Tina Beattie
Encyclopedia
Tina Beattie is a British
Roman Catholic theologian, writer
and broadcaster. She is Professor of Catholic Studies at Roehampton University
and her academic research and publications include work on theology
, gender
and critical theory
, the symbolism and cult of the Virgin Mary
and, more recently, natural law
, human rights
and women's rights
. She has also written on the recent movement known as New Atheism
. In addition to her academic work
, she is often invited to give public lecture
s on issues relating to the role of religion in contemporary society. She is a regular contributor to the Catholic weekly journal The Tablet and also to the online journal Open Democracy.
Beattie was a mature student at the University of Bristol
, where she read theology and religious studies
before going on to do a PhD on Marian theology and symbolism in engagement with the ideas of Luce Irigaray
under the supervision of Professor Ursula King. Since then, she has lectured at the University of Bristol and Wesley College
, Bristol and also taught with the Open University
before taking up a full-time post at Roehampton University in 2002. She has a wide range of teaching and research interests in the area of religion, culture, and theology and teaching topics include Christian mysticism
, religion and film, theology, art and culture, religion and human rights, and moral theology
. She has also written on contemporary Roman Catholic mariology, especially on the Virgin Mary in the work of the twentieth-century theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Roman Catholic theologian, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and broadcaster. She is Professor of Catholic Studies at Roehampton University
Roehampton University
The University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
and her academic research and publications include work on theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
and critical theory
Critical theory
Critical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
, the symbolism and cult of the Virgin Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
and, more recently, natural law
Natural law
Natural law, or the law of nature , is any system of law which is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal. Classically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature and deduce binding rules of moral behavior. Natural law is contrasted with the positive law Natural...
, human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
. She has also written on the recent movement known as New Atheism
New Atheism
New Atheism is the name given to a movement among some early-21st-century atheist writers who have advocated the view that "religion should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises." New atheists argue that recent...
. In addition to her academic work
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, she is often invited to give public lecture
Public lecture
A public lecture is one means employed for educating the public in the sciences and medicine. The Royal Institution has a long history of public lectures and demonstrations given by prominent experts in the field...
s on issues relating to the role of religion in contemporary society. She is a regular contributor to the Catholic weekly journal The Tablet and also to the online journal Open Democracy.
Beattie was a mature student at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, where she read theology and 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...
before going on to do a PhD on Marian theology and symbolism in engagement with the ideas of Luce Irigaray
Luce Irigaray
Luce Irigaray is a Belgian feminist, philosopher, linguist, psychoanalyst, sociologist and cultural theorist. She is best known for her works Speculum of the Other Woman and This Sex Which Is Not One .-Biography:...
under the supervision of Professor Ursula King. Since then, she has lectured at the University of Bristol and Wesley College
Wesley College, Bristol
Wesley College, Bristol is a theological college in Bristol, England...
, Bristol and also taught with the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
before taking up a full-time post at Roehampton University in 2002. She has a wide range of teaching and research interests in the area of religion, culture, and theology and teaching topics include Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
, religion and film, theology, art and culture, religion and human rights, and moral theology
Ethics in religion
Most religions have an ethical component, often derived from purported supernatural revelation or guidance. "For many people, ethics is not only tied up with religion, but is completely settled by it...
. She has also written on contemporary Roman Catholic mariology, especially on the Virgin Mary in the work of the twentieth-century theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Hans Urs von Balthasar was a Swiss theologian and priest who was nominated to be a cardinal of the Catholic Church...
.
Books
- The New Atheists: The Twilight of Reason and the War on Religion (London: Darton, Longman and Todd, Maryknoll NY: Orbis Books. (2007/ 2008)
- New Catholic Feminism: Theology and Theory (London and New York: Routledge, 2006)
- Woman, New Century Theology Series (London and New York: Continuum, 2003)
- God’s Mother, Eve’s Advocate: A Marian Narrative of Women’s Salvation (London and New York: Continuum, 2002)
- Eve’s Pilgrimage: A Woman’s Quest for the City of God (London: Burns & OatesBurns & OatesBurns & Oates is a British Roman Catholic publishing house which now exists as an imprint of Continuum. It was founded by James Burns in 1835, originally as a bookseller...
; New York: Continuum, 2002)