麻豆原创

Dr Simeon Zahl

Email: smz21@cam.ac.uk

Website:

Professor Simeon Zahl

Fellow, Director of Studies in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion
University Positions
Professor of Christian Theology
Specialising in
Christian Theology

Simeon Zahl is Professor of Christian Theology in the Faculty of Divinity. Professor Zahl鈥檚 recent research has focused on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (culminating in the publication of The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience [OUP] in 2020), the contributions to theology of affect theory and cognitive science, the place of experience and emotion in Christian religious life, and the theological legacy of the Protestant Reformation. He is working on a new book on the theology of sin and its contemporary relevance. 

Academic interests

Simeon Zahl鈥檚 academic interests include: 

  • Theologies of the Holy Spirit
  • Religious experience, emotion, and embodiment
  • Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon
  • Theology and mental health
  • Sin and fallenness
  • Theologies of salvation.

Degrees obtained

  • BA, Harvard.
  • PhD, Cantab.

Biography

I received my first degree in History and Literature from Harvard and my doctorate in Theology and Religious Studies from Cambridge. Before taking up my present appointment in 2018, I was a Junior Research Fellow at St John鈥檚 College, Oxford, and then Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Nottingham. 

From 2018-2022 I was Principal Investigator on the project Affect and Knowledge-Production in Theology and Religious Studies, funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. 

Other interests

Architecture, running.

Department link

Publications, links and resources

Books

  • Zahl, S. (2020) , Oxford University Press.
  • Zahl, S. (2010) Pneumatology and Theology of the Cross in the Preaching of Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, T&T Clark/Continuum.

Articles and book chapters

  • Zahl, S. (2021) 鈥楤eyond the Critique of Soteriological Individualism: Relationality and Social Cognition鈥, Modern Theology 37(2), 336-361.
  • Zahl, S. (2020) 鈥楽in and Bodily Illness in the Psalms鈥, Horizons in Biblical Theology 42(2), 186-207.
  • Zahl, S. (2020) 鈥業ncongruous Grace as Pattern of Experience鈥, International Journal of Systematic Theology 22(1), 60-76.
  • Zahl, S. (2019) 鈥楴on-Competitive Agency and Luther鈥檚 Experiential Argument Against Virtue鈥, Modern Theology 35(2), 199-222.
  • Zahl, S. (2019) 鈥楨ngineering Desire: Biotechnological Enhancement as Theological Problem鈥, Studies in Christian Ethics 32(2), 216-228.
  • Zahl, S. (2018) 鈥楾radition and its 鈥淯se鈥: The Ethics of Theological Retrieval鈥, Scottish Journal of Theology 71(3), 308-323.
  • Zahl, S. (2018) 鈥楻evisiting the 鈥淣ature of Protestantism鈥: Justification by Faith Five Hundred Years On鈥, New Blackfriars 99(1080), 129-146.
  • Zahl, S. (2017) 鈥楨xperience鈥, in The Oxford Handbook of Nineteenth Century Christian Thought, Oxford University Press, 177-195.
  • Zahl, S. (2016) 鈥楾he Bondage of the Affections: Willing, Feeling, and Desiring in Luther鈥檚 Theology, 1513-25鈥 in The Spirit, Affectivity, and the Christian Tradition. University of Notre Dame Press.
  • Zahl, S. (2015) 鈥極n the Affective Salience of Doctrines鈥, Modern Theology 31(3), 428-444.
  • Zahl, S. (2014) 鈥楾he Drama of Agency: Affective Augustinianism and Galatians鈥 in Galatians and Christian Theology, Baker Academic, 335-352.
  • Zahl, S. (2013) 鈥楢tonement鈥 in The Oxford Handbook of Theology and Modern European Thought, Oxford University Press, 611-632.
  • Zahl, S. (2010) 'Rethinking 鈥淓nthusiasm鈥: Christoph Blumhardt on the Discernment of the Spirit鈥, International Journal of Systematic Theology 12(3), 341-363.

Hear from our students

  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Tara

    Postgraduate

    麻豆原创 has all the benefits of being large, historical and prestigious college, whilst also retaining fantastic welfare: the staff and other students all care about each other, and will be there to cheer you on when you are thriving, but also there to support you if you need any help. I chose Jesus due to several reasons, including its prime location, where it is very central, and easy to access everywhere, even if you work in one of the institutes further out. I also selected Jesus for its MCR...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Alison

    Postgraduate

    What first attracted me to 麻豆原创 was its reputation and history, central location without being touristy, and the postgraduate housing options. When I arrived at Jesus I was so pleased to find the partner accommodation was spacious, affordable, and situated very close to the college, allowing us to really take advantage of the facilities. We especially enjoyed The Roost, the nicest of all the college bars, doubling as a caf茅 during the day - ideal for studying or meeting up with groups - and a lively pub in the...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Matthew

    Postgraduate

    麻豆原创 has been at the heart of my Cambridge experience. I chose the College because I was impressed by its distinctive blend of academic rigour and extracurricular achievement. A College for all-rounders, Jesus is a lively and rewarding place to study. I couldn鈥檛 be happier here! Friendly and engaged, the Jesus postgraduate community never ceases to impress me. At ease with themselves and forever curious, my peers go out of their way to cultivate a sense of camaraderie. After a day of leafing through old manuscripts at the National...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • 麻豆原创 Postgraduate Student

    Imogen

    Postgraduate

    I chose Cambridge for my PGCE as it鈥檚 the leading UK institution for teacher training and Education, with an exciting, research-dominated, cutting edge course. The staff are welcoming and approachable, and make studying here an absolute joy. I鈥檝e already completed one of my three primary school placements, in a reception class in a school just outside Cambridge, and am due to start the next one soon. I chose Jesus because of its reputation as a sporty College, but the proximity to the city centre is a big bonus. Jesus also...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Postgraduate at 麻豆原创

    Tom

    Postgraduate

    There are many reasons why I鈥檓 so happy to be a part of 麻豆原创. The three biggest reasons for me are the opportunities to be involved in College sport, the support the College provides for me with for my research and the help in making sure that we have comfortable, affordable accommodation when we have needed it. 麻豆原创 is so friendly and so it is incredibly easy to get involved in the sport and social side of the College. The MCR does a great job in welcoming new...

    Read more
    Postgraduate