.

Eric Stoddart is particularly interested in issues of cyber-democracy and electronic surveillance, interpreted from a practical theological perspective. This brings him into areas of the ethics of digital technologies.

Within the broad field of citizenship studies Dr Stoddart explores the development of laws against blasphemy and restrictions upon religious hate-speech.

Within the domain of pastoral care he has interests in its eschatological perspectives, specifically in the practice of the doctrine of hell within conservative communities of faith.

He is currently writing Theological Perspectives on a Surveillance Society: Watching and Being Watched to be published in 2010 by Ashgate Publishing.

Education and career

• B.D. University of Aberdeen
• Ph.D. University of Aberdeen

Career

• Lecturer in Practial Theology, University of St Andrews, 2005-
• Lecturer in Practical Theology, University of Aberdeen, 2003-2004
• Programmes Director, Scottish Churches Open College, 2000-2003
• Research Student, University of Aberdeen, 1996-2000
• Associate Minister in a Scottish Baptist Church, 1985-1996

Other professional activities

• Co-chair of The British & Irish Association of Practical Theology (BIAPT) (2006-2009).
• An Associate Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion & Politics (CSRP), University of St Andrews.
• A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
• External Examiner, on behalf of Bangor University, of BTh Bible and Theology, MTh in Practical Theology, MA in Mission and MA in Missional Leadership at Mattersey Hall Bible College (2008-2011).
• External Examiner, on behalf of the University of Manchester, of BA (Hons) Contextual Theology programme at the Partnership for Theological Education, Manchester (2002 - 2007).
• External Examiner, on behalf of the University of Paisley, of BD in Theology and Pastoral Studies programme at the Scottish Baptist College (2006 - ).
• Accreditation Consultant to The Scottish Baptist College, the University of Paisley (Spring 2005).
• Accreditation Consultant to The Open College Counselling Training Trust, Edinburgh (Spring 2005).

Publications

• 'Liberation, Not Independence: a Practical Theological Paradigm for People in Scotland', Theology in Scotland (2009), XVI.1: 15-28.
  
• with Mark Johnson, 'Retail Faith: Relationships of Theology, Economics, Need and Desire in the UK Christian Bookstore', Practical Theology (2008) 1.3: 323-340. Online here.
  
• 'Bespoke Theology for the Bereaved?', Bible in TransMission (2008), Winter. Online here. 
• 'Who Watches the Watchers? Towards an Ethic of Surveillance in a Digital Age', Studies in Christian Ethics (2008), 21: 362-381.
  
• 'Yes, No or Cancel? Clicking Our Way to a Public Theology of Cyberdemocracy', International Journal of Public Theology (2008), 2.3: 328-353.
• 'Under Surveillance: Theological Resources to Subvert Categorical Suspicion', Theology (2008), CXI.864: 412-419.
• 'Restrictions on the Gospel: Some Illegitimate Concerns of Evangelicals', Modern Believing (2008), 49.1: 4-15.
• 'Jerry Springer; The Opera: Its Unintended Message? Contact: Practical Theology and Pastoral Care (2007) 154: 32-41. Springer article (PDF, 5,538 KB)
• 'Spirituality and Citizenship: Sacramentality in a Parable', Theological Studies 68 (2007): 761- 779.
• 'Spirituality in Scotland', Implicit Religion (2006) 9.3: 283-304
• 'The Cost of Floral Tributes', Contact: Practical Theology and Pastoral Care (2006) 149: 28-37.
• `Rehabilitating Hell for Social Criticism', Theology (2006) CIX No. 851: 353-362.
• `Church of Scotland ministers as representative of the theological outlook of Scotland's clergy', The Journal of Contemporary Religion (2006) 21.1: 69-81.
• `Aversion to Raising Hell' with Gwilym Pryce, The Journal of Empirical Theology (2005) 18.2: 129-153.
• 'Excommunication in Contemporary Scotland', Modern Believing (2005) 46.4 : 11-19.
• `What is Our Liturgy Doing to Us? The After-effects of Worship' Studia Liturgica (2005), 35.1:100-110.
• `A Christian Contribution to a Healthy Lifestyle Debate' Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy (2004), 7.2: 3-9.
• `Hell in Scotland: A Survey of Where the Nation's Clergy Think Some Might Be Heading', Contact: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Pastoral Studies (2004), 143: 14-27.
• `Living Theology: A Methodology for Issues-led Theological Reflection in Higher Education' British Journal of Theological Education (2004), 14.2: 187-207.