Philosophy, Religion and Ethics

Teaching is one of the things I love about my job, and my modules include Philosophy of Religion, Continental Philosophy, and Love, Sex, Death, and God. I agree with the philosopher and fiction writer Iris Murdoch that the problems of philosophy are the problems of life, and all of these modules involve an exploration of some fascinating issues and questions. What does it mean to fall in love? Does life have a meaning? What is spirituality? Is there any hope for us? I've been writing about these things for many years, and students always bring new and interesting perspectives to the relevant topics!

My name is Simonetta, I am Reader in Islamic Studies, and I have been teaching at Roehampton for 20 years. Teaching, guiding and learning from students through the topics they choose are my favourite aspects of this profession. Research is my other passion which enriches my teaching. I've written books on women and Islam during the Fatimid dynasty and, more recently, on Muslim women leading prayer. Together, we will go beyond the daily news headlines on Islam and Muslims and discover the depth, variety and richness of Islam as a religion, a system of thought, in its legal elaborations, ethical values and lived spiritual experiences. We will meet Malcolm X, Ibn al-Arabi, past and present mystics, women imams, human rights activists, as well as Muslim philosophers who succeeded in reconciling Greek philosophy with Islamic revelation.

Hi, my name is Mark and I am Reader in Philosophy. On this programme, you’ll normally find me teaching in the areas of metaphysics and the history of philosophy. I’m always trying to see how the history of philosophy can help us to think differently about who we are and what we can do in the present. I’m particularly interested in the philosophical roots of our current environmental and health crises, and in the long-range effects of the seventeenth-century European concern to become ‘masters and possessors’ of nature. Students explore these issues on, for example, the Early Modern Thought first-year unit that I lead. Enabling students to embark on these intellectual voyages is the aim, for me, of teaching, and it’s always a great pleasure to see students engage with the issues in their own terms, and with their own, fresh perspectives.

Hi, my name is Neil and I am Senior Lecturer in Philosophy. On this programme, you’ll mostly find me teaching in the areas of ethics, environmental philosophy, and the history of philosophy. I also teach a few modules exploring how philosophy relates to and interacts with literature, film, and videogames. For me, this is one of the most interesting features of this degree programme: I enjoy chatting with students about how philosophy applies to their lives and to the wider world around us. In my own research, I focus on what philosophy has to say about the environmental crisis and modern issues around social class, and if you’re interested you can help me think through some of these topics in the third-year module ‘Gender, Race and Class’.

My name is Neil. I am Reader in Theological Studies and have been teaching at Roehampton for nearly 20 years. My interest is in Christianity and its emergence out of Judaism. My research expertise is really the first-century origins of the Christian-Jewish-Monotheistic claim that Jesus is God and not merely a god. This requires not merely historiographical acumen but also theological, hermeneutical, and philosophical discrimination. So I am a theological scholar of a different kind, one who thinks the answer is ultimately to be found in a more sophisticated take on history than New Testament scholars are wont to assume. I have a first-class honours degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree and PhD in Systematic Theology. I am the programme convenor of this degree and contribute to those PRE modules that require specialist theological and philosophical expertise. I have also taught Ludwig Wittgenstein for the Philosophy degree. I look forward to meeting, teaching and learning from, you in your journey through higher education.

My name is Karen and I am Lecturer in Asian Religions and Ethics. On this degree, you will meet me in Study of Religion in year one and you’ll also find me teaching on Asian religions and philosophies across the degree. I specialise in Hinduism and Buddhism, but also teach on Sikhism, Jainism, Daoism and Confucianism. You can take modules with me on Asian Religions, Cultures and Ethics and Contemporary Issues in Global Religions. In my own research, I focus on Sanskrit texts from historical India, written in the language of Sanskrit – especially Hindu and Buddhist manuals that describe mind-body philosophy and practices. Together we will discuss how contemporary practices like mindfulness, meditation and yoga connect to the historical picture in Asia – and address complex issues around identity, health and culture. I also have interests in decolonial thought, especially in relation to study of religion and philosophy, and in the exchanges between European and Indian philosophers during the colonial era.

I’m Angie, I’m a Lecturer in Philosophy and I convene the module in Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics. I also teach undergraduate courses in ethics and political philosophy. I joined Roehampton in 2020 and I have really enjoyed working closely with my students on the moral, social, and political issues that matter to them. The best things about Philosophy at Roehampton are the friendly teaching team who have varied and exciting research interests, and the time and support that we are able to give each student to help them realise their full potential.

My name is Martin and I’m a Senior Lecturer in Theology. In my teaching, I explore key ideas in Christian theology and ways in which theological ideas and practice can interact with the contemporary world. We look together at ways in which theology and philosophy have influenced the world we live in and how they could help to shape its future. My research is focussed on the contribution that Christianity can make in response to the climate crisis, which we consider in the second-year module Transforming Cultures. I’m also interested in debates between faith, science and atheism, which we deal with in the third year module Faith and Modernity. These topics always generate lively debate, as we think about the kind of world we want to live in and how we can make it a better place.

My name is Martin and I’m a Senior Lecturer in Theology. In my teaching, I explore key ideas in Christian theology and ways in which theological ideas and practice can interact with the contemporary world. We look together at ways in which theology and philosophy have influenced the world we live in and how they could help to shape its future. My research is focussed on the contribution that Christianity can make in response to the climate crisis, which we consider in the second-year module Transforming Cultures. I’m also interested in debates between faith, science and atheism, which we deal with in the third year module Faith and Modernity. These topics always generate lively debate, as we think about the kind of world we want to live in and how we can make it a better place.

Hello, I'm John Moxon, Principal Lecturer in Biblical studies and was part of the team that designed the original Philosophy, Religion and Ethics course at Roehampton. I currently act as subject lead for the Religion, Theology, Culture and Philosophy subject area. I teach a range of modules on biblical and para-biblical texts as well as on Judaism and early Christianity in the Greco-Roman world, with a special interest in prophecy, dreams and healing. I would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in project work in this area!

Hello, I'm John Moxon, Principal Lecturer in Biblical studies and was part of the team that designed the original Philosophy, Religion and Ethics course at Roehampton. I currently act as subject lead for the Religion, Theology, Culture and Philosophy subject area. I teach a range of modules on biblical and para-biblical texts as well as on Judaism and early Christianity in the Greco-Roman world, with a special interest in prophecy, dreams and healing. I would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in project work in this area!