Dr. James F. McGrath holds the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he also chairs the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Trained at Cambridge, the University of London (B.D.), and Durham University (Ph.D.), McGrath has built a career defined by its astonishing range. His doctorate became the basis for John’s Apologetic Christology, published by Cambridge University Press, and he has since authored or co-authored more than a dozen books — from The Only True God and Theology and Science Fiction to the landmark two-volume Mandaean Book of John (with Charles Haberl of Rutgers University), produced with National Endowment for the Humanities support.
His most recent works include two companion volumes on John the Baptist — Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist and John of History, Baptist of Faith — both published by Eerdmans in 2024, as well as Beyond Deconstruction and Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Era of Generative AI.
What sets Dr. McGrath apart is his refusal to stay in one lane. He writes with equal authority about first-century Christology, Mandaean religious traditions, and science fiction — including his own published short stories. He co-authored Progressive Rock, Religion, and Theology with Frank Felice, invented Canon: The Card Game (an educational tool that teaches how the biblical canon was formed), and has given talks at venues ranging from academic conferences to Theology Beer Camp to Starbase Indy. Butler University has recognized that versatility repeatedly: he received the Outstanding Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2017, was elected an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa, and earned the First-Year Impact Award in 2024.
At Patheos, Dr. McGrath writes the Religion Prof blog on the Progressive Christian channel, where he covers the Bible, evolution, deconstruction, AI, pop culture, and virtually everything in between — often in the same week. Under his handle @ReligionProf, he maintains one of the most active social media presences of any scholar in his field. You can explore his work at Religion Prof on Patheos.
When asked what Dr. McGrath likes about publishing at Patheos, he replied, “As I tried to decide what I love most about writing for Patheos, there are so many things that come to mind. What quickly rose to the top of the list surprised me. The reason is that it is something that initially seemed like an unwelcome constraint. Let me explain. The leadership and staff at Patheos are concerned about the quality of content and maximizing reach, and they know things about what matters that most of us writers do not. When I was told that I really needed to stop doing so much of the ‘microblogging’ I was used to and focus on writing longer articles, I was initially frustrated.”
“Blogging had been like keeping a journal, only public. It was a place for making notes about ideas, as well as sharing them with others and hopefully getting feedback. Yet as I practiced the discipline of publishing posts less frequently and working on fleshing out their contents more, I became increasingly prouder and more satisfied with what I was writing. Patheos pushed me to write better, to not be satisfied with the quick posts that come so easily to a writer like me, and I’m grateful.”
Dr. McGrath had this advice to offer future Patheos contributors: “To those new to Patheos or hoping to write for Patheos in the future, my advice is related to what I just shared. When we write, we express ourselves and invest ourselves in what we craft. It is often difficult for those used to blogging, which was long the only real place where you could write whatever you wished whenever you felt like it, to join a community where we have a level of accountability. Embrace it. Just as is true when working with an editor on a book, as a rule, there is no desire to have you stifle your own voice or censor your opinions.”
“The aim is to help you do that better and more effectively. I am fully persuaded that, just as the discipline of daily writing helped me find my voice early on, writing for Patheos, and feeling accountable to provide content that is not only interesting but clear and informative as a result, has improved my writing in ways that have positively impacted my print publications as well. Approach writing for Patheos as an opportunity not only to reach a wider audience but to grow as a writer, and that’s precisely what you’ll get out of it. Welcome to the community!”
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