معرفی
Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles is Professor of New Testament and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She also serves as Director of the Baptist House of Studies at Perkins. An ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA since 1996, she bridges academic scholarship with practical ministry, bringing biblical texts to life for both academic and popular audiences.
Dr. Clark-Soles received her academic training at prestigious institutions:
- Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University (2000)
- M.Div., summa cum laude, from Yale Divinity School (1993)
- B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in Philosophy (with a minor in Russian Studies) from Stetson University (1989)
Her scholarly work spans multiple intersecting areas that demonstrate her commitment to connecting ancient traditions with contemporary life. Dr. Clark-Soles is particularly known for her expertise in Johannine literature (the Gospel of John, 1-3 John, and Revelation), where she explores themes of divine encounter, ethics, and eschatology. Her research on evil, suffering, death, and afterlife in the New Testament has positioned her as a leading voice on these difficult theological topics. More recently, she has become a pioneering scholar at the intersection of psychedelics and Christianity, serving as a Field Scholar for the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality and participating in the Johns Hopkins Religious Professionals Study. Her work in disability studies and the Bible challenges harmful theological assumptions about disability while highlighting liberative potential within biblical texts.
Dr. Clark-Soles' scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on making biblical texts accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. Her recent publications show an increasing engagement with interdisciplinary approaches, particularly bridging theological scholarship with medical and psychological research on psychedelics. She has contributed significantly to both traditional biblical scholarship and emerging areas at the intersection of religion and contemporary scientific inquiry.
Her notable awards and distinctions include:
- Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Award (2014)
- Perkins Scholarly Outreach Award (2016)
- Ford Senior Research Fellowship
- Louisville Institute Christian Faith and Life Sabbatical Grant (2004-2005)
Dr. Clark-Soles serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Disability and Religion and previously served on the Journal of Biblical Literature editorial board. She has been active in the Society of Biblical Literature, serving on steering committees for the 'Ethics and Biblical Interpretation' and 'Johannine Literature' sections. Her grant work includes the Louisville Institute Christian Faith and Life Sabbatical Grant that supported her research on death and afterlife. As an ordained minister, she has served in both congregational and hospice settings, bringing practical pastoral experience to inform her academic work.
She is actively involved in several research networks and initiatives related to her psychedelic studies work, including the Transforming Chaplaincy Psychedelic Care Network and the Psychedelic Educators Network. Dr. Clark-Soles has earned the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research through the California Institute of Integral Studies, positioning her at the forefront of scholarly engagement with this emerging field.
