THE DIVINITY SCHOOL at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
John Comenius Visiting Professor of Moravian Studies
Director of Public Theology Programs
B.A. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1983
M.Div. Moravian Theological Seminary, 1987
Ph.D. Princeton Theological Seminary, 1995
Craig D. Atwood is the John Comenius Visiting Professor of Moravian Studies. This position is named for the Moravian bishop and theologian John Amos Comenius (1592-1670), who is known today as "the father of modern education." Comenius was an active public figure who drew upon his faith to confront the injustices and cruelties of his age. He explored creative ways to educate the public about God, the world, and human responsibility, and many of his writings remain classics. The position of Comenius Professor is a joint effort of the Divinity School and Home Moravian Church.
Atwood teaches history of theology, history of Christology, Moravian history and theology, and has guided student projects in spiritual autobiography and Credo. In the area of public theology, he tries to bring the resources of the Divinity School to the wider public. This includes making the public aware of special lectures and programs at the Divinity School and working with the local community in organizing public theology events. Atwood also serves as Theologian in Residence at Home Moravian Church, and his weekly Adult Bible Class is broadcast live on WSJS radio, am 600 on Sunday mornings.
Prior to coming to Wake Forest, Atwood was the Clarkson S. Starbuck Assistant Professor of Religion at Salem College where he also served as chaplain. In addition, he served as a pastor in Philadelphia and was Assistant Dean of Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa. He has received the David Bishop Award for academic excellence from Moravian Seminary and the Dale Brown Award for excellence in scholarship from the Young Center for Pietist and Anabaptist Studies. He is an ordained minister in the Moravian Church.
Atwood is the author of the award-winning Community of the Cross: Moravian Piety in Colonial Bethlehem and the editor of the 11th and 12th editions of Handbook of Denominations in the United States, one of the most widely-used reference books on American religion. He has published several articles on various aspects of German Pietism and edited a volume of Nicholas von Zinzendorf's sermons. He has also held leadership positions in national and regional academic organizations and is editor of The Hinge: A Journal of Christian Thought for the Moravian Church. In addition, Atwood often speaks to church and civic organizations.
Craig Atwood's Adult Bible Class is broadcast every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. on WSJS (600 AM) in Winston-Salem.
Download Atwood's curriculum vitae [PDF].
