Scott Kline

My research generally focuses on the relationship between religious ethics and public policy, particularly in Canada and the United States. I am the author of the book The Ethical Being: A Catholic Guide to Contemporary Issues (Novalis, 2013). I have published on topics related to the culture wars in the United States, religion and US foreign policy, the ethics of peacemaking, and systems level approaches to homelessness. My current research focuses on two areas: the role of faith-based organizations in approaches to homelessness and community responses to sudden cardiac arrest. I teach undergraduate courses in Christian ethics, sexual ethics, and contemporary ethical issues. My doctoral students have worked on topics related to evangelical political activism in Canada, Canadian secularism and Indigenous land claims, as well as religion and US politics. In my free time, I enjoy road cycling, running, and travelling.

Research interests: Christian ethics, religion and politics, religion and armed conflict, Catholic social teaching, ethics and health care, and approaches to homelessness.

The content that follows may only represent a portion of the Faculty member’s work.

Books

The Ethical Being: A Catholic Guide to Contemporary Issues (Ottawa: Novalis, 2013)

Chapters

“Religion and Peacebuilding in the European Union,” with Megan Shore, Religion and the European Society: A Primer, ed. Ben Schewel and Erin K. Wilson (Chichester, UK: Wiley and Sons, 2020), 145–57.

“A Response to Homelessness in Pinellas County, Florida: An Examination of Pinellas Safe Harbor and the Challenges of Faith-Based Service Providers in a Systems Approach,” with Megan Shore, Systems Level Approaches to Homelessness, ed. Naomi Nichols and Carey Doberstein (Toronto: The Canadian Homelessness Research Network, 2016), 74–88.

“Telling Religion to Shut Up,” in Faith and Political Matters, ed. John Milloy (Ottawa: Novalis, 2015), 89–103.

“The Study of Religion,” in World Religions: Canadian Perspectives—Eastern Perspectives (vol. 1) and Western Perspectives (vol. 2), ed. Dorish Jakobsh (Toronto: Nelson, 2013).

“Catholic Peacemaking and Pax Christi” with Megan Shore, in Religion and Conflict Resolution, ed. Lee Marsden (Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2012), 353-68.

Articles

Kline, Scott, and David Seljak. "The Church Condemns Systemic Racism as Sinful." The Catholic Register, 2022.  https://www.catholicregister.org/opinion/guest-columnists/item/34096-the-church-condemns-systemic-racism-as-sinful

“The Morality and Politics of Consumer Religion: How Consumer Religion Fuels the Culture Wars in the United States,” The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 17 (Fall 2007).

“The Ambivalent Role of Religion in the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” with Megan Shore, Peace and Change: A Journal of Peace Research, 31 (2006): 309–332.

“‘The Responsibility to Protect’ as a New Doctrine of Intervention for the Ecumenical Movement?” Jahresbericht Societas Ethica (Erlangen: Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2006), 469–75. (refereed Societas Ethica paper)

“The Culture War Gone Global: ‘Family Values’ and the Shape of US Foreign Policy,” International Relations 18 (2004): 453–66.

“Paul Tillich’s Encounter with the World Religions and the Emergence of a Cross-Cultural Communicative Ethic (1954–1965),” Toronto Journal of Theology 20 (2004): 191–204.

Other

Reviews

Review of After Modernity: Secularity, Globalization, and the Re-enchantment of the World (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2008), ed. James K.A. Smith. In International Journal of Public Theology 5 (2011): 235-37.

Review of Habermas and Theology (Cambridge UP, 2006), by Nicholas Adams. In International Journal of Public Theology 2 (2008): 243–44.

Review of The Ethics of War: Shared Problems in Different Traditions (Ashgate, 2007), Richard Sorabji and David Rodin, eds. In International Journal of Public Theology 2 (2008): 243–44.

Review of Difficult Justice: Commentaries on Levinas and Politics (UofT Press, 2006), Asher Horowitz and Gad Horowitz, eds. In University of Toronto Quarterly (December, 2007).

Review of Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for Reckoning (Eerdmans, 2004), Erik C. Owens, John D. Carlson, and Eric P. Elshtain, eds; and Murdering Myths: The Story behind the Death Penalty (Rowmam & Littlefield, 2006), by Judith W. Kay. In The Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 26/2 (Winter 2007): 297–301.

Review of Paul Tillich: Theologian of Nature, Culture, and Politics (2003), by A. James Reimer. In Dialog: A Journal of Lutheran Theology, 42 (2004): 358–60.

Translations

Translated Jürgen Moltmann, “Jesus between Jews and Christians.” In ARC: The Journal of the Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University 24 (1996): 61–76.

Non-refereed Publications: Articles, Reviews, and Op-eds

With Megan Shore, “The Gospel Imperative to House the Homeless and the Challenges of Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in Systems Approaches,” The Ecumenist: A Journal of Theology, Culture, and Society 53/4 (2016): 15–19.

“‘I’m a Catholic, Not a Communist,’” The Ecumenist: A Journal of Theology, Culture, and Society 52/4 (2015): 22.

With Megan Shore, “On Homelessness: Pull Together Housing, Services, and Shelter,” Herald Tribune  (Aug. 3, 2015): online https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2015/08/03/scott-kline-and-megan-shore-use-both-homeless-shelter-and-housing-first/29322699007/

Review of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande, The Catholic Register, April 11, 2015). Reprinted in The Ecumenist: A Journal of Theology, Culture, and Society 52/4 (2015): 18.

Review of For the Love of Animals: Christian Ethics, Consistent Action by Charles Camosy, The Catholic Register, August 31, 2013.

“Hope in Dark Times: The Ecumenist 1991–2010,” The Ecumenist: A Journal of Theology, Culture and Society 47/4 (2010): 19–23.

“The Ambivalent Legacy of 1989,” The Ecumenist: A Journal of Theology, Culture and Society 46/3 (2009): 1–3.

“Sober Reflections on a Night of Change,” Op-ed. Catholic Register (26 November 2008). (1,000 words).

“Race, Faith and Ambition: Barack Obama lives with the tensions between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.” Op-ed. The Record, March 24, 2008: A7.

Foreword to Gregory Baum’s Religion and Alienation, 2^nd ed. (Ottawa: Novalis; Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2006), 7–14. With David Seljak.

Invited Public Lectures

“Religion and the 2016 US Presidential Election,” Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club, Kitchener, Ontario (August 2016)

“Systems Level Responses to Homelessness and the Role of Faith-Based Service Providers,” Fresno Homeless Summit, Fresno, California (April 2016)

“The Integration of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching,” Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Brantford, Ontario (March 2016)

“Religion and the 2012 US Presidential Election,” Erin, Ontario. Extended Learning Opportunities of Erin. (October 2012).

RS 121: Evil

RS 150: Christian Ethics

RS 220/PSCI 253: Religion and Politics

RS 241: Sex, Politics, and Religion in the U.S. and Canada

RS 288/HHUM 288: Health, Medicine, and Spirituality

ARTS 390: Third-Year Topics in Arts Disciplines [Topic: Crime & Justice]

SMF 494/GSJ 473: Seminar in Sexuality [Topic: Outrage & Activism]

“Rethinking Intervention and the Role of Christian Aid Organizations,” with A. James Reimer (co-PI), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) (2006-2010)

Visiting Scholar in Ethics, St. Mark’s College at the University of British Columbia and Providence Healthcare, Vancouver, British Columbia, January-December, 2021

The content that follows may only represent a portion of the Faculty member’s work.

Professional

American Academy of Religion, Regionally Elected Director of Eastern-International Region and National Board Member (2007-2012)

American Academy of Religion, Nominations Committee, Chair (2013-2014)

Contributing Editor, Critical Theology (Novalis, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) (2004-present)

Administrative

Chair of Religious Studies, University of Waterloo (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2026)

Chair of Religious Studies, St. Jerome's University (July 1-December 31, 2021)

Interim President and Vice Chancellor, St. Jerome's University (2019-2020)

Vice President Academic and Dean, St. Jerome's University (2013-2019)

Associate Dean, St. Jerome's University (2013)

Chair (or Acting Chair) of Religious Studies, St. Jerome’s University (2011-2013)

Acting Director of the St. Jerome’s Centre for Responsible Citizenship (2008-2013)

Coordinator of the Beyond Borders Program at St. Jerome’s University (2005-2013)

Coordinator of the St. Jerome’s Lectures in Catholic Experience (2007-2013)

Community

Heart and Stroke Canada, Member of the Resuscitation Advisory Committee (RAC) (2019-Present)

Hospice of Waterloo Region, Advisory Committee Member (2016-Present)

Project Ploughshares, Member of the Board and Chair (2009-2015, chair 2011-2014)

Stratford Rotary Hockey Board Member (2017-2020)