T

Vitae

James L. Leffel (leffelj@xenos.org)

Education

• Master of Arts, Philosophy of Religion, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1985) Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, The Ohio State University (1980)

Professional Experience

• 1995-1999 Lecturer in philosophy, Ohio Dominican College.
  Courses taught: Issues in Philosophy, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion.
• 1990-present Director: Theological Education, Xenos Christian Fellowship. Oversight of a program with annual registration of 2,500, curriculum and faculty development, and teaching a wide range of courses in theology, philosophy of religion and cultural studies.
• 1988-1990 Instructor in humanities, Columbus State Community College. Courses taught: Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, Introduction to Logic, Symbolic Logic, Western Civilization I and II.
• 1985-1987 Instructor in philosophy, College of Lake County (Illinois). Courses taught: Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Logic, Ethics.
• 1987 Instructor in philosophy, McHenry County College (Illinois). Courses taught: Religions of the World, Introduction to Logic.
• 1985 Teaching Fellow, Philosophy of Religion, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois). Course taught: History of Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval Philosophy. This is a graduate level course.

Publications

• "Science and Postmodern Criticism," Journal for the Scientific Study of Alternative Medicine (>>>Winter, 2000).
• "Genetics and Human Rights in a Postmodern Age," in Timothy Demy and Gary Stewart, Eds, Genetic Engineering (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1999)
• "Engineering Life: Post-Humanism and the Genetics Revolution," Ethics and Medicine, 13:3, 1997.
• Genetic Engineering: Defining Humanity in a Postmodern Age," Christian Research Journal, Fall, 1997.
• Contributing author, "Actual Reality," an interactive CD exploring world religions for teens. Horizon Video and Film, 1997.
• Book Review: Dorothy Nelkin and M. Susan Lindee, The DNA Mystique: The Gene as a Cultural Icon (New York:W.H. Freeman), Ethics and Medicine, 14:1, Winter, 1998.
• Chapters 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 13, The Death of Truth, ed. Dennis McCallum (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1996).
• "The Postmodern Challenge: Facing the Spirit of the Age," Christian Research Journal, Fall 1996.
• "Religious Exclusivism in a Pluralistic Age," Religious and Theological Studies Fellowship Bulletin, 13:4, 1996.
• Book Review, Brian Walsh and Richard Middleton, Truth Is Stranger Than It Used To Be (Downers Grove: InterVaristy Press, 1994), Trinity Journal, 17:1.
• Foreknowledge and Freedom: An Epistemological Analysis, M.A. thesis, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1985. Thesis examines the Counter-Reformation debate between Jesuits and Dominicans concerning how God knows the future given human free choice. Includes translation from Latin and analysis of some previously untranslated text by Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina.

Guest and Conference Lectures:

• Hayama 2000 Missions Conference, Hayama, Japan (January, 2000)
• Cornell University, Ithica, NY (April, 1999)
• Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, KY (March, 1999)
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (April, 1998)
• Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL (April, 1998)
• Christian Leadership Ministries, annual training conference, Columbus, OH (September, 1997)
• Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, Lincoln, IL (October 7-8, 1997)
• Colorado Community Church, Denver, CO (February 7-8, 1997)
• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL (October 18-19, 1996)
• Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL (July 18-20, 1996)
• Kent State University, Kent, OH (February 1-3, 1996)
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (May 11-13, 1995)
• Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI (March 9-11, 1995)
• Current research includes:
• Postmodern theory in relation to religious truth claims and postmodern anthropology as it relates to biomedical ethics.
• A philosophical, theological and scientific investigation of the mind/body problem with my colleague Lee Campbell, Ph.D., chair of natural sciences, Ohio Dominican College.