Dr Bethany Sollereder

Lecturer in Science and Religion

Contact details

Address

Street

New College
Mound Place
Edinburgh, EH1 2LX

City
Post code

Availability

  • Office 2.10
    New College

Postgraduate teaching

Teaches on the MSc in Science, Philosophy and Religion and the MSc in Science and Religion.

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Areas of interest for supervision

I am open to enquiries for PhD supervision in Science and Religion, particularly in areas of ecotheology, practical theology, animal theology, and questions around suffering.

Research summary

Bethany received her PhD in Theology from the University of Exeter and an MCS in interdisciplinary studies from Regent College, Vancouver. She specialises in theology concerning evolution and the problem of suffering. Her current work is about the theological possibilities and human vocation in the light of irreversible changes in ecological degradation.

She is also interested in the intersection between psychology and faith, particularly how different appraoches to theology can affect people's experience of suffering. This interest lead to the publication of "Why is There Suffering? Pick your own theological adventure" (Zondervan 2021), the first pick-your-own-ending theology book. Dr Sollereder is working on a wider research programme in what she has called "Compassionate Theodicy".

She has recently co-edited the volume "Progress in Theology: Does the Queen of the Sciences Advance?" (Routledge 2025).

 

Past research interests

You can see a list of publications here: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/bethany-sollereder

Knowledge exchange

Dr Sollereder is a regular public speaker at schools, churches, conferences and podcasts.

Some of the podcasts she has appeared on include The Alabaster Jar, What Your Pastor Never Told You, Mid-Faith Crisis, Biologos, Regent College, OnScript, Homebrewed Christianity, You Have Permission, Veritas Forum, Undeceptions, Recovering Evangelicals, THOUGHT, Voices of Islam Radio, BBC Scotland.

Current project grants

I am a sub-grantee on John Templeton Foundation grant Grant ID
62690 "The Psychology Of Faith: Academic Cross-Training For Christian Theologians And Philosophers Of Religion"

This article was published on