John L. Meech, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Humanities

Meech, a member of the Shimer faculty since 2001, is presently on leave. He has taught in all areas of the curriculum including the Humanities, Social

Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Integrative Studies.  Meech has also taught in the Heritage Program at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  He is the author of Paul in Israel's Story: Self and Community at the Cross, Oxford University Press, 2006.

“I was a student at Shimer myself, auditing classes in the Weekend program from 1987 through 1990.   I like teaching at Shimer because Shimer students seem to latch on to the world the same way I do: I really only know what I think when I talk it through with others.  So I see a good Shimer class as a journey together towards the truth.”—John Meech

Full CV

EDUCATION

Ph.D.        Marquette University, Religious Studies, 2002
M..A.        Northwestern University, Liberal Studies, 1995
B.S.            Northwestern University, Computer Science, 1980

RECENT ELECTIVES AND TUTORIALS TAUGHT

Historical Jesus
Spinoza’s Ethics

AREAS OF INTEREST/SPECIALIZATION

Major areas of specialization Christian systematic theology, philosophy of selfhood; interest in Hebrew and Christian Scripture, Martin Luther, Rationalism, Hegel, Kant, Husserl, Heidegger, phenomenology, philosophy of science

PUBLICATIONS AND COLLOQUIA

Books

Paul in Israel’s Story: Self and Community at the Cross,  Academy Series, American Academy of Religion. Oxford University Press, 2006.

Colloquia

“Interpreting Covenantal Nomism for Theology: New Perspectives, Paradigms and Research Programs,” AAR Upper Midwest Regional, April 2005.

“Luther’s ‘Enarrated’ Realism: The Work of Christ,” AAR Upper Midwest Regional, April 2004.

“Rudolf Bultmann's Story of St. Paul: A Detour not Taken and the Consequences,” AAR Upper Midwest Regional, April   2001.

 “Interpreting in Community: Paul’s Kerygma as a Model for Interpretation,”  Marquette University, Seminar on Phenomenology and Hermeneutics, “Problems of Interpretation,” September 1, 2001.