Dr. Oliver Putz

Dr. Dr. Oliver Putz

Affiliate Scholar (Alumni)

  • 2018 - today: Affiliate Scholar, IASS
  • 2016 - 2018: Senior Fellow, IASS
  • 2014 - 2015: Assistant Professor of Religion and Science, Santa Clara University, California, USA
  • 2012 - 2014: Lecturer Religious Studies, Santa Clara University, California, USA
  • 2006 - 2015: PhD, Systematic and Philosophical Theology, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, USA
  • 2004 - 2006: MA, Systematic and Philosophical Theology, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, USA
  • 2004: Lecturer, Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
  • 2002 - 2004: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
  • 1998 - 2002: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • 1996 - 1998: PhD, Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
  • 1992 - 1994: MA, Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
  • Religion and science
  • ecotheology
  • religion and ecology
  • geoengineering
  • personal and societal transformation to sustainable lifestyles

Publications at the RIFS

2023

Monographs, book chapters, special issues

2016

Journal articles

Publications prior to joining the RIFS

  • O. Putz, "God's Self-Communication in a Cosmos Bound for Life," in Outer Space and Inner Soul: Astrotheology Meets Extraterrestrial Life, edited by T. Peters, R.J. Russell, and M. Hewlett. (Publication expected in the summer of 2016.)
  • O. Putz, "Evolutionary Biology in a Catholic Framework," in Teaching the Tradition: Catholic Themes in Academic Disciplines, edited by J. Piderit, S.J., and M. Morey, 307-329. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.
  • O. Putz, "Love Actually: A Theodicy Response to Suffering in Nature," Theology and Science 7, no. 4 (2009): 345-361.
  • O. Putz, "Moral Apes, Human Uniqueness, and the Image of God," Zygon 44, no. 3 (2009): 613-624.
  • O. Putz, "Evolutionary Biology in the Theology of Karl Rahner," Philosophy & Theology 17, nos. 1&2 (2005): 85-105.
  • "The Image of God as a Problematic Category in Theological Anthropology and in a Theology of Animals." Annual Convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America, Milwaukee, June 11-14, 2015.
  • "Life's Meaning Here and Beyond." Astrotheology: Searching for Life in the Universe, Conference, Berkeley, June 9, 2015.
  • "Divine Concurrence as the Transcendental Cause of Cosmic and Biological Evolution." God's Action in the World, Symposium on Science and Religion of the Clavius Group of Catholic Mathematicians, University of Notre Dame, July 16-17, 2014.
  • "What Good is God to Animals? Human Uniqueness in Theology and Science." Science and Seeking: Rethinking the God Question in the Lab, Cosmos, and Classroom, Bannan Institute Symposium, February 28 - March 1, 2014.
  • "Do Apes Pray? The Problem of Human Theological Uniqueness." Fall Meeting, Pacific Coast Theological Society, October 23, 2009.
  • "In the Image of God: Moral Apes and Special Creation." Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, November 17-20, 2007.
  • Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences Charles H. Townes Graduate Student Fellowship in Science and Religion
  • Research Planning Grant, Science and Transcendence Advanced Research Series
  • Presidential Scholarship, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, USA
  • Doctoral Research Fellowship, Schering AG, Berlin, Germany
  • Teaching Fellowship, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA