Robert Hamerton-Kelly
Encyclopedia
Robert G. Hamerton-Kelly (born 1938) is a Christian theologian, ordained United Methodist pastor, and author and editor of several books on religion and violence.
, and earned his Th.D. from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
under W. D. Davies
.
From 1972 to 1986, Hamerton-Kelly served as Dean of the Chapel at Stanford University
. Hamerton-Kelly also was minister of Stanford Memorial Church
, a Consulting Professor of Religious Studies
and, by courtesy, of Classics
.
At Stanford, Hamerton-Kelly became acquainted with René Girard
, and was a founding member of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion to further research and discuss the themes of Girard's work. In 1987, Hamerton-Kelly edited Violent Origins: Walter Burkett, René Girard, and Jonathan Z. Smith on Ritual Killing and Cultural Formation, essays from early meetings of the colloquium.
From 1986 to 1997, Hamerton-Kelly was a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for International Security and Arms Control
(now the Center for International Security and Cooperation) specializing in ethics of nuclear weapons and military intervention. During this time, Hamerton-Kelly was particularly interested in ethnic conflict in Central Europe. From 1996 to 2004, Hamerton-Kelly served as pastor at the Woodside Village Church in Woodside, California
.
Hamerton-Kelly is Chairman Emeritus of Imitatio, a research fund of the Peter Thiel
Foundation devoted to promoting research in Girard's mimetic theory
and disseminating awareness of it. He preaches twice a month in the Palo Alto Society of St John, and is writing on the themes of desire, violence, and power.
Life and career
Hamerton-Kelly was born in Cape Town, South Africa, received his undergraduate education from the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and earned his Th.D. from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
under W. D. Davies
W. D. Davies
William David Davies , always called W. D., was a Welsh congregationalist minister and academic theologian.-Life:He was born in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Educated at the University of Wales and at Cambridge , he was ordained to the ministry of the Congregational Church in 1941, and served parishes...
.
From 1972 to 1986, Hamerton-Kelly served as Dean of the Chapel at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Hamerton-Kelly also was minister of Stanford Memorial Church
Stanford Memorial Church
Stanford Memorial Church is located at the center of the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. It was built during the American Renaissance by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband Leland. Designed by architect Charles A...
, a Consulting Professor of Religious Studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
and, by courtesy, of Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
.
At Stanford, Hamerton-Kelly became acquainted with René Girard
René Girard
René Girard is a French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science. His work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy...
, and was a founding member of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion to further research and discuss the themes of Girard's work. In 1987, Hamerton-Kelly edited Violent Origins: Walter Burkett, René Girard, and Jonathan Z. Smith on Ritual Killing and Cultural Formation, essays from early meetings of the colloquium.
From 1986 to 1997, Hamerton-Kelly was a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for International Security and Arms Control
Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation
Formerly the Center for International Security and Arms Control, co-founded by physicist Sidney Drell and political scientist John Lewis, CISAC now stands for the Center for International Security and Cooperation...
(now the Center for International Security and Cooperation) specializing in ethics of nuclear weapons and military intervention. During this time, Hamerton-Kelly was particularly interested in ethnic conflict in Central Europe. From 1996 to 2004, Hamerton-Kelly served as pastor at the Woodside Village Church in Woodside, California
Woodside, California
Woodside is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States, on the San Francisco Peninsula. It uses a council-manager system of government. The U.S. Census estimated the population of the town to be 5,287 in 2010....
.
Hamerton-Kelly is Chairman Emeritus of Imitatio, a research fund of the Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel
Peter Andreas Thiel is an American business magnate, venture capitalist, and hedge fund manager. With Elon Musk and Max Levchin, Thiel co-founded PayPal and was its CEO...
Foundation devoted to promoting research in Girard's mimetic theory
Mimesis
Mimesis , from μιμεῖσθαι , "to imitate," from μῖμος , "imitator, actor") is a critical and philosophical term that carries a wide range of meanings, which include imitation, representation, mimicry, imitatio, receptivity, nonsensuous similarity, the act of resembling, the act of expression, and the...
and disseminating awareness of it. He preaches twice a month in the Palo Alto Society of St John, and is writing on the themes of desire, violence, and power.