Brandon R. Peterson portrait
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Philosophy
  • Assistant Professor, World Languages and Cultures
801-585-7292

Research Summary

Peterson's research concerns Christian doctrinal traditions throughout history and in conversation with various philosophies. Specifically, his publications have examined Christology and soteriology (as seen in the theologies of Karl Rahner, Thomas Aquinas, Anselm, and Irenaeus in particular). He also researches and publishes on the event of the Second Vatican Council.

Education

  • B.A., Theology; Mathematics, University of Notre Dame
  • M.T.S., Systematic Theology, University of Notre Dame
  • Ph.D., Systematic Theology, University of Notre Dame. Project: "Being Salvation": A Reconsideration of Karl Rahner's Christ as Savior"

Biography

Brandon R. Peterson is an Associate Professor (Lecturer) at the University of Utah, teaching topics in Religious Studies for the Philosophy Department. He received his Ph.D. (AOS: Systematic Theology; AOC: World Religions, World Church) at the University of Notre Dame in 2015.
 
His monograph, Being Salvation: Atonement and Soteriology in the Theology of Karl Rahner (Fortress Press, 2017), argues that Christ’s role as “representative” is an underappreciated part of Karl Rahner’s soteriology. It gives special attention to Rahner’s early studies of and writings on the Church Fathers (particularly Rahner’s theology dissertation, “E latere Christi”).
 
Prof. Peterson's other publications include "Grace in Our Place? The Concept of Representation in the Theology of Karl Rahner" (Theological Studies), "Would a Forgiving God Demand Satisfaction" (Angelicum), "Karl Rahner on Patristic Theology and Spirituality" (Philosophy & Theology), "Who is He to Judge?" (America), “Paving the Way? Penalty and Atonement in Thomas Aquinas’s Soteriology” (International Journal of Systematic Theology), “Critical Voices: The Reactions of Rahner and Ratzinger to ‘Schema XIII’ (Gaudium et Spes)” (Modern Theology). He has also published essays on religious change and ecclesiology in light the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.
 
Prof. Peterson has taught couses on world religions, Jewish-Christian relations, Christology, methodology in religious studies, medieval Christian thought, modern Christian thought, ancient Christian thought, the Bible and early Christianity, the ancient world, Catholicism, and ecclesiology.