Assoc. Prof. Joel Hodge

Joel Hodge grew up in Brisbane and completed his doctorate in Studies in Religion at the University of Queensland. He has published various books and articles, including "Resisting Violence and Victimisation: Christian Faith and Solidarity in East Timor" (Ashgate, 2012), based on his dissertation. Drawing on Timorese people's stories, this book explored the nature of Christian faith and the church in the context of violence, particularly how Christian faith provides the basis for forgiving and non-violent resistance to violent oppression. Joel also utilised the thought of René Girard. Joel has an active interest in East Timor and speaks the main local language, Tetun.

Recent Publications

“How Free are we? Individualism, Freedom and the State.” In Being Human: Groundwork for a Theological Anthropology for the 21st Century, edited by David Kirchhoffer, with Robyn Horner and Patrick McArdle, 315-331. Melbourne, Aus: Mosaic Press/Wipf and Stock, 2013.

“Church, State and Secularism: Ecclesiological Challenges for Asia & the Case of Timor-Leste.” International Journal of Practical Theology 16, no. 2 (2012, published in May 2013): 323-348.

“A Spirituality of Suffering and Resistance: The Catholic Church in Timor-Leste during the Indonesian Occupation.” South East Asia Research 21, no. 1 (March): 151-170.

Hodge, Joel, Resisting Violence and Victimisation: Christian Faith and Solidarity in East Timor. Farnham, UK: Ashgate, 2012.

Hodge, Joel, Cowdell, Scott and Fleming, Chris (eds), Violence, Desire and the Sacred: Girard’s Mimetic Theory Across the Disciplines. New York, NY: Continuum, 2012.

Selected Publications

Hodge, Joel. Resisting Violence and Victimisation: Christian Faith and Solidarity in East Timor. Farnham, UK: Ashgate, 2012.

Hodge, Joel, Cowdell, Scott and Fleming, Chris (eds). Violence, Desire and the Sacred: Girard’s Mimetic Theory Across the Disciplines. New York, NY: Continuum, 2012.

“Church, State and Secularism: Ecclesiological Challenges for Asia & the Case of Timor-Leste.” International Journal of Practical Theology 16, no. 2 (2012, published in May 2013): 323-348.

“A Spirituality of Suffering and Resistance: The Catholic Church in Timor-Leste during the Indonesian Occupation.” South East Asia Research 21, no. 1 (March): 151-170.

“Torture and Faith: The violent sacred and Christian resistance in East Timor.” In Violence, Desire and the Sacred: Girard’s Mimetic Theory Across the Disciplines, edited by Scott Cowdell, Chris Fleming and Joel Hodge. New York, NY: Continuum, 2012.

Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Ethics

Biblical Theology, Asian Religions, Christian faith & violence, Catholic Identity and Mission, René Girard's mimetic theory, East Timor (Timor-Leste),  Political Theology, Ecclesiology, Atonement, and the nexus between theology and anthropology.

Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Ethics, Biblical Theology, Asian Religions.

• Treasurer and Secretary, Australian Girard Seminar.
• Member, Fellowship of Biblical Studies (Melbourne).
• Member, Catholic Theological Society of America.
• Member, Australian Catholic Theological Association.
• Member, Colloquium on Violence & Religion (COV&R).
• Member, American Academy of Religion (AAR).
• Member, Timor-Leste Studies Association.