Ronald Cole-Turner

Ron ColeTurner

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

616 North Highland Avenue

Pittsburgh PA 15206-2596

412 924 1426

RESUME

Education

Ph.D. Princeton Theological Seminary, systematic theology, 1983. (Thesis: "God's Experience: The Trinitarian Theology of Jürgen Moltmann in Conversation with Charles Hartshorne.")

M.Div. Princeton Theological Seminary, 1974.

B.A. WheatonCollege, literature, 1971.

Employment

H. Parker Sharp Professor of Theology and Ethics, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 1998 to present; Associate Professor, 1996-98.

Professor of Theology, Memphis Theological Seminary, 1993 to 1996; Associate Professor, 1989-93; Assistant Professor, 1985-89.

Books

Chips in the Brain, Immortality, and the World of Tomorrow: Christian Perspectives on Transhumanism and he Church, co-edited with Steve Donaldson, in press 2018.

The End of Adam and Eve: Theology and the Science of Human Origins (Pittsburgh: TheologyPlus Publishing, 2016).

Transhumanism and Transcendence: Christian Hope in an Age of Technological Enhancement, contributing editor (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2011).

Design and Destiny: Jewish and Christian Perspectives on Human Germline Modification, contributing editor (Cambridge MA: MIT Press, 2008).

God and the Embryo: Religious Perspectives on Stem Cells and Cloning, contributing coeditor with Brent Waters(Washington: Georgetown University Press, September 2003).

Beyond Cloning: Religion and the Remaking of Humanity, contributing editor (Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 2001).

Human Cloning: Religious Responses, contributing editor, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997).

Pastoral Genetics: Theology and Care at the Beginning of Life, co-authored with Brent Waters (Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 1996).

The New Genesis: Theology and the Genetic Revolution. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993).

Papers and Chapters in Books

“Why the Church Should Pay Attention to Transhumanism,” an introduction to Chips in the Brain, Immortality, and the World of Tomorrow: Christian Perspectives on Transhumanism and he Church, co-edited with Steve Donaldson, in press 2018.

“Steps toward a Theology of Christian Transhumanism,” in Religious Transhumanism and Its Critics, edited by Brian Green, Arvin Gouw, and Ted Peters .

“Human Evolution and Human Enhancement: The Eschatological Future of Humanity,” in Game Over? Reconsidering Eschatology (W. de Gruyter, 2018 in press).

“Spirituality in a Time of Crisis: A Protestant Christian Perspective,” in Religion and the Newborn, ed. by Ronald Green and George Little (2017 in press).

“Eschatology and the Technologies of Human Enhancement,” in Interpretation (January 2016).

“Going Beyond the Human: Christians and Other Transhumanists,” Theology and Science13:2 (2015): 150-161

“Spiritual Enhancement,” in Tracy Trothen and Calvin Mercer, eds., Religion and Transhumanism: The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement, Praeger, November 2015.

“Human Origins: Present, Past, and Future,” in Anticipating God’s New Creation: Essays in Honor of Ted Peters, edited by Carol R. Jacobson and Adam Pryor (Minneapolis: Lutheran University Press, 2015).

“Enhancing of the Human Body: Perspectives of World Religions,” a concluding chapter in Calvin Mercer and Derek Maher, eds., The Body in Transhumanism: The World Religions Speak (Palgrave fall 2014).

“The Potential Religious Relevance of Entheogens,” Zygon 49.3 (Sept 2014), pp. 642-651.

“Incarnation Deep and Wide: A Response to Niels Gregersen,” Theology and Science 11.4 (Nov 2013), 424-435.

“Religion, Technology, and the ‘Future’ of Evolution,” Hubert Philipp Weber and Rudolf Langthaler, eds., Evolutionstheorie und Schopfungsglaube: Neue Perspektiven der Debatte (Vienna, Vienna University Press, 2013), 281-300.

“Embryo and Fetus: Religious Perspectives,” Encyclopedia of Bioethics, 3rd edition, Stephen G. Post, editor-in-chief (London: Macmillan Reference, 2003; 4th edition [revised and expanded] forthcoming 2013).

“The Singularity and the Rapture: Transhumanist and Popular Christian Views of the Future,” in Zygon 47.4 (Dec 2012): 777-796.

“Biotechnology and Justice,” in James Haag, Gregory Peterson, and Michael Spezio, eds., Routledge Companion for Religion and Science (Oxford: Routledge, 2012). pp. 439-448.

“What Defines Us?,” a brief contribution to “A Celebration of the Genome, Part I. Science 331 (4 February 2011): 548.

“Technology,” an entry in the Westminster Dictionary of Theology (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

“Extreme Longevity Research: A Protestant Perspective, in Derek F. Maher and Calvin Mercer, eds., Religion and the Implications of Radical Life Extension (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).

“Synthetic Biology: Theological Questions about Biological Engineering,” in David Albertson and Cabell King, eds., Without Nature: A New Condition for Theology? (Bronx: Fordham University Press, 2009).

“Biotechnology and the Religion-Science Discussion,” in The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science, edited by Philip Clayton (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006), pp. 927-944.

“Conclusion: Religion, Science, and the Future of Dialogue,” in Why the Science and Religion Dialogue Matters, edited by Fraser Watts and Kevin Dutton (Philadelphia: Templeton Foundation Press, 2006), pp. 135-144.

“Genetics and the Future of Humanity: Teilhardian Perspectives on Human Modification.” Presented at the International Symposium on Science-Religion Dialogue and Cosmic Future: The Perspectives of Teilhard de Chardin and Shri Aurobindo, January 2-6, 2006, in Lonavla, India. Published in the Omega: Indian Journal of Science and Religion, 2006 and in Kathleen Duffy, editor, Rediscovering Teilhard’s Fire (Philadelphia: Saint Joseph University Press, 2010).

Quelques objections religieuses au clonage reproductive. Une evaluation critique,” in Un Homme nouveau par le clonage?,edited by Denis Müller et Hugues Poltier (Geveva: Labor et Fides, 2005).

Brief entry, “Stammzellenforschung [inkl. klinische Versuche], in Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, 4.Auflage, Band 7 (2005).

“Protestant Objections to Human Cloning: A Critical Assessment,” in Glenn McGee, Arthur Caplan, and Roopal Malhotra, The Human Cloning Debate, 4th edition (Albany, CA: Berkeley Hills Books, 2004).

“Biotechnology,” “Cloning,” and “Genetic Engineering,” entries in the Encyclopedia of Science and Religion, ed. by J. Wentzel Vrede van Huyssteen, Macmillan, 2003.

“Limits: Theological Perspectives,” in Designing Our Descendants: The Promises and Perils of Genetic Modification, eds. Audrey R. Chapman and Mark S. Frankel. American Association for the Advancement of Science. JohnsHopkinsUniversity Press. Baltimore, 2003.

“Biotechnology—A Pastoral Reflection,” Theology Today, April 2002.

“Science, Technology, and the Mission of Theology in a New Century,” in God and Globalization, Volume 2, The Spirit and the Modern Authorities, ed. by Max Stackhouse and Don Browning, Trinity Press International, 2002, pp 139-165.

Guest Editor and contributor to an issue of New Conversations (a journal published by the United Church of Christ) on new medical technologies. September 2002.

“Theological Interpretations of Biotechnology: Issues and Questions,” in Claiming Power over Life: Religion and Biotechnology Policy, Mark J. Hanson, editor (Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2001), pp. 144-168.

“Gentechnik,” in Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, veirte Auflage, Mohr Siebeck, Band 3: F-H, 679-684, 2000.

“Are Designer Children an Ethical Choice?” in Sally B. Geis and Donald E. Messer, editors, The Befuddled Stork: Helping Persons of Faith Debate Beginning-of-Life Issues (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000), pp. 69-78.

“Patents and Licensing, Ethics—Organizations with Prominent Positions on Gene Patenting,” Encyclopedia of Ethical, Legal, and Policy Issues in Bioetechnology (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000), pp. 834-844.

“Science, Technology, and Mission,” in Max L. Stackhouse, Tim Dearborn, and Scott Paeth, editors, The Local Church in a Global Era: Reflections for a New Century (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2000), pp. 100-112.

“Cloning Humans from the Perspective of the Christian Churches,” Science and Engineering Ethics 5 (1999): 33-46. Reprinted in Michael Ruse and Aryne Sheppard, eds., Cloning: Responsible Science or Technomadness? (Contemporary Issues). Amherst, New York: Prometheus Book, 2000, pp. 253-268.

“Faith Meets the Human Genome Project: Religious Factors in the Public Response to Genetics,” Public Understanding of Science 8 (1999): 207-214.

“Theological Perspectives on the Status of DNA: A Contribution to the Debate over Genetic Patenting,” in Audrey R. Chapman, editor, Perspectives on Genetic Patenting: Religion, Science, and Industry in Dialogue (Washington: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1999), pp. 149-165.

"Do Means Matter?" in E. Parens (ed.), Enhancing Human Traits: Ethics and Social Implications (Georgetown University Press, 1999), pp. 151-161. Also printed in the Report from the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy 18.4, Fall 1998.

“Sorrow and Love Flow Mingled Down,” in Margaret E. Mohrmann and Mark J. Hanson, Pain Seeking Understanding: Suffering, Medicine, and Faith (Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 1999).

“Human Nature as Seen by Science and Faith,”In Whose Image, edited by John Burgess (1998), commissioned by the Presbyterian Church (USA).

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“Genes, Religion and Society: The Developing Views of the Churches,” presented at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Genetics, Bioethics and Public Policy Advisory Board, October 1996. Published in Science and Engineering Ethics 3 (1997): 273-288.

1996 Idreos Lectures, HarrisManchesterCollege, OxfordUniversity, May 8-9, 1996, on "Theology and Genetics." Published by HarrisManchesterCollege, 1997.

“Religion and Gene Patenting,”Science 270 (6 October 1995): 52.

“Applied Genetics Raises Moral Concerns,”Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 9.4 (Winter, 1994), p. 135.

“Genetic Counseling and Pastoral Counseling,”Dialog 33.1 (1994), 49-53.

“The Genetics of Moral Agency,” in The Genetic Frontier: Ethics, Law, and Policy, edited by Mark S. Frankel and Albert H. Teich (Washington, DC., AAAS, 1994), pp. 161-174. Presented at a conference convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Bar Association, held at Los Alamos National Laboratories, June, 1992.

“Religion and the Human Genome.” Journal of Religion and Health 31, 2:161173, (1992).

“Just War and the Gulf War.” Memphis Theological Seminary Journal 29 (1992).

“Genetics and the Church.” Prism 6.1 (Spring 1991), 5361.

“Genetic Engineering: Our Role in Creation,” in The New Faith-Science Debate. Ed. by John M. Mangum. Minneapolis: Fortress Press. 1989. Originally presented at an international consultation convened by the LutheranChurch in America, Larnaca, Cyprus, December, 1987.

“Is Genetic Engineering CoCreation?” Theology Today 44 (October, 1987), pp. 338349.

“AntiHeretical Issues and the Debate over Galatians 2:1114 in the Letters of St. Augustine to St. Jerome.” Augustinian Studies 11, 1982.

Curriculum Materials and Other Publications

Science and Faith, a six-session study guide in the Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding series published by Congregational Ministries Publishing of the Presbyterian Church (USA), November 2012.

“Testimony of Ronald Cole-Turner, M.Div., Ph.D.,” in National Bioethics Advisory Commission, Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research, Vol. III, Religious Perspectives, (Rockville, MD: NBAC, 2000), pp. A3-4. Statement given May 1999, Washington.

An Unavoidable Challenge: Our Church in the Midst of Science and Technology. Cleveland: United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. A position paper circulated throughout the United Church of Christ in January, 1992. Translated into Spanish.

“Human Cloning Research,” a letter to the editor, New England Journal of Medicine 338 (1998):1771.

“Child of Blessing, Child of Promise.” A hymn. Voices United, hymnal of the United Church of Canada, 1996; New Century Hymnal, United Church of Christ, 1995. Alleluia Aotearoa: Hymns and Songs for all Churches, an English/Maori hymnal, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1993. Hymnal: A Worship Book, prepared by Churches in the Believers Church Tradition, 1992. The Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990. The United Methodist Hymnal, 1989. Everflowing Streams (Pilgrim Press, 1981).

Professional Experience

Vice President, International Society for Science and Religion; Member, Executive Committee, 2002 to present.

Co-Chair, American Academy of Religion “Human Enhancement and Transhumanism” Group, 2015 to present.

Advisory Board Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science Program, “Science for Seminaries,” 2014-2015.

Member, Human Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee, University of Pittsburgh.

Member, Reproductive Genetics Advisory Committee, Genetics and Public Policy Center, Washington, 2003 to 2004.

Statement at Capitol Hill briefing for Congressional staff on religious issues raised by human embryonic stem cell research, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC, July 7, 1999.

Served as co-chair of the dialogue group on Human Germ Line Modification: Religious and Ethical Issues, convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, two-year study, final meeting, December 10-11, 1999.

Member, Advisory Board of the Program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1996 to 2002.

Co-Organizer of a symposium on Human Germ Line Modification: Prospects and Problems, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Feb 2000, Washington DC.

Member, Core Research Group, "Theological Implications of Human Genome Initiative," convened by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, and funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Human Genome Research, Grant HG0048701, 199295.

Honors and Grants

Award (one of twelve) for Quality and Excellence in Teaching Science and Religion, by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences and the John Templeton Foundation, 1998.

Winner (with Brent Waters) of one of three 1997 Awards for Outstanding Books in Science and Religion from the John Templeton Foundation and the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, for Pastoral Genetics: Theology and Care at the Beginning of Life, 1996.

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Lectures (summary)

In the United States, lectures have been given at Lexington, Lancaster, Columbia, Andover-Newton, Princeton, St. Paul’s (Kansas City) seminaries and at various universities and colleges, including Virginia Tech, UC-San Diego, University of Minnesota, University of Akron, University of South Florida (St. Petersburg), Arizona State University, and Seattle-Pacific University.

Outside the United States, lectures have been presented at universities including Oxford, Geneva, Cambridge, Lancaster, Vienna, Lausanne, Mainz, American University (Sharjah, UAE), and at other venues in Canada, India, Korea, Russia, Italy, Spain, France (UNESCO), Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Cyprus.

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