Fortin, Jean-Pierre

Jean Pierre Fortin-2021-cropped.jpg
College: University of St. Michael's College, Faculty of Theology
Degrees: PhD (St. Michael's)
Email: jeanpierre.fortin@utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-926-7115
Teaching Category:
Regular Tenure Stream
Appointment Status:
Basic Degree
GCTS Full
Research Interests:
Systematic / Philosophical / Contextual Theology
Liturgy / Ritual / Spirituality / Art
Practical Theology / Preaching / Religious Education

Bio

Dr. Jean-Pierre Fortin is Associate Professor of Practical Theology in the Faculty of Theology of the University of St. Michael’s College. Dr. Fortin holds a PhD in systematic theology from the University of St. Michael’s College, a PhD in philosophy from Université Laval and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Regis College. He serves as Director of Field Education and Pastoral Formation, overseeing the field placements of students completing the Master of Divinity, Master of Religious Education and Master of Theological Studies programs.

His teaching and research are interdisciplinary in approach and focus, geared towards producing a spiritual theology centered in a multi-level understanding of the human person combining the inputs of theology, philosophy, literature and natural science. Topics of particular interest are the spiritual formation of the human person through the processing of traumatic events and experiences, as well as the rethinking of fundamental theological notions such as sin and grace in light of the Jewish experience of the Holocaust, the African American experience of slavery and systemic racism, and the Indigenous experience of cultural genocide.

  • Specializations

    • Practical theology
    • Theology of ministry
    • Evil, suffering, sin, and grace
    • Christian doctrine
    • Philosophical theology
    • Ecumenism

  • Publications

    Books:

    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. Evolving Grace: Spiritual History of a Christian Doctrine. Proposal approved by Fortress Press on 9 October 2017. Complete manuscript submitted to Fortress Press in February 2024. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. Grace in Auschwitz: A Holocaust Christology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2016 [279 pages]. (R)

    Articles:

    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Blade Runner’s Replicant Humanity: Self-Discovery and Moral Formation in a World of Simulation.” Journal of Moral Theology 13, no. 1 (2024): 53-77. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Ecological Colonialism and Messianism: Frank Herbert’s Critical Vision.” International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society 13, no. 2 (2023): 105-22. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Redeeming Memory: Rewriting Canadian History and Christian Theology with Thomas King, Lee Maracle and Terry LeBlanc.” Religious Studies & Theology 41, no. 2 (2022): 167-84. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Revolution of Faith in Les Misérables: The Journey from Misery to Mercy in the Secular Age.” Journal of Moral Theology 11, no. 1 (2022): 133-55. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Theology Giving Back: A (De)constructive Reading of Jacques Derrida’s Phenomenology of the Gift.” Religious Studies & Theology 40, no. 1 (2021): 66-80. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “At Pains Following and Serving God: A Contemporary Theology of Joy in Suffering.” Heythrop Journal 62, no. 2 (2021): 39-64. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Christian Discipleship as Compassionate Listening: Learning to Be Human in Times of Pandemic.” Touchstone 39, no. 1 (2021): 28-39. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “White Church or World Community? James Baldwin’s Challenging Discipleship.” Journal of Moral Theology 9, no. 2 (2020): 39-64. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “‘Blessed Are Those Who Mourn’: The Coexistence and Paradoxical Conjunction of Joy and Suffering.” Studies in Spirituality 29 (2019): 273-314. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Pope Francis’ Global Spirituality: Mercy as Foundation for an Integral Theology.” Spiritus 19, no. 1 (2019): 64-80. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Self-Transcendence and Union in Christ: Karl Rahner’s Eucharistic Theology of Creation.” Philosophy & Theology 30, no. 2 (2018): 531-48. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Lament of a Wounded Priest: The Spiritual Journey of Job.” Religions 9, no. 12 (2018): 1-14. (R)
    • Fortin, Jean-Pierre. “Scriptural Spirituality as Postmodern Theology: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Transformational Interpretation of the Psalms.” Theology Today 75, no. 3 (2018): 358-70. (R)