JOHN PETER KENNEY
Professor of Religious Studies

Saint Michael's College Colchester, Vermont 05439

Phone: 802-654-2525
Fax: 802-654-2610
E-mail: jkenney@smcvt.edu

Box 375
Office: Library 302

 

Degrees:

     1974            A.B. Bowdoin College: Classics and Philosophy
                         summa cum laude, Highest Honors in Philosophy

     1982            Ph.D. Brown University: Religious Studies
                         Western Religious Thought Program

Teaching Appointments:

     1976-78      Teaching Assistant, Department of Religious Studies, Brown University
     1980-81      Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion, Reed College
     1981-86      Assistant Professor of Religion and Humanities, Reed College
     1986-92      Associate Professor of Religion and Humanities, Reed College
     1992-95      Professor of Religion and Humanities, Reed College
     1995-          Professor of Religious Studies, Saint Michael's College

Administrative Appointments:

     1982- 86     Chair, Department of Religion, Reed College
     1988- 92    
Chair, Department of Religion, Reed College (second term)
     1983- 84     Chair, Division of Philosophy, Religion and Psychology, Reed College
     1995- 05     Dean of the College, Saint Michael's College

Academic Honors and Fellowships:

     1973           Phi Beta Kappa
     1973-74      Surdna Foundation Fellowship in Classics
     1974-75      Charles Carroll Everett Graduate Fellowship
     1975-76      University Fellowship, Brown University
     1981           Mellon Foundation Research Fellowship
     1982           ARCO Foundation Research Fellowship
     1984-85      National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellowship:
                        "The Foundations of Neoplatonic Theology"
     1984-85      Visiting Scholar, Harvard Divinity School
     1988-89      Vollum Senior Faculty Research Fellowship, Reed College
     1990           Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Award
     1991-92      National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellowship:
                        "The Theistic Epistemology of St. Augustine"
     1998           Delta Epsilon Sigma


Academic Field:
Philosophy of Religion

Research Area:  Saint Augustine, Neoplatonism

Publications:

   Book-Author
     Mystical Monotheism
     A Study In Ancient Platonic Theology
     Brown University Press/University Press of New England.
     Hanover and London, 1991; paperback edition, 2002.

     Book - Author
     The Mysticism of Saint Augustine:  Rereading the Confessions
    
Routledge. New York and London, 2005.


     Book-Editor
     The School of Moses: Studies in Philo and Hellenistic Religion
     Scholars Press: Studia Philonica Monographs, Vol. I. Atlanta, 1995.

    Articles
     "Monotheistic and Polytheistic Elements in Classical Mediterranean Spirituality,"
     Classical Mediterranean Spirituality
, ed. by A. H. Armstrong, (New York: 
     Crosssroads Press, 1986).

     "Divinity and the Intelligible World in Clement of Alexandria," Studia Patristica, XXI,
     (Leuven: Peeters Press, 1989).

     "Theism and Divine Production in Ancient Realist Theology" God and Creation: An
     Ecumenical Symposium
, ed. by David Burrell and Bernard McGinn (South Bend,  
     Notre Dame University Press, 1990).

     "The Platonism of the Tripartite Tractate," Neoplatonism and Gnosticism, ed. by 
     R. T. Wallis and Jay Bregman (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1992).

     "Proschresis Revisited: An Essay in Numenian Theology," Origeniana Quinta, ed. by
     R. J. Daly (Leuven: Peeters Press, 1992).

     "The Critical Value of Negative Theology," Harvard Theological Review, 86.4.
     October, 1993.

     "The Presence of Truth in the Confessions," Studia Patristica, XXVII (Leuven:
     Peeters Press, 1993).

     "Mysticism and Contemplation in the Enneads," American Catholic Philosophical
     Quarterly
(Vol. LXXI, No. 3, 1997).

     "St. Augustine and the Invention of Mysticism," Studia Patristica, XXXIII (Leuven:
     Peeters Press, 1997).

     "The Greek Tradition in Early Christian Philosophy:" in The Columbia History of
     Western Philosophy
, ed. by Richard Popkin (New York: Columbia University Press,
     1999).

     "Ancient Apophatic Theology," in Gnosticism and Later Platonism: Themes,
     Figures, Texts
, edited by Ruth Majercik and John D. Turner (Atlanta : Society of
     Biblical Literature, 2000).

     "St. Augustine and the Limits of Contemplation," Studia Patristica, XXXVIII
     (Leuven: Peeters Press, 2001).

     "Augustine's Inner Self," Augustinian Studies, 32.1, January, 2002.

     "Transcendentalism in the Confessions,"Studia Patristica, (Leuven:
      Peeters Press, forthcoming).

Articles in Translation:

     "La presencia de la verdad in las Confesiones," Augustinus: San Agustín en
     Oxford
(4.°), ed. by José Oroz Reta (Madrid: 1995).

     "San Agustín y el descubrimiento del misticismo," Augustinus: San Agustín en
     Oxford
(5.°), ed. by John J. Oldfield and José Anoz (Madrid: 1999).

     "San Agustín y los límites de la contemplacíon," Augustinus: San Agustín en Oxford
    
(6.°),
ed. by John J. Oldfield and José Anoz (Madrid: 2003).

Encyclopedia Articles:

     "Marius Victorinus" in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (London: Routledge,
     1998).

     "Tertullian" in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (London: Routledge, 1998).

     "Patristic Philosophy" in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (London: Routledge,
     1998).

     Abbreviated versions of these articles in the Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of
     Philosophy
(London: Routledge, 1999).

Dissertation:

     Plotinus and the Via Antiqua: A Study in Philosophical Theology UMI: Ann
     Arbor, 1982.

Reviews:

     Pseudo-Plato, Axiochus, J. P. Hershbell, Ancient Philosophy, V, 1, Spring, 1985.

     Neoplatonism and Christian Thought, ed. D. J. O'Meara, Journal of the
     American Academy of Religion
, LIV, 1; Spring, 1986.

     From Philo to Origen: Middle Platonism in Transition, Robert M. Berchman, The
     Journal of Religion
, 66.4; October, 1986.

     The Christ and the Bodhisattva, ed. by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. and Steven C.
     Rockefeller, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 113.3.

     Women in World Religions, ed. by Arvind Sharma, Journal of the American
     Oriental Society
, Vol.113.3.

     The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Journal of the American Oriental Society,
     Vol.113, 3.

     Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads, by Dominic J. O'Meara, Bryn Mawr
     Classical Review/Bryn Mawr Medieval Review
, August, 1993.

     The Emergence of Christian Theology, by Eric Osborn, Journal of Religion, 75.1,
     January, 1995.

     The Origin of the Soul in St. Augustine's Later Works, by R. J. O'Connell, Ancient
     Philosophy
XV, 2, Fall, 1995.

     Augustine's Philosophy of Mind, by Gerard O'Daly, Ancient Philosophy XV, 2,
     Fall, 1995.

     Augustine, by Christopher Kirwan, Ancient Philosophy XV, 2, Fall, 1995.

     Origen and the Life of the Stars, by Alan Scott, Ancient Philosophy XV, 2, Fall,
     1995.

     Augustine: The Confessions, by Gillian Clark, Ancient Philosophy XV, 2, Fall,
     1995.

     Augustine and the Limits of Virtue, by James Wetzel, Journal of Religion 75.3,
     July, 1995.

     Beauty and Revelation in the Thought of Saint Augustine, by Carol Harrison,
     Journal of Religion 75.3, July, 1995.

     Desire and Delight: A New Reading of Augustine's Confessions, by Margaret R.
     Miles, Journal of Religion 75.3, July, 1995.

     Philosophy in Christian Antiquity, by Christopher Stead, Journal of Religion  
     77. 3, April, 1997.

     Moses The Egyptian: The Memory of Egypt in Western Monotheism, by Jan
     Assman, American Historical Review, June, 1999.

     Reading Neoplatonism: Non-discursive thinking in the texts of Plotinus, Proclus,
     and Damascius,
by Sara Rappe, The Journal of Religion (83.1, January, 2003). 

     The Cambridge Companion to Augustine, ed. by Eleanore Stump and Norman Kretzman,
    Ancient Philosophy XXIII, 1, Spring, 2003.

     The Augustinian Tradition, ed. by Gareth Matthews, Ancient Philosophy XXIII, 1, Spring 2003.

     Augustine And His Critics, ed. by Robert Dodaro and George Lawless, Ancient
     Philosophy
XXIII, 1, Spring, 2003.

     A Companion to the Confessions of St. Augustine, by John M. Quinn, O. S. A.,
    Augustinian Studies,
vol. 35, No. 1,  2004.

    A Reader's Companion to Augustine Confessions , ed. by K. Pattenroth and R. P. Kennedy,
    Augustinian Studies,
vol. 35, No. 2, 2004.


Other Publications:

     "Monotheism Revisited: How the God of the Philosophers has Returned to the
     Academy," Reed Magazine, February, 1993.

     "A Question of Religion," Dialogue: The Catlin Gabel School Magazine, Fall, 1993.

     "The Suicide State," First Things, 52, April, 1995.

     "After Neoscholasticism," Review of Contending With Modernity: Catholic Higher
     Education In the Twentieth Century
, by Philip Gleason, First Things, 67,
     November, 1996.

     "The Secularized Christian Academy," Review of The Dying of the Light: The
     Disengagement of College and Universities from their Christian Churches
, by
     James Tunstead Burtchaell, First Things, 86, October, 1998.

     "Mozart Without Music," Review of Saint Augustine, by Gary Wills, First Things
    
99, January, 2000.

     "Identity", in Celebrating a Century, ed. by Marc A. vanderHeyden et alia,
     (WDG Publishing, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2003).

Papers:

     American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division, March, 1981: "Classical Theism
     and Plotinian Neoplatonism."

     American Academy of Religion, Annual Meeting, Philosophy of Religion section,
     December, 1981: "Platonism and the Varieties of Realist Theology."

     American Academy of Religion, Annual Meeting, Philosophy of Religion section,
     December, 1982: "Mystical Monotheism."

     Oxford University, Ninth International Patristics Conference, September, 1983:
     "Middle Platonism and Realist Theology."

     American Academy of Religion; Society of Biblical Literature, Portland Area
     Seminar, October, 1983: "Philo and Middle Platonism."

     American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, December, 1983: "The Divine
     Ideas in Middle Platonism."

     International Society for Neoplatonic Studies, Sixth International Congress,
     "Neoplatonism and Gnosticism," University of Oklahoma, March, 1984: "The
     Platonism of the Tripartite Tractate."

     Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association, Boise State University,
     March, 1986: "Platonism in Late Antiquity: A Taxonomy for Medievalists."

     American Academy of Religion, Pacific Northwest Region, Theology and Philosophy
     of Religion section, April, 1986: "Christian Platonism and the Via Antiqua."

     The University of Chicago and the University of Notre Dame, Symposium in
     Comparative Religious Thought ("God and Creation"), April, 1987: "Theism and
     Divine Production in Ancient Realist Theology."

     Oxford University, Tenth International Patristics Conference, August, 1987: "Divinity
     and the Intelligible World in Clement of Alexandria."

     American Academy of Religion,  Annual Meeting, Platonism and Neoplatonism Group,
     December, 1987: "The Contemplative Monotheism of Plotinus."

     American Academy of Religion, Pacific Northwest Region, Theology and Philosophy
     of Religion section, April, 1988: "Two Types of Western Monotheism."

     American Academy of Religion; Society of Biblical Literature, Portland Seminar,
     October, 1988: "Philo's Concept of Deity."

     American Academy of Religion, Annual Meeting, Platonism and Neoplatonism Group,
     November, 1988: "Hypostases in the Early Enneads."

     Colloquium Origenianum Quintum, Boston College, August, 1989: "Prochresis
     Revisited: An Essay in Numenian Theology."

     Northwest Conference in Philosophy, Lewis and Clark College, November, 1989:
     Response to 'Chaos in Plotinus' by George Seidel, O.S.B."

     Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting 1989, Nag Hammadi and Gnosticism
     Section, Panel Discussion: "Gnosticism and Platonism."

     Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting 1990, Nag Hammadi and Gnosticism
     Section, Response to " Plato's Timaeus and Gnostic Cosmology" by Einar
     Thomassen.

     Oxford University, Eleventh International Patristics Conference, August, 1991: "The
     Presence of Truth in the Confessions."

     American Academy of Religion; Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting,
     1991, joint session: Platonism and Neoplatonism Group and Nag Hammadi and
     Gnosticism section: "Distentio Animi: Body, Time, and the Contemplative Soul in the
     Confessions."

     American Catholic Philosophical Association, Annual Meeting, May, 1992: "The
     Mysticism of Plotinus."

     American Academy of Religion, Annual Meeting, November, 1992, Platonism and
     Neoplatonism Group: "A. H. Armstrong and the Critical Value of Negative Theology."

     Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting, November, 1993, Gnosticism and
     Later Platonism Seminar, Response to "The Derivation of Matter in Monistic
     Gnosticism" by Einar Thomassen.

     International Society for the Classical Tradition, Third International Meeting, Boston
     University, March, 1995: "Anti-Platonism in Augustine's Confessions."

     American Academy of Religion; Society of Biblical Literature, Pacific Northwest
     Region, History of Christianity Section, April, 1995: "Anti-Platonism in Augustine's
     Confessions."

     Oxford University, Twelfth International Patristics Conference, August, 1995: "St.
     Augustine and the Invention of Mysticism."

     Harvard University, American Academy of Religion, New England, Maritime
     Regional Meeting, March, 1996: "Ancient Apophatic Theology: A Reconsideration."

     American Academy of Religion, Annual Meeting, November, 1996, Platonism and
     Neoplatonism Group: "Platonism and Spiritual Purification in St. Augustine's
     Confessions.''

     Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting, November, 1997, Gnosticism and
     Later Platonism Seminar, "Ancient Apophatic Theology."

     Oxford University, Thirteenth International Patristics Conference, August, 1999,
     Master Theme Lecture: "St. Augustine and the Limits of Contemplation."

     American Academy of Religion, Annual Meeting, November, 1999, Platonism and
     Neoplatonism Group: "Apophanaticism."

     North American Patristics Society, Annual Meeting, May, 2001: "Augustine and the
     Inner Self."

     Oxford University, Fourteenth International Patristics Conference, August, 2003,
     "'Transcendentalism" in the Confessions."

Invited Lectures:

     Bowdoin College, Departments of Philosophy and Religion, April, 1980: "Plotinus and
     Classical Theism: Some Reflections on the Development of Platonism."

     Reed College Philosophy Colloquium Series, December, 1980: "The Demotion of the
     Demiurge."

     Portland Medieval Studies Group, October, 1982: "The Platonisms of the Third
     Century."

     Western Oregon State College, Department of Humanities, February, 1983:
     "Neoplatonism and Western Mystical Philosophy."

     Western Oregon State College, Department of Humanities, November, 1983:
     "Alternative Concepts of God in Western Philosophical Theology."

     Western Oregon State College, Department of Humanities, January, 1987: "Platonism
     and Contemporary Religious Thought."

     Warren Wilson College (NC), Humanities Lecture Series, November, 1988: "Soul
     and the Divine in Ancient Platonism."

     Reed College, Eliot Conference in Religion, "The Study of Mysticism," March, 1989:
     "Contemplation and the Mystical Monotheism of Plotinus."

     Western Oregon State College, Department of Humanities, May, 1990; Seminar:
     "Contemporary Studies in Mysticism."

     Reed College, Presidential Inaugural Lecture, March, 1993: "The Invention of
     Mysticism in Augustine's Confessions."

     St. Vincent College and Seminary, Scholar in Residence, October, 1993: "Original
     Sins."

     Whitman College (WA), Humanities Lecture, November, 1993: "The Invention of
     Mysticism in Augustine's Confessions."

     Brown University, Wayland Collegium Lecture and Interdisciplinary Faculty Seminar,
     March, 1994: "The Invention of Mysticism: Ancient and Modern Constructions."

     University of Chicago, Divinity School, May, 1994: "The Mysticism of Plotinus: A
     Re-examination."

     University of Tennessee, Department of Religious Studies, November, 2000: "The
     Emergence of Christian Mysticism."

     Reed College, Eliot Memorial Lecture, February, 2003:  “Ancient Transcendentalism:
     Platonic and Christian.”

     Washington Theological Union, Augustine Lecture, October, 2003: "The Mysticism of Saint
     Augustine."       

    The Catholic University of America: Center for the Study of Early Christianity Conference
    on Early Christian Studies and the Academic Disciplines, June 2005: "Rehellenization:
    Ancient Philosophy and Early Christian Studies."                                                       


Administrative Activities:

   Programs

     Christian A. Johnson Foundation: Educational Leadership Program. Seminar for
     College and University Deans, August, 2000.

     Project Director: AAHE New Pathways Post-Tenure Review Mini-Grant Program at
     Saint Michael's College, 2000-2001.

   Lectures

     Saint Michael's College, Convocation Address, October, 1999: "At the End of
     Modernity."

     Saint Anselm College, Delta Epsilon Sigma Address, January, 2000: "The End of
     Modernity."

     AAHE Faculty Roles and Reward Conference, Post-Tenure Review Assembly,
     February, 2001: "Redesigning Faculty Evaluation in Liberal Arts Institutions."

     Saint Michael's College, Convocation Address, November 2001: "A Safeguard
     Against Wickedness."

    Saint Michael's College, Phi Beta Kappa Address, Gamma of Vermont:
    "American Catholics and the Intellectual Life."

Other Academic Activities:

     Co-founder/Chair: AAR Annual Meeting Group, "Platonism and Neoplatonism,"
     1983-87. Steering Committee Member, 2003-

     Steering Committee Member, SBL Annual Meeting Seminar: "Gnosticism and Later
     Platonism," 1992-1998.

     Steering Committee Member, AAR Annual Meeting Section: "Augustine and
     Augustinianisms," 2000 -2003.

     Steering Committee Member, SBL Annual Meeting Seminar: "Rethinking Plato's Parmenides.”
    
2003-
     
     Fellowship Referee (Religion): National Endowment for the Humanities, 1987, 1988,
     1991.

     Manuscript Referee: State University of New York Press; University Press of New
     England; Cambridge University Press.

     Article Referee: Ancient Philosophy; Journal of Religion; Journal of the American
     Oriental Society; Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses.

     Chapter Delegate: Phi Beta Kappa, National Convention, 1982, 1985, 2003.

     President: Phi Beta Kappa, Beta of Oregon, Reed College, 1987-88.

     Member: Board of Trustees Education Committee, Catlin Gabel School, 1987-1989.

     Member: Principal Search Committee, Rice Memorial High School, 1997-98.

     Chair, Board of Scholars, Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont, 2004-

Professional Societies:

     American Academy of Religion
          Platonism and Neoplatonism Group
         Augustine and Augustinianisms Section

     North American Patristic Society

     Society of Biblical Literature
          Seminar:  Rethinking Plato's Parmenides and its Platonic, Gnostic and Patristic 
                           Reception     

     International Society for Neoplatonic Studies