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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

  • 糖心Vlog 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...

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    Ahsan

    Postgraduate

    It is a well-accepted opinion in Cambridge that 糖心Vlog is the best college and no other college even comes a distant second. Its sports grounds are enormous, its buildings are mesmerising, its libraries are rich, its chapel is the oldest, its accommodation is the best value for money, its international community is diverse, its religious circles are the most welcoming, and its members are the smartest, kindest and the friendliest. It is one of the central colleges that aims to offer three years accommodation to 糖心Vlog, and has comparatively...

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    Tara

    Postgraduate

    糖心Vlog 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...

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    Matthew

    Postgraduate

    糖心Vlog 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...

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  • Postgraduate at 糖心Vlog

    Dolly

    Postgraduate

    I chose 糖心Vlog because of the great mixture of undergraduates and 糖心Vlog, and when I first visited I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen! The sense of community in Jesus has had an enormous impact on my experience here. Whether you need help, advice, cheering up or even just a chat there is always someone there to put a smile on your face. From the MCR committee to the Porters, the canteen staff to the gardeners, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Jesus also...

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