Education: Ph.D., M.A., The Catholic University of America; B.A., Franciscan University
Dr. Benjamin Brown is a well-respected teacher and scholar at Lourdes and nationally. Known for his balance of passion and academic rigor in the classroom, he enjoys bringing faith and reason together in challenging students to think deeply about the most important things. He has taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Lourdes for twenty years and developed over twenty five courses.
Dr. Brown has published and presented in academic venues nationwide on marriage and family issues, Christian ethics, justice and mercy, social justice, consumerism, restlessness and love, and various other topics. He is particularly known for his scholarship on St. Anselm of Canterbury and Raymund Schwager and was awarded a 天美传媒 Faculty Fellowship grant for his work on a book chapter on Anselm.
A well-liked speaker, Dr. Brown is regularly sought after and has offered over one hundred popular presentations, day-long courses, seminars, or other classes in Ohio and Michigan. He teaches for the Toledo Diocese diaconate formation program, alternative educational programs in Ann Arbor, and the Mysterium Christi faith formation program. He hosts a short segment on Catholic Social Teaching for Annunciation Radio. He has presented on dozens of different topics and delights in the opportunity to bring complex theological concepts to people in a way that shows the power of the truth to transform lives.
Dr. Brown has served at the national level on the Anglican-Roman Catholic ecumenical dialogue and as an advisor for the U. S. Bishops Conference as a member of the National Advisory Council. He assisted for nearly ten years on the Toledo Diocese ecumenical commission, for which he offered presentations, reviewed materials, and helped develop an ecumenical training program. He has helped Catholic schools in various consultation capacities, including developing the high school curriculum for the CTK Homeschool Community Group in Ann Arbor.
Born and raised in Oregon State, he graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio with a triple major in math, computer science, and theology. His graduate work in theology took place at the Catholic University of America, where he wrote his dissertation on Swiss theologian Raymund Schwager.
His interdisciplinary background manifests itself in his passion for bringing a wide variety of disciplines together in the classroom. Dr. Brown has also drawn upon his technological training to lead an Ohio Learning Network Course ReVision Grant that helped Lourdes obtain the technology and training for its first Learning Management System in 2008.
Book Chapters
鈥淭he Christian Humanism of Anselm of Canterbury.鈥澛� In聽A Companion to Medieval Christian Humanism: Essays on Principal Thinkers.聽 Ed. John P. Bequette.聽聽Companions to the Christian Tradition,聽ed. Christopher M. Bellitto, vol. 69.聽 Boston, MA: Brill, 2016.
Peer-Reviewed Articles
鈥淛ustice and Mercy in Raymund Schwager鈥檚 Soteriology.鈥澛�聽International Journal of Systematic Theology.聽聽Vol 17, no. 2 (2015): 212-228.
鈥淪t. Anselm鈥檚 Soteriology in聽Redemptor Hominis.鈥澛犅�American Theological Inquiry.聽 Vol. 6, no. 2 (2013): 59-71.
鈥淏onaventure on the Impossibility of a Beginningless World: Why the Traversal Argument Works.鈥澛�American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly.聽79 (2005): 389-409.
鈥淎pologia pro聽Cur Deus Homo.鈥�聽Fides Quaerens Intellectum.聽2 (2003): 227-267.
鈥淭he Integration of Law and Virtue: Obedience in Aquinas鈥檚 Moral Theology.鈥�聽Irish Theological Quarterly.聽67 (2002): 333-351.
National Academic Conference Presentations
鈥淭ruth and Freedom in Catholic Social Teaching.鈥澛� Presented at the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists at St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA.聽 Oct. 25-26, 2024.
鈥溾�榃e Shall See Him as He Is鈥�: Moving from Skills-focused Busy-ness to Holistic Contemplative Education.鈥澛� Presented at the Annual Symposium on Advancing the New Evangelization at Benedictine College, Atchinson, KS.聽 Mar. 15-16, 2024.
鈥淎nselm of Canterbury on Freedom: A Libertarian-Compatibilist View for Today.鈥澛� Presented at the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH.聽 Oct. 27-28, 2023.
鈥�’Take Me and Redeem Yourself’: St. Anselm of Canterbury鈥檚 Eucharistic Soteriology.鈥澛� Presented at the Annual Symposium on Advancing the New Evangelization at Benedictine College, Atchinson, KS.聽 Mar. 24-25, 2023.
鈥淩evisiting Usury: Contemporary Relevance and Application.鈥澛� Co-presented at the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists at St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA. 聽Oct. 28-29, 2022.聽 With Andrew Blazsik.
鈥淔amily as First Teacher of Good Economic Practice.鈥� Presented at the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH. Oct. 25-26, 2019.
鈥淎ttention and Leisure: Learning to Love in an Increasingly Mediated World.鈥� Presented at the 8th Annual Symposium on Advancing the New Evangelization at Benedictine College, Atchinson, KS. Mar. 29-30, 2019.
鈥溾�榃e Shall See Him as He Is鈥�: Moving from Skills-focused Busy-ness to Holistic Contemplative Formation.鈥澛� Presented at the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists at Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI.聽 Oct. 28-29, 2016.
鈥淐onsumerism as Restless Detachment and Its Influence on Marriage and Family Life: Understanding a Key Issue for Social Work and Evangelization.鈥澛� Presented at the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists at Mount Saint Mary鈥檚 University, Emmitsburg, MD.聽 Oct. 24-25, 2014.
鈥淟ove and Leisure: Retrieving Genuine Restfulness as a Moral Category.鈥澛� Presented at the annual New Wine, New Wineskins Moral Theology conference at the University of Notre Dame.聽 August 1-3, 2014.
鈥淭he Unity of Justice and Mercy in Anselm of Canterbury.鈥澛� Presented at the annual New Wine, New Wineskins Moral Theology conference at the University of Notre Dame.聽 July 26-27, 2013.
鈥溾�楾he Truth Shall Set You Free: Raymund Schwager鈥檚 Theology of Jesus the Scapegoat.鈥澛� Presented at the annual conference of the College Theology Society at Iona College, New York.聽 June 3, 2011.
鈥淪aint Anselm of Canterbury in聽Redemptor Hominis.鈥澛� Presented at the 46th International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan.聽 May 13, 2011.
鈥淩ethinking Desire: Is a Kenotic Capitalism Possible?鈥澛� Presented at the annual New Wine, New Wineskins conference at the University of Notre Dame.聽 June 24-26, 2010.
鈥淔amily as First Teacher of Good Economic Practice.鈥澛� Presented at the annual conference of the College Theology Society at the University of Portland.聽 June 3-6, 2010.
鈥淛ustice, Grace and the God of Non-violence: An Analysis of Raymund Schwager鈥檚 New Proposal.鈥澛� Presented at the annual conference of the College Theology Society at the University of Notre Dame.聽 May 28-31, 2009.
鈥淐onsuming Marriage: The Roots of Marriage as a Consumer Good in American Life and a Counterproposal.鈥� Presented at the annual conference of the College Theology Society at the University of Dayton.聽 May 31-June 3, 2007.
Select聽Book Reviews聽
Review of聽How Did They Read the Prophets: Early Jewish and Christian Interpretations聽by Michael B. Shepherd.聽 Published at聽.聽 October, 2025.
Review of聽A Defense of Free Will against Luther聽by St. John Fisher, trans. and ed. Thomas Scheck.聽 Published at聽.聽 July, 2025.
Review of Fratelli Tutti:聽A Global Commentary, ed. William Cavanaugh, et al.聽 Published at聽.聽 Sept., 2024.
Review of聽A Quest for the Historical Christ:聽Scientia Christi聽and the Modern Study of Jesus聽by Anthony Giambrone.聽 Published at聽.聽 March, 2023.
Review of聽What Does the Bible Say about Strangers, Migrants and Refugees聽by vanThanh Nguyen, along with聽Blessed are the Refugees聽by Scott Rose, et al.聽 Published at聽.聽 April, 2022.
Review of聽The聽Sacraments and Consumer Culture, by Timothy Brunk.聽 Published at聽. 聽October, 2020.
Review of聽Silence Can Kill: Speaking Up to End Hunger and Make Our Economy Work for Everyone聽by Arthur Simon.聽 Published at聽.聽 January, 2020.
Review of聽The Disputed Teachings of Vatican II: Continuity and Reversal in Catholic Doctrine聽by Thomas Guarino.聽 Published at聽.聽 January, 2019.
Review of聽Catholic Economics: Alternatives to the Jungle聽by Angus Sibley.聽聽Catholic Social Science Review.听听2017.
Review of聽Commonwealth and Covenant: Economics, Politics, and Theologies of Relationality聽by Marcia Pally.聽 Published at聽. 聽August, 2016.
Review of聽Jesus and Salvation: Soundings in the Christian Tradition and Contemporary Theology聽by Robin Ryan.聽 Published at聽. 聽March, 2016.
Review of聽Faith and Unbelief聽by Stephen Bullivant.聽 Published at聽.聽February, 2015.
Review of聽Living the Truth: A Theory of Action聽by Klaus Demmer.聽聽Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics聽32 (2012): 227-28.
Review of聽Christ Our Hope: An Introduction to Eschatology聽by Paul O鈥機allaghan.聽 Published at聽聽聽Sept., 2011.
Review of聽The Consumer Experience of Higher Education: The Rise of Capsule Education聽by Dierdre McArdle-Clinton.聽聽Teaching Theology and Religion聽13, no. 4 (2010): 391-3.
Review of聽Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire聽by William T. Cavanaugh. 聽Published at聽聽August, 2008.聽聽Reprinted in:聽In the Vineyard, June 18, 2009.
Boards, Councils & Consultations
Inclusion/Diversity Advisory Committee of Notre Dame Academy, 2018-present
CTK Homeschool Community Group, Ann Arbor, Board member, 2014-2018
External Reviewer for St. Kateri Schools accreditation, 2013
Diocese of Toledo Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Commission member, 2006-2013
National Advisory Council to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops member (4 year term, 2009- 2013)
Non-voting participant in the Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue in the United States (ARC-USA)
Awards & Grants
Faculty Excellence Award, 天美传媒, 2018-19.
Sabbatical awarded for work on a book,聽Love and Leisure: Finding Rest in a Restless World.聽 Fall, 2014.
天美传媒 Scholarship Fellowship Grant for work on a book chapter on Anselm of Canterbury鈥檚 Christian Humanism, 2013-14.
Lourdes College Scholarship Fellowship Grant for work on a paper on family and economics, 2010-11.
Consultation on Catholic identity for Our Lady of Grace grade school, 2009
Ohio Learning Network Course ReVision grant facilitator, 2007-8
Faculty Excellence Award, Lourdes College, 2007-8.
National Catholic Education Association Catholic Elementary School Distinguished Graduate award, 2006.
Catholic University of America, Hubbard Dissertation Fellowship recipient, 2005.
Franciscan University Alpha Phi Delta Award, given to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average, 2000.
Select聽Popular Presentations
Guest/Interview on 鈥淭he Virtuous Life鈥� radio show with Patricia Oedy-Murray on C.S. Lewis鈥� Till We Have Faces, Annunciation Radio. Oct, 2019.
鈥淐atholic Conversations: Knowing and Living in the Holy Spirit Personally.鈥� Presentation for Diocese of Toledo pastoral center. August 12, 2019
鈥淢atthew: Gospel of the Great Commission.鈥� Presentation at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Genoa, OH for Emmaus Days adult education and CEU. July 31, 2019.
鈥淐hivalry and Manhood.鈥� Father-son day of reflection, Christ the King Catholic church. April, 2018.
鈥淐atholic Conversations: Leisure and the Life of Grace.鈥� Presentation for Diocese of Toledo pastoral center initiative. July 9, 2018.
鈥淕race and Freedom: The Beautiful Catholic Synthesis.鈥� Presentation at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Genoa, OH for Emmaus Days adult education and CEU. Aug. 2, 2017.
鈥淢ercy as the Meaning of Life: Mercy, Trust, Humility, and Freedom at the Heart of the Gospel.鈥澛� Presentation at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Genoa, OH for Emmaus Days adult education and CEU.聽 Aug. 4, 2016.
Interview on the virtue of hope and eternal life with Patricia Oedy-Murray for 鈥淭he Virtuous Life鈥� radio show, Annunciation Radio.聽 April, 2016.
鈥淔lying High with the Gospel of John.鈥澛� Presentation at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Genoa, OH for Emmaus Days adult education and CEU. 聽Aug. 6, 2015.
鈥淩omanesque and Gothic Architecture.鈥澛� Presentation to St. Augustine鈥檚 Home School Tutorial.聽 St. Patrick parish, Whitmore Lake, MI.聽 Dec. 9, 2015.
鈥淭ypology and Prophecy in the Bible,鈥� as a guest speaker for an Old Testament class.聽 Christ the King homeschool co-op, Ann Arbor, MI.聽 May 14, 2015.
Three presentations for seminar on聽The Theology of the Body and the New Evangelization:聽鈥淔alling in Love with Christ,鈥� 鈥淟iving and Loving Deeply,鈥� and 鈥淓mbodying the Gospel of Love.鈥澛� St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Findlay, OH. 聽April 26, 2014.
鈥淢ary鈥檚 Role in Salvation History.鈥澛� Two presentations for the Toledo Catholic Men鈥檚 Conference.聽 Seagate Conference Center, Toledo, OH.聽 March 15, 2014.
鈥淏aroque Art, the Enlightenment, and Neo-classical Art.鈥澛� Presentation to St. Augustine鈥檚 Home School Tutorial.聽 St. Patrick parish, Whitmore Lake, MI.聽 Sept. 25, 2013.
鈥淲hy Marriage is Awesome.鈥澛� Presentation for the Celebrate Marriage evening at St. Joseph parish, Maumee.聽 Mar 9, 2013.
鈥淚conography and Gothic Art.鈥澛� Presentation to St. Augustine鈥檚 Home School Tutorial.聽 St. Patrick parish, Whitmore Lake, MI. 聽Oct. 24, 2012.
Annunciation Radio show Faith Alive discussion about religious liberty. 聽September 4, 2012.
鈥淩eligious Liberty.鈥澛� Presentation and conversation with a group in Toledo, Ohio. 聽May 31, 2012.
鈥淢arital Spirituality.鈥澛� Talk to engaged couples at Corpus Christi University Parish.聽 Toledo, OH. 聽Apr. 21, 2012.
鈥淭he Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.鈥澛� Presentation to faculty of Franciscan Academy of 天美传媒. 聽Apr. 17, 2012.
鈥淭he Sacraments in General: The Beauty of God鈥檚 Plan?鈥澛� Presentation to faculty of Franciscan Academy of 天美传媒. 聽Apr. 3, 2012.
鈥淢oral Theology and Contemporary Bioethics Issues.鈥澛� A series of presentations and reflections for the Diocese of Toledo Deacon鈥檚 Conference.聽 Findlay, OH. 聽Nov. 4-5, 2011.
鈥淭he Catholic View of the Afterlife.鈥澛� Class for teacher in-service.聽 St. Pius X parish school, Toledo, OH. 聽Nov. 2, 2010.
Keynote address at the 天美传媒 Research Symposium: 鈥淩eflections on St. Francis and the Nature of Research.鈥澛� April 20, 2010. 聽Published in The Cord,聽鈥淩eflections on St. Francis and the Nature of Research,鈥澛�63.2 (2013): 154-62.
鈥淐hurch History: St. Thomas Aquinas to Vatican II,鈥� for St. Luke鈥檚 Deanery at Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Toledo, OH. 聽Mar 24, 2010.
鈥淲hat Would a Catholic Do?: Decisions in the 20s to 40s.鈥� 聽Presentation for Rosary Cathedral Lenten lecture series.聽 Toledo, OH. 聽Mar 3, 2010.
鈥淚鈥檓 Okay, You鈥檙e Okay: Is There a Source of Universal Values.鈥澛� Panel Discussion at Bowling Green State University. 聽Feb. 21, 2010.
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鈥淓cclesiology鈥� course taught for Diocese of Toledo permanent diaconate formation program. Fremont, OH. Fall, 2019.
鈥淢edieval History鈥� course taught for St. Augustine鈥檚 Homeschool Enrichment Program in Whitmore Lake, MI. 2019-20.
鈥淐atholic Social Teaching鈥� course for Christ the King homeschool life, open to parents and students. Summer, 2019.
鈥淥ld Testament鈥� course for CTK Homeschool Community Group in Ann Arbor, MI. 2017-18.
鈥淭rinity, Christ, and the Human Person鈥� course for CTK Homeschool Community Group in Ann Arbor, MI. 2017-18
鈥淓schatology鈥� course taught for Diocese of Toledo permanent diaconate formation program.聽 Fremont, OH. 聽Dec. 3, 2016.
鈥淩enaissance, Reformation and Early Modern World鈥� course for St. Augustine鈥檚 Homeschool Enrichment Program in Whitmore Lake, MI. 聽2016-17.
鈥淥ld Testament鈥� course for CTK Homeschool Community Group in Ann Arbor, MI. 聽2015-16.
鈥淓cumenism and Interreligious Dialogue,鈥� a weekend course for diaconate formation program, Diocese of Toledo, Freemont, OH. 聽Mar. 6-7, 2015.
鈥淭he Creed,鈥� a day-long course taught for the Diocese of Toledo聽Mysterium Christi聽program.聽 Toledo, OH. 聽June 19, 2014.
鈥淭he Gospel Message,鈥� a day-long course taught for the Diocese of Toledo聽Mysterium Christi聽program.聽 Rossford, OH. 聽Oct. 19, 2013.
鈥淭homistic Philosophy鈥� course for St. Augustine鈥檚 Homeschool Enrichment Program in Whitmore Lake, MI. 聽2013-14.
鈥淢oral Theology鈥� three-day聽course taught for the Diocese of Toledo聽Mysterium Christi聽program.聽 Rossford, OH.聽聽Winter, 2011-12.
鈥淚ntroduction to the Gospel and Old Testament鈥� three-day聽course taught for the Diocese of Toledo聽Mysterium Christi聽program.聽 Catholic Center, Toledo, OH. 聽Fall, 2010.
鈥淧neumatology and Eschatology鈥� course taught for Diocese of Toledo permanent diaconate formation program.聽 Catholic Center, Toledo, OH. 聽Spring, 2007.
Courses Developed and Taught
THS 125:聽Foundations of Theology
THS 211: History of Christianity I
THS 212: History of Christianity II
THS 232: Theology of Marriage
THS 235: Survey of Catholic Belief
THS 265: Christian Ethics
THS 310: Trinitarian God and the聽Human Person
THS 312: Jesus the Christ
THS 316: Shape and Mission of the Church
THS 435: Peace, Justice, and Forgiveness
THS 490: Capstone Seminar
THS 600: Theological Foundations
THS 625: Theological Anthropology
THS 640: Ecclesiology
THS 645: Foundations of Moral Theology
THS 698: Capstone Seminar
MLS 615: Philosophy and Theology of the Human Person
