I am a theologian with a primary interest in theological ethics, with an emphasis on German Protestant theology in ongoing dialogue with contemporary theologians, primarily from an Anglo-American context. I was educated as a theologian, academic and researcher in the tradition of Aarhus theology. At the same time, I have a desire to go beyond this tradition. This involves an anchoring in a Scandinavian and German philosophical and theological tradition with thinkers such as Martin Luther, Immanuel Kant, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and K.E. Løgstrup. Recently, my research has also included French and German phenomenology (especially Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Bernhard Waldenfels and Michel Henry). My research profile is therefore characterised by drawing on significant continental thinkers primarily from a philosophical, Protestant tradition. At the same time, my approach to theological ethics is influenced by continuous inspiration from Anglo-American theology and philosophy.
Currently on research sabbatical. Carlsberg Monograph Fellow from Sept 2025 - Aug 2026 to write a book about The Sensuous Nature: K.E. Løgstrup’s eco-phenomenology.
I am currently working on two books:
Theological and Philosophical Sources in Eco-Phenomenology. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, Accepted. (Elements in the History of Philosophy and Theology in the West).
The Responsive Body : Beginning, Altering, and Fulfilling Human Life - Christian Bioethics in Light of a Theological Anthropology. In progress.
My recent (Danish) books are:
Kærlighedens ansvar [The Responsibility of Love] (Forlaget Eksistensen) (2022). The book unfolds Christian ethics and explains how Christian love should characterise the Christian person's response in relation to both the foundations of ethics and specific areas (especially bioethics, economic issues, migration and natural ethics).
Offentlighedsteologi. En introduktion [Public Theology. An introduction] (2022) introduces the concept of public theology in a Danish context. The book is co-edited with Jonas Jørgensen and Birgitte Stoklund Larsen. A number of prominent contributors have written the various chapters.
I welcome invitations for lectures or collaborative research in these areas.
I have had the responsibility of research-based teaching, supervision and examination at both BA (+20 courses), MA (+20 courses), and PhD levels (6 courses) in 4 different faculties and several degree programmes, even if my primary experience is from theology. At theology and diaconia I have supervised +40 BA or MA theses. Just as my research, my teaching profile is also both international and -disciplinary. This profile has developed from my early teaching position in the US (PLU, Tacoma, WA), where I taught BA courses to my broad experience at Aarhus University, where I as an Associate Professor have taught both at the Faculty of Health, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Theology and Faculty of Arts. January 2022-December 2023 I taught several BA and Masters courses as Professor II at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society (Oslo). I have been/am PhD supervisor for four projects ranging from ethics of responsibility, robotheology, pastoral care in health care, the challenges for the church in a pluralist society, to food ethics.
My areas of work are research, teaching and supervision in ethics, philosophy of religion and systematic theology. I also give numerous public lectures in these areas.
My research is expressed through publication of research texts, research management, collaboration with other researchers and applying for grants for collaborative research projects. It is an important priority for me to support and promote young researchers' opportunities for either PhD scholarships or postdoctoral positions.
All enquiries about collaboration, requests for supervision or lectures in these areas are welcome.
