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Peter Browning, Ph.D.

Drury University > History, Philosophy & Religion > History, Philosophy & Religion Faculty > Peter Browning, Ph.D.
Portrait of Peter Browning.

Office: Pearsons Hall 308
Phone: (417) 873-7231
E-Mail: pbrowning@drury.edu

Office Hours

Monday

3 – 5 p.m.

Tuesday

2 – 4 p.m.

Wednesday

3 – 5 p.m.

Friday

3 – 5 p.m.

Note: Occasionally, I will need to be away for a special meeting or class. When that happens, I will leave a note on my office door (P308).

Peter Browning, Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophy & Religion
Chaplain

Peter Browning is in his second term of service at Drury having come to the university for a short stay during the eighties (1985-87) and then returning to settle down in 1991.  He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Ohio University and M.A./Ph.D. degrees in divinity from the University of Chicago.  His doctoral work was in Ethics and Society with a dissertation related to the field of medical ethics.

In 1984, he was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Browning teaches courses in Christian ethics, applied ethics, systematic theology, and the history of Christianity.  His publications are in the areas of medical ethics, sexual ethics and denominational ethical decision-making.

Peter is married to Dr. Carol Browning, retired professor of mathematics and computer science.  He is also a proud step-father to two adult step-children, Mac and James.  His hobbies include travel, hiking/walking and foreign language study.

Drury University faculty member since 1991
Professor since 2007

Education

  • B.A., Ohio University, 1977
  • M.A., University of Chicago, 1979
  • Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1987

Publications/Academic Books

  • Peter Browning and Marco Hofheinz, editors, Protestantische Ethik in den USA des 20. Jahrhunderts: Ein kommentierter Reader (Stuttgart, Germany: W. Kohlhammer Verlag, 2023).
  • Peter Browning, A Review of the Literature on Obesity, Health Measurement, and the Food Industry: A Theological Commentary on Three Approaches to These Problems (Lewiston, NY/Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales, UK: The Edwin Mellen Press, 2019).

Book Chapters

  • "Einleitung," Protestantische Ethik in den USA des 20. Jahrhunderts: Ein kommentierter Reader, trans. Raphael Döhn, Kai-Ole Eberhardt, Marco Hofheinz and Jan-Philip Tegtmeier (Stuttgart, Germany: W. Kohlhammer Verlag, 2023), pp. 1-67.
  • "US-amerikanische protestantische Ethik im 21. Jahrhundert: Ein Ausblick," trans. Marco Hofheinz, Protestantische Ethik in den USA des 20. Jahrhunderts: Ein kommentierter Reader (Stuttgart, Germany: W. Kohlhammer Verlag, 2023), pp. 289-314.
  • "The Continuing Relevance of Otto Piper's Christian Ethics," Otto Piper: Biographische, kirchliche und ethische Konstellationen zwischen den Welten, eds. Marco Hohheinz and Hendrick Niether (Tübingen, Germany: Mohr Siebeck, 2023), pp. 235-54.
  • Peter Browning, "Religion, Politics, and Donald Trump: How Should the Church Respond?," in Das Spannungsfeld von Religion und Politik: Deutung und Gestaltung im kulturellen Kontext, editors Kai-Ole Eberhardt and Ingo Bultmann (Baden-Baden, Germany: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 2019): 297-314.

Journals

  • Peter D. Browning, Editor (Author), Food Studies: An Annual Journal about Food Production, Food Distribution, and Food Consumption, and Health 2021-22 (Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press, 2021).

Publications/Academic Journals

  • Peter Browning, “The Global Obesity Epidemic: Shifting the Focus from Individuals to the Food Industry, Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, 37, 1 (2017): 161-178.
  • “Denominational Ethics, Racial-Ethnic Diversity, & the Wholeness Movement,” Encounter, (Fall, 2012), Vol. 73, No. 1, pp. 1-22 (lead article).
  • “Moral Discernment and Mainline Protestantism: Toward a Collaborative Christian Ethic,” Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics (Spring/Summer 2008), Vol. 28, No. 1: 109-132.
  • “Racial-Ethnic Diversity and the Church-Related College,” Lexington Theological Quarterly, Spring 2006, 41/1: 1-22 (lead article).
  • “Community Care for the Dying: Beyond the Euthanasia Debate,” (Winter, 2005), Vol. 66, No. 1: 23-44.
  • “A Liberal Appreciation of Post-Liberalism: Implications for Denominational Ethical Decision-making and the Debate over Homosexuality,” Encounter (Spring 2000) Vol. 61, No. 2: 144-65.
  • "Church Talk in Christian Ethics: Lessons from the Writing of Tex Sample and Robert Wuthnow," The Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics (1998), Vol 18: 121-38.
  • "Homosexuality, Ordination and Polity," Quarterly Review, Summer, 1994: 161-79.
  • "Ethical Options in the New Genetics," Church and Society (Sept. - Oct., 1982), 73:52-62.

Publications/General Articles

  • "On the Happiness of Being Little," Drury Magazine (Spring 2019): 19-21.
  • “Gay and Lesbian Rights” in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement edited by Paul Blowers, Anthony Dunnavant, Douglas Foster, and D. Newell Williams (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004), pp. 353-55.
  • “End of Life: The Community Alliance for Compassionate Care at the End of Life,” Greene County Medical Society Bulletin (September 2000): 17.
  • "What form for health care reform?," The Disciple (January 1997): 14-16.
  • "Compassionate community support for dying could relieve families of tragic suicide option," featured editorial in "Today's Dialogue: Assisted Suicide -- Helping loved one die an ethical, legal problem," Springfield News-Leader (Thursday, January 16, 1996).
  • "The Public Voice of the American Churches," DDH Bulletin, (spring, 1989): 1,5.
  • "Resolutions at the General Assembly," DDH Bulletin (Spring, 1988): 5-6.

Publications/Drury Service Articles

  • “First Word,” Drury Magazine (Spring, 2013), p. 1.
  • “Drury University offers Benefits to Gay/Lesbian Family,” Crossbeams on the Web, Sept. 2007.
  • “Carpe Diem: Live Faithfully,” The Lane: Alumni and Development News (Volume 13, Number 2) Summer 2002, pp. 17-18. [Sermon from the 2002 Alumni Reunion Weekend.]
  • "Pura Vida means adventure and growth in any language," Drury Magazine: Volume 9, No. 1 (Winter, 1999): 5-6.
  • "Active is in Learning," Drury Magazine: Volume 6, No 2 (Summer 1996): 10-13
  • "After 4 years, GP21 curriculum ready to go," The Drury Lane (Fall, 1995 [September]): 15.
  • "Setting Limits: Health Care and the Elderly," Drury Magazine Vol. 2, No. 1 (Winter 1992): 2-5.
  • "Humanities at the Hospital: How Virtue Saves Lives," Drury Magazine (Fall 2015): 34-37.

Publications/Book Reviews

  • Review of Out of the Shadows, Into the Light: Christianity and Homosexuality by Miguel De La Torre, editor (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2009) in Encounter, Vol. 72.1, Fall 2011: 167-168.
  • Review of The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence by Richard Lischer (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005) in Encounter, Vol. 69.4, Fall 2008, pp. 85-86.
  • Review of The New Measures: A Theological History of Democratic Practice by Ted A. Smith (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007) in Journal of Political Theology, Vol. 9.4 (Fall 2008): 566-68.
  • Review of After Harm: Medical Error and the Ethics of Forgiveness by Nancy Berlinger (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press) in Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics (Spring/Summer 2008), Vol. 28, No. 1: 243-45.
  • Review of Postcolonial Reconfigurations by R. S. Sugirthrajah (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2003) in Encounter (Winter, 2005), Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 75-76.
  • Review of More Lasting Unions: Christianity, the Family, and Society (Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000) in The Journal of Religion Vol. 81 (July 2001): 525-27.
  • Review of Interpreting God and the Postmodern Self by Anthony Thiselton (Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995) in Encounter (Spring, 1997: 220-222)
  • Review of Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin by Cornelius Plantinga (Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995) in Encounter (Summer, 1996: 284-85).
  • Review of A Matter of Principles? Ferment in U.S. Bioethics, editors, Edwin DuBose, Ron Hamel, and Laurence O'Connell (Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1994). October, 1995 in The Journal of Religion.
  • Review of The Craft of Theology by Avery Dulles (New York: Crossroad Publishing Co., 1992) for Encounter - winter, 1995.
  • Review of A Processive Revelation by Benjamin A. Reist, (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1992) in Encounter (Spring 1993): 312-13.
  • Review of Morality, Responsibility, and the University: Studies in Academic Ethics, ed. Steven Cahn, (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990) in Newsletters on Computer Use, Feminism, Medicine, Teaching, the American Philosophical Association; (fall, 1992).
  • Reviews of Karen Lebacqz's Professional Ethics: Power and Paradox (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1985) and Lewis Smedes' Caring and Commitment: Learning to Live the Love We Promise (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988) in Journal of Supervision and Training in Ministry, February, 1991.