Dr. Rakesh Peter-Dass

Dr. Rakesh Peter-Dass studies the role of religion in society, and his research and teaching focus on the intersections of religion with business, language, law and politics. His latest book, , was published by Routledge in 2019. Ongoing projects include manuscripts on:

Hindi, Hindu nationalism and Christianity
The shaping of religious rights in legal rulings by the Supreme Courts in India and the U.S.
An interpretation of Luther on good works in light of Ramanuja鈥檚 commentary on the Bhagavad Gita to commemorate the happy convergence in 2017 of the 1000th birth anniversary of the great Hindu philosopher-theologian Ramanuja and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. This book will be published as Proper Acts: Ramanuja and Luther on Works, Fortress Press, forthcoming.

At 换妻社区 (which he joined in 2016), he teaches courses on world religions, the Bhagavad Gita, business and religion, and Hindu-Christian theology.

Before joining Hope, Professor Peter-Dass completed teaching fellowships at Yale and Harvard, served as the Departmental Teaching Fellow for religion at Harvard, worked with the National Council of Churches in India and the Christian Conference of Asia, led EASY Net (a network of six international development agencies active in 26 countries) and consulted for intergovernmental, governmental, for-profit and non-profit clients.

Areas of Expertise

Religion and society
World religions
Business and religion
Hinduism
Christianity

Education

M.B.A., University of Oxford, 2016
Th.D., Harvard University, 2016
Dip. Theo., University of London, 2010
M.Div., Yale University, 2008
M.D.B.A., Indian Institute of Modern Management, 2003
M. Commerce, Nagpur University, 2001
P.G. Dip. International Trade, Bhavan鈥檚 Institute, 2000
B. Commerce, Nagpur University, 1999

Honors, Grants and Awards

Sa茂d Foundation Scholarship, University of Oxford, 2015鈥�16
Educational Grant Program, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2015鈥�16
Selva J. Raj Endowed International Dissertation Research Fellowship, American Academy of Religion, 2014鈥�15
South Asia Institute Winter Session Grant, Harvard University, 2014
Asian Theological Summer Institute Grant, 2014
Presidential Fund Fellowship, Harvard University, 2011鈥�12, 2013鈥�14
Dean鈥檚 Dissertation Fellowship, Harvard Divinity School, 2013鈥�14
Dean鈥檚 Dissertation Travel Grant, Harvard Divinity School, 2013鈥�14
Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Harvard University, 2013
Certificate of Achievement in Teaching in Higher Education, Harvard University, 2012
Graduate Writing Fellow, Harvard University, 2012
Respondent, 2011-12 Dudleian Lecture, Harvard University, 2012
President鈥檚 Discretionary Fellowship, Harvard University, 2010鈥�11, 2012鈥�13
Graduate Research Grant, South Asia Initiative at Harvard, 2010鈥�11
Mark of Credit, University of London, 2010
Nock, Arnold, and Meyringh Fellowships, Harvard Divinity School, 2009鈥�2010
Campbell Fellowship, Harvard Divinity School, 2008鈥�09
Magna cum laude, Yale Divinity School, 2008
Class of 鈥�52 International Student Scholarship, Yale Divinity School, 2006鈥�08
World Communion Scholar, United Methodist Church, 2005鈥�08
Class of 鈥�52 Scholarship, Yale Divinity School, 2005鈥�06

Selected Publications

, Routledge, 2019
Review of Arun W. Jones, Missionary Christianity and Local Religion: American Evangelicalism in North India, 1836-1870, in International Journal for Indian Studies, 2019
鈥淎ct Properly: Ramanuja and Luther on Works,鈥� Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies, 2018
鈥淚ndian Christian Traditions,鈥� with M. Thomas Thangaraj in Religions of India: An Introduction, edited by Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby, Routledge, 2018
鈥淭ranslating with Care: An Essay on Hindi Protestant Christian Writings,鈥� International Journal of Hindu Studies 21:1, Springer, 2017
鈥淏eyond Words: Knowledge of God in the theologies of Dionysius and Ramanuja,鈥� CTC Bulletin, Vol. XXIX, No. 1, Christian Conference of Asia, August 2013
鈥淭heology鈥檚 Language,鈥� Zine, event publication for Theological Times: A Gathering for Doctoral Students of Theology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 2011
, an online source on religion and spirituality, Colorado, USA
- 鈥淨 & A: What are doctrines? Do all Christian churches have them?鈥� (August 2009)
- 鈥淨 & A: What does it mean to be saved?鈥� (August 2009)
- 鈥淭heologian of the month: Calvin鈥� (June 2009)
- 鈥淲hat is the difference between a Protestant and a Catholic?鈥� (June 2009)
- 鈥淧erspective: On Martyrdom鈥� (June 2009)
- 鈥淭heologian of the month: Luther鈥� and 鈥淭he Word: What is Salvation?鈥� (April 2009)
鈥淕lobalization in Asia and the Role of the Ecumenical Movement,鈥� in Together in Action for Peace and Reconciliation, EASY Net, 2004
鈥淭he Table of Prayer,鈥� 鈥淲alk We Must,鈥� and 鈥淟iturgy for Peace,鈥� in Peace Be With You, EASY Net, 2002
鈥淵outh, Faith, and the Indian Church,鈥� in Raul Fernandez-Calienes, ed., The Asian Church in the New Millennium, Voices from the Edge Series, No. 2, SPCK and Center for Millennial Studies, 2000
鈥淭emples of Modern India?,鈥� in the National Council of Churches in India Review, NCCI Publications, 1999

Books Edited

Building Communities of Peace for All: Minutes and Report of the 12th General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia, with David Gill (Hong Kong: Christian Conference of Asia), 2005
In the Quest of Peace: The Report of the North-East Asia Peace Consultation 2003, with Kasta Dip (Hong Kong: Christian Conference of Asia), 2004
Worship and Liturgy in New Key by Satish Gyan, with Philip Mathew (Hong Kong: Christian Conference of Asia), 2004

Outside the College

Co-Chair, Theology and Religious Reflection Unit, American Academy of Religion, 2018鈥�2023
Steering Committee, Theology and Religious Reflection Unit, American Academy of Religion, 2014鈥�2018
Editorial Board, Hindi Theological Literature Committee, India, 2011鈥�2015
Oxford Business Alumni Boston Board, 2013鈥�2015
New England Synod Council, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2011鈥�2015
President (2011鈥�14), Councilor (2009鈥�2014), Faith Lutheran Church, Cambridge (Massachusetts)
Councilor and Secretary, Kowloon Union Church, Hong Kong, SAR China, 2003鈥�2005

Professor Peter-Dass enjoys good conversations, diverse food, playing soccer, traveling and the discovery of new things.