Mark McLeod-Harrison
Mark McLeod-Harrison
Professor of Philosophy
Telephone: 503-554-2654
E-mail: mmcleodharrison@georgefox.edu
Classes Mark is Currently Teaching
Specialities: Apologetics and Convergence Church Movement
Education
B.R.E., Briercrest Bible College; B.A., Westmont College; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., University of California. George Fox University 1999-
Philosophy was (or was it God in philosophy?) responsible for keeping me a Christian. Early on in my Christian life my questions were about how one can know the outrageous Christian claims were true. Questioning the faith wasn't really popular in my circles, so when philosophy came along in my college life, I knew I'd found a home.
I also discovered that I enjoyed teaching, so what more could one ask? Having a career in philosophy, dealing with the questions that most passionately drove me, and being able to help others with their questions all sounded like good places to go. Off I went, receiving a B.R.E. in Christian education from Briercrest Bible College, a B.A. in philosophy from Westmont College, an M.A. in philosophy of religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
My teaching career covers both secular and Christian settings, and my research ranges over philosophy of religion, epistemology, mysticism, and writing poetry. I have several manuscripts in the works, including a sort of "why one should be a Christian" book, a book on mysticism, humility and religious plurality, and some material on realism and antirealism. As well, for those of you who really are having trouble in insomnia, Cornell published a book of mine in 1993 entitled Rationality and Theistic Belief.
Over the past four years or so I've developed an interest in the unity of spirituality and academics, and have become an ordained priest with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches.
I'm married to Susan McLeod-Harrison who holds an M.Div. and is studying toward a doctorate in psychology. Together we parent Ian who is a high school student at Newberg High.
Some authors of influence in my life are Thomas Merton, Wendell, St. Augustine, Dostoyevsky, Marilyn French, and Margaret Atwood. I love novels, poetry, and philosophy, but I also like to work with wood. I also love conversation, philosophical and otherwise.
-Mark
