Dr James Holt
Associate Professor
Biography
Dr James D. Holt is Associate Professor of Religious Education at the University of Chester. James is the Chair of Examiners for Religious Studies with one of the major awarding organisations in England. Prior to his role at Chester, James was a secondary school Religious Education teacher for 13 years. He holds BA, MA, and a PhD from the University of Liverpool, an MEd from the University of Birmingham, and a PGCE (Secondary Education) from Manchester Metropolitan University. His PhD constructed a Latter-day Saint theology of religions. He is the author of Beyond the Big Six Religions: Expanding the Boundaries in the Teaching of Religion and Worldviews (University of Chester Press, 2019), Religious Education in the Secondary School: An Introduction to Teaching, Learning and the World Religions (Routledge, 2015, 2022), Towards a Latter-day Saint Theology of Religions (2020) and is currently writing a series of six books for Bloomsbury introducing each of the six largest world religions. The first of these, Understanding Sikhism and Understanding Buddhism were published in 2023, Understanding Hinduism will be published in October. James has been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since his teens, served a mission in Scotland and has served as a Bishop, on a Stake Presidency, on the National Communication Council for the UK, and on the Curriculum Writing Committee of the Church.
Teaching and Supervision
I teach across all of the programmes in Initial Teacher Education focussing on the teaching of Religious Education. These programmes include: PGCE Early Years PGCE Primary BA QTS PGCE Secondary I also have subject leadership responsibility for RE and for Social Science. I teach and supervise on the EdD and welcome postgraduate students for research degrees.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Religion and Education. The current emphasis of this strand focuses around the representation of religions in the classroom. This has led to the following publications: Understanding Judaism. A Guide for Teachers part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews Series (Bloomsbury, 2024) under contract Understanding Hinduism. A Guide for Teachers part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews Series (Bloomsbury, 2024) Understanding Buddhism. A Guide for Teachers part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews Series (Bloomsbury, 2023) Understanding Sikhism. A Guide for Teachers part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews Series (Bloomsbury, 2023) Religious Education in the Secondary School: An Introduction to teaching, learning and the world religions Second Edition (London: Routledge, 2022) Beyond the Big Six: Expanding the Boundaries in the Teaching of Religion and Worldviews 100,000 words approx. (University of Chester Press, 2019) As part of this research I have been involved in research projects including: 2021-2023 AHRC Co-principal investigator with Professor David Clough. Christian Ethics of Farmed Animal Welfare Education Project. 2019-2020 LASAR (Learning about Science and Religion) Centre, Canterbury Christ Church University, Epistemic Insight Initiative 2016-2017 ‘Big Ideas’ led by Professor Michael Reiss from UCL Institute of Education, London. The aim of the project is to address issues concerning curriculum content selection, curriculum coherence and subject relevance in Religious Education (RE) in the 21st century by applying the theory of ‘Big Ideas’. The outcome of the project will be the identification of Principles and Big Ideas for RE, which can then be used as criteria for selecting and sequencing subject content. 2016-2019 ‘Learn Teach Lead RE’ Primary RE teaching in the North West. The programme is funded by the Culham St Gabriel Trust and is the fourth area of the programme (www.ltlRE.org). 2013- RE Council of England and Wales Subject Review of Religious Education 3-19 Member of Task Group Two 2011-2012- Reviving Palestinian Schools: Investing in classroom teachers program (5-9 years). This involves meeting with Palestinian colleagues in Chester and teaching model lessons; and reviewing course proposals for implementation at Bethlehem University 2005 Member of a PCFRE/RE Today Working Group to develop Assessment for Learning Resources for use within Religious Education. Across the Key Stages: Christian Education. I am particularly interested in the effect of faith on practise, as well as exploring a Christ centred pedagogy of teaching. A recent research project in this area is: 2017 In collaboration with the National Institute for Christian Education Research and Canterbury Christ Church University- an investigation into [perceptions of] the features of Christian foundation universities’ Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes that are particular to the university’s Christian foundation. Religion and the arts. The reflection of both the author’s and reader’s religious beliefs in literature is the main focus of this element of research. Much work has been carried out on various authors and their religious beliefs reflected in their writing. My research tends to focus on fantasy literature and authors such as Tolkien, Lewis, and Orson Scott Card. However, a relatively undeveloped area of research centres on the interface between the reader and literature. As such I am exploring how a reader’s beliefs can be developed and enhanced through an engagement with fantasy literature. Systematic theology mainly focussing on Mormon theology and inter-faith dialogue. My PhD thesis developed a utilised Christian theology to construct a systematic theology of various elements of Mormon theology: Christology, Pneumatology and Eschatology. These three areas remain a focus of research and have been extended to include other aspects of Mormon doctrine and theology. Papers and articles in this research area have included setting ground rules for inter-faith dialogue; the place of the Holy Ghost in LDS theology, and the interface between Mormon faith and scholarship.