School of Christian Thought
Apologetics
Austin Freeman, PhD
- Assistant Professor of Apologetics
- Chair, Department of Apologetics
Education
- PhD, Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- MTh, Historical Theology, University of Edinburgh
- BA, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Rhodes College
Courses Taught
Ancient Philosophy & Culture
Apologetics Research & Writing
Christian Theology & Traditions
The Hobbit听& Theology
Literature & Apologetics
Medieval Philosophy & Culture
鈥楳ere Theology鈥� & Apologetics Implications
Theological Inquiry
Teaching Focus
Dr. Freeman鈥檚 research focus is cultural apologetics, and especially the intersection between theology and literature, and especially especially the theology of J.R.R Tolkien. But he is a broad interdisciplinary thinker, with publications on subjects ranging from Virgil to H.P. Lovecraft to angelology to evolution.
Publications
Academic Publications
Books
- Tolkien among the Theologians听(Editor), Walking Tree Press (2024)
- Theology, Fantasy, & the Imagination听(Co-editor),听Lexington Academic/Fortress (2023)
- Tolkien Dogmatics:听Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth, Lexham Press (Nov 2022)
- Theology and H.P. Lovecraft听(Editor), Lexington Academic/Fortress (August 2022)
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- 鈥淭he Author of the Epic: Tolkien, Evolution, and God鈥檚 Story,鈥澨�Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science听special issue, 鈥淓volution, Original Sin, and the Fall,鈥� 2021.
- 鈥淔lesh, World, Devil: Evil in J.R.R Tolkien,鈥澨�Journal of Inklings Studies, vol. 10, no. 2 (2020): 139-172.
- 鈥淐elestial Spheres: Angelic Bodies and Hyperspace,鈥澨�TheoLogica: An International Journal for Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology, vol. 2, no. 2 (2018), 168-186.听
Peer-Reviewed Chapters
- 鈥淐alvin and Tolkien: A Surprising Confluence?鈥澨�Tolkien among the Theologians, Walking Tree Press (2024)
- 鈥淭ed鈥檚 Chestertonian Optimism,鈥澨�Ted Lasso and Philosophy, Blackwell (2023)
- 鈥淪ins of the Imagination,鈥澨�Theology, Fantasy, and the Imagination, Lexington Academic/Fortress (2023)
- 鈥溾�楾he Backs of Trees鈥�: Tolkien鈥檚 Romantic Eco-Theology,鈥澨�Tolkien & Romanticism, Walking Tree Press (2023)
- 鈥淐ritiquing Tolkien鈥檚 Theology,鈥澨�Tolkien & Theology,听Vol. 1,听Lexington Academic/Fortress (2023)
- 鈥淢ythos & Mythopoeia: Lovecraft & Tolkien on the Transcendent Function of Fantasy,鈥澨�Theology & H.P. Lovecraft, Lexington Academic/Fortress (2022)
- 鈥�Pietas听and the Fall of the City: A Neglected Virgilian Influence on听Tolkien鈥檚 Chief Virtue,鈥澨�Tolkien and the Classical World, Walking Tree Press (2020)
- 鈥淕ods upon Gods: Hierarchies of Divinity in the Marvel Universe,鈥澨�Theology and the Marvel Universe, Lexington Books (2019)
Additional Information
Dr. Freeman was involved in the classical school movement for many years and continues to encourage graduating students to consider teaching at one.