Kutter Callaway 

William K. Brehm Chair of Worship, Theology, and the Arts 

Associate Dean, Center for Advanced Theological Studies 

Co-Director, Brehm Film 

Fuller Theological Seminary 

135 N. Oakland Avenue 

Pasadena, CA 91182 

213.804.2141 (c) 

626.584.5242 (o) 

kuttercallaway@fuller.edu 

Ph.D. Psychological Science, Fuller Theological Seminary, 2021
Ph.D. Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, 2010
M.A. Psychological Science, Fuller Theological Seminary, 2019
M.A.T. Biblical Studies/Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 2006
B.S. Psychology, University of Colorado, 2001

Associate Dean: Center for Advanced Theological Studies
Fuller Theological Seminary

Associate Professor of Theology and Culture
Fuller Theological Seminary

Co-Director: Brehm Film
Fuller Theological Seminary

Associate Editor: Theology in Research and Practice
Journal of Psychology and Christianity

Co-Chair: Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group
American Academy of Religion

General Editor, Brehm Engaging Culture Series
Fortress Press

General Editor, Reel Spirituality Monograph Series
Wipf and Stock Publishers

2022-2025: Measuring the (Im)measurable in Real Life, Principal Investigator
Templeton Religion Trust ($1,228,511.00)

2022-2023: Luce-AAR Advancing Public Scholarship, Principal Investigator
American Academy of Religion and The Luce Foundation ($5,000)

2021-2022: Post-Doctoral Fellowship, TRI Human Brain and Cognition Lab
John Templeton Foundation ($42,000)

2021-2022: Science in Seminaries Seed Grant, Principal Investigator
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) ($15,000)

2020-2021: Art Seeking Understanding, Principal Investigator
Templeton Religion Trust ($234,499.95)

2019-2022: Academic Cross-Training, Fellow
John Templeton Foundation ($70,686)

2019-2021: Technology and Inter-faith Engagement, Principal Investigator
The Luce Foundation ($40,000)

2018-2021: Psychology for Theologians, Key Academic Contributor
John Templeton Foundation ($70,005)

2017-2018: Analytic Theology for Theological Formation, Fellow
John Templeton Foundation ($33,150)

Theology for Psychology and Counseling: An Invitation to Holistic Christian Practice. With William Whitney. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2022.

Techno-Sapiens in a Networked Era: Becoming Digital Neighbors. Edited with Ryan Bolger. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2020.

The Aesthetics of A/theism. With Barry Taylor. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2019.

Deep Focus: Film and Theology in Dialogue. With Robert Johnston and Craig Detweiler. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019.

Breaking the Marriage Idol: Reconstructing our Cultural and Spiritual Norms. Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press, 2018.

Watching TV Religiously: Television and Theology in Dialogue. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016.

Scoring Transcendence: Contemporary Film Music as Religious Experience. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2013.

Constructive Theology in the Psychology Classroom, Journal of Psychology and Christianity 42, no. 1 (2023).

Restoring Human Nature: Constructive Theological Anthropologies Engaging the Psychological Sciences, Theologica 6, no. 1 (2022)

“The Aesthetics of Empathy: Effects of Visual Composition on Cognitive and Affective Empathy,” Journal of Positive Psychology (under review).

“Photographic Art Induces Self-Transcendent Emotions,” Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (in press). With Marah Al-Kire, Wade C. Rowatt, and Sarah Schnitker.

“The beautiful mess of collaboration: An embodied pedagogy for teaching across disciplines, genders, races, and theological traditions,” Journal of Psychology and Christianity 42, no. 1 (2023), 51–58. With Tina Houston-Armstrong.

“Measuring the Immeasurable: On the Psycho-Socio-Spiritual Effects of Aesthetic Experiences of Art,” Journal of Psychology and Theology (2023). With Wade C. Rowatt, Sarah A. Schnitker, and Rosemary Al-Kire https://doi.org/10.1177/00916471231158557

“Rethinking Tradition.” Journal of Psychology and Christianity 42, no. 1 (2023).

“Theorizing Theory in Theology and Psychology.” Journal of Psychology and Christianity 41, no. 2 (2022), 165–168.

“I’ve Heard This Somewhere Before (Revisited): The Myth-Making Implications of the ‘Han and Leia Theme.’” In The Myth (Re-)Awakens: Canon, Conservatism, and Fan Reception of Star Wars Revisited, edited by Ken Derry and John Lyden. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2023.

"Quiet Ego is Associated with Positive Attitudes Toward Muslims," Frontiers in Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology 13: 893904 (2022). With Rosemary Al-Kire, Heidi Wayment, Brian Eiler, Jo-Ann Tsang. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.893904

“Transcendence, The Arts, and New Creation: An Empirical Approach,” in The Arts and New Creation, edited by Jeremy Begbie, Daniel Train, and David Taylor. Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press (2022).

“Considering Religious Education and Online Pedagogy: The (Trans)formative Potential of Theological Higher Education.” With Sarah Wells and Tommy Lister. In Oxford Handbook of Digital Religion, edited by Heidi Campbell and Pauline Cheong. New York: Oxford University Press (2022). https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197549803.001.0001

“Spiritual Vision(s): An Empirical Examination of the Psychological, Spiritual, and Religious Effects of Photographic Art. PhD diss., School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, 2021. MLA International Bibliography (28768258).

“On the Possibilities and Pitfalls of Watching TV Religiously,” St. Marks Review 257, no. 3 (2021).

“Tolkien: A Modern Day Mythopic,” Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal (2020).

“Book Review: Becoming Human: A Theory of Ontogeny,” Journal of Psychology and Theology (2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/0091647120956968 https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197549803.001.0001 Techno-Sapiens in a Networked Era: Becoming Digital Neighbors, edited by Kutter Callaway and Ryan Bolger. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2020.

“Not All ‘Transcendence’ is Created Equal: Distinguishing Ontological, Phenomenological, and Subjective Beliefs about Transcendence.” Journal of Philosophical Psychology (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/09515089.2020.1743254.

“Experimental Psychology and the Generosity of the Spirit.” The International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church 20, no. 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/1474225X.2020.1723045.

“Experimental Theology: Theological Anthropology and the Psychological Sciences.” Journal of Psychology and Theology 48, no. 1 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1177/0091647119854117.

“An Atheological Pedagogy.” Didaktikos: Journal of Theological Education 2, no. 5 (2019).

“Interface is Reality.” In The Html of Cruciform Love, edited by Eric Lewellen and John Frederick. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2019.

“I’ve Heard This Somewhere Before: The Myth-Making Implications of the ‘Han and Leia Theme.’” In The Myth (Re-)Awakens: Canon, Conservatism, and Fan Reception of Star Wars, edited by Ken Derry and John Lyden. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2018.

“True Grit.” In God in the Movies, edited by Robert K. Johnston and Catherine Barsotti. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017.

“The Mission.” In God in the Movies, edited by Robert K. Johnston and Catherine Barsotti. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017.

“Amadeus.” In God in the Movies, edited by Robert K. Johnston and Catherine Barsotti. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017.

“Noah.” In God in the Movies, edited by Robert K. Johnston and Catherine Barsotti. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017.

“Syncopated Beats and the History of Sadness: The Affective Fusion of Audience and Film Through Music.” Religions 8, no. 4 (2016).

“Music and the Mundane in American Beauty.” St. Marks Review 234, no. 4 (2015).

“Hearing/Listening, Film.” In Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, edited by Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch. De Gruyter Press: Boston, 2015. Review of Paul Tillich and the Possibility of Revelation through Film, by Jonathan Brant. Journal of Religion and Film 19, no. 2 (2015).

“The Sound of Silence: Westerns, Soundtracks, and Divine Presence through Absence.” In Blessed are the Eyes that Catch Divine Whispering: Silence and Religion in Film, edited by Freek L. Bakker, Mathilde Van Dijk, Leo Van Der Tuin, Marjeet Verbeek. Marburg: Shuren, 2015.

“I Am Not A Hipster.” Journal of Religion and Film 16, no. 1 (2012).

“Finding North.” Journal of Religion and Film 16, no. 1 (2012).

“Marilyn Monroe.” In Don’t Stop Believin’: Pop Culture and Religion from Ben-Hur to Zombies, edited by Robert K. Johnston, Barry Taylor, and Craig Detweiler, 22-23. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.

“Mickey Mantle.” In Don’t Stop Believin’: Pop Culture and Religion from Ben-Hur to Zombies, edited by Robert K. Johnston, Barry Taylor, and Craig Detweiler, 20-21. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.

“Muhammad Ali.” In Don’t Stop Believin’: Pop Culture and Religion from Ben-Hur to Zombies, edited by Robert K. Johnston, Barry Taylor, and Craig Detweiler, 34-35. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.

“Tiger Woods.” In Don’t Stop Believin’: Pop Culture and Religion from Ben-Hur to Zombies, edited by Robert K. Johnston, Barry Taylor, and Craig Detweiler, 200-201. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.

“Woody Allen.” In Don’t Stop Believin’: Pop Culture and Religion from Ben-Hur to Zombies, edited by Robert K. Johnston, Barry Taylor, and Craig Detweiler, 69-70. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.

“Wii are Inspirited: The Transformation of Home Video Consoles (and Us).” In Halos and Avatars: Playing (Video) Games with God, edited by Craig Detweiler, 75-88. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010.

“Matthew,” “Mark,” “Luke,” “John.” In Introduction to the New Testament: Global Module Studies 1, book 3. Colorado Springs: Global Action, 2006. (Translated into 14 languages).

“The Aesthetics of Empathy in Agenesis of the Corpus Collosum.” Poster Presentation. International Neuropsychological Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, February 1-4, 2023.

“Some Movies are Just Awe-full: On the Possibilities of Contemplation Through Film.” 2022 Baylor Institute for Faith and Learning, Waco, TX, October 26-28, 2022.

“Measuring the Immeasurable In Real Life.” 2022 Baylor Institute for Faith and Learning, Waco, TX, October 26-28, 2022.

“Experimental Theology.” GEN X, Y, Z: Futures in Science and Religion. Institute for the Scientific Study of Religion. San Diego, CA, November 21-25, 2019.

“He’s Just Not That Into You: Music, Meaning, and Moving On.” Systematic Theology Group. AAR/SBL 2019 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 21-25, 2019.

“Theologizing about Transcendence in the Arts.” DITA 2010, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC, September 5-8, 2019.

“The Aesthetics of A/theism in a Divided World.” The Brehm Conference, Pasadena, CA, February 9, 2019.

“Navigating Television as a Religious Scholar and Bridge-Builder in Hollywood.” AAR/SBL 2018 Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, November 16-20, 2018.

“Yes/And to Art as Dialogue.” 2018 Missiology Lectures, Pasadena, CA, November 7-9, 2018.

“Not All Transcendence is Created Equal.” 2018 American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, August 9-12, 2018.

“Experimental Theology: Theological Anthropology in Conversation with the Sciences.” 2018 Analytic Theology Seminars, Pasadena, CA, January 2-May 30, 2018.

“Stranger Things and Binge-Watching TV Religiously.” AAR/SBL 2017 Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, November 17-21, 2017.

“Haven’t We Heard This Before? Myth, Canon, and Cultural Conservatism in Fan Reception of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” AAR/SBL 2016 Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, November 18-22, 2016.

“On Level Ground: Pedagogical Advances in Religion and Film.” AAR/SBL 2015 Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, November 20-24, 2015.

“The Journal of Religion & Film: Past, Present, and Future.” AAR/SBL 2014 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 22-25, 2014.

“Creating Space to Breathe: Faith, Spirituality, and Public Theology at the Sundance Film Festival.” 2014 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture, Waco, TX, October 23-25, 2014.

“There is Nothing Free, Except the Grace of God: Film Music, Myth-Making, and Religion in True Grit.” Music and the Moving Image Conference, New York, NY, May 30-June 1, 2014.

“Hearing Images: Film Music, Meaning-Making, and Lived Religion.” Presider, Organizer, and Panelist. AAR/SBL 2013 Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MA, November 23-26, 2013.

“The Sound of Silence: Westerns, Soundtracks, and Divine Presence through Absence.” Keynote Lecture. Moving Visions/Film en Religie and Film und Theologie, University of Groningen, Netherlands, May 30-June 1, 2013.

“Film Music as ‘Echon:’ Religious Motifs in the Music of There Will Be Blood.” AAR/SBL 2011 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 19-22, 2011.

“The Emerging Spirit: A Pneumatological Contribution to the Emerging Church’s Cultural Engagement.” 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Minneapolis, MN, March 4-7, 2010.

“Parable: A Proposed Hermeneutic for the Emerging Church.” AAR/SBL/ASOR Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Regional Meeting, Omaha, NB, March 23-24, 2007.

Alma Studholme, “Being Fragmented and Being Whole: Explorations in Cognitive Sciences, Religious Contemplative Traditions, and Art Practice,” PhD Dissertation, University of Sydney, May 22, 2019.

Shana Daves, “Creative Role Identity: Implications for Self-Concept, Depression, and Anxiety,” Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology, February 24, 2017.

Eveline Boschmann, “The Role of Music in the Christian Worship Service. (Die Funktion der Musik im christlichen Gottesdienst),” Institut für Musikwissenschaft und Musikpädagogik, Universität Koblenz-Landau, Campus Koblenz, January 31, 2017.

Tiffany Harris, “The Redeemer of Community,” Alphacrucis College, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Parramatta Campus, February 2, 2016

“The Broken and Beautiful Church Behind Aretha Franklin,” Christianity Today, March 25, 2021. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/march-web-only/national-geographic-aretha-franklin-broken-beautiful-church.html

“What ‘Burden’ Taught Me About Racial Solidarity,” Christianity Today, March 13, 2020. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march-web-only/burden-film-racial-solidarity.html

“Netflix’s ‘Messiah’ Says the World Needs a Savior,” Christianity Today, January 3, 2020. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/january-web-only/messiah-netflix-show-world-needs-savior.html

“Navigating Digital Spaces among Different Faiths,” Fuller Studio, 2019. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/navigating-digital-spaces-among-different-faiths/

“The Yes (to Technology) in Our No (to Social Media),” Fuller Magazine 15, 2019. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/the-yes-to-technology-in-our-no-to-social-media/

“Strange Negotiations: Music As Transgression, Fuller Studio, December 10, 2019. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/strange-negotiations-music-as-transgression/

“What Hollywood Gets Right About Snake-Handling Christians,” Christianity Today, August 5, 2019. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/august-web-only/them-that-follow-review-hollywood-snake-handling-christians.html

“Boomers, Take It from Woody or Iron Man: It’s Time to Pass the Torch,” Christianity Today, July 28, 2019. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/july-web-only/boomers-summer-movies-marvel-iron-man-toy-story-4-yesterday.html

“The Biggest Little Farm: A Parable of the Kingdom,” Fuller Studio, 2019. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/the-biggest-little-farm-a-parable-of-the-kingdom/

“The Catastrophic Poetry of the Cross,” Fuller Magazine 13, 2019. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/the-catastrophic-poetry-of-the-cross/

“A Conversation with Paul Schrader on First Reformed,” Fuller Studio, 2018, https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/a-conversation-with-paul-schrader-on-first-reformed/

“Limping Toward Sunrise,” Fuller Magazine 9, 2017. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/limping-toward-sunrise/

“A Conversation with Martin Scorsese on Faith and Film,” Fuller Studio, 2017. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/conversation-martin-scorsese/

“Restoring Hope: Being and Becoming Well,” Fuller Magazine 6, 2016. https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/restoring-hope-weak-becoming-well/

“In a TV World, NFL is King,” Christianity Today, January, 2015. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/january-web-only/in-tv-world-nfl-is-king.html?start=3

Alive Inside Discussion Guide and Resources http://fuller.edu/ACR/Ministry-Leaders/Alive-Inside-Resources/

Interpreting Paul for the Future of the World Curriculum fuller.edu/ntwright14-studyguide/

Noah: Resources for Engaging Culture through Film http://fuller.edu/ACR/Ministry_Leaders/Noah_Resources/

Reel Spirituality Film Discussion Guides http://www.brehmcenter.com/initiatives/reelspirituality/browse/ Son of God

Inter-faith Dialogue Toolkit http://www.brehmcenter.com/initiatives/reelspirituality/film/browse/interfaith-dialogue-with-son-of-god

Undergraduate:

California State University, Fullerton

• CPRL 411: Religion and Film Fullerton, CA

Global Action

• NT 103: Introduction to the New Testament Global Module Studies Program Chernihiv, Ukraine

Graduate:

Fuller Theological Seminary

• SF501: Foundations of Psychological Science Modalities: online

• PI503: Touchstone in Theology and Psychology Modalities: geo-physical, online

• TC500: Theology and Culture Methods Modalities: geo-physical, online

• TC530: Theology and Film Modalities: geo-physical, online, hybrid, and hybrid +

• TC533: Theology and TV Modalities: Online, and Fuller Live

• TC581: Worship, Theology, and the Arts Touchstone Modalities: geo-physical, online, and Fuller Live

• TC588: Engaging Independent Film Modalities: Hybrid online/immersive course at Sundance Film Festival

• TC849/549: A Theology of General Revelation CATS Seminar

• TC860/560: Theology and Culture Methods CATS Seminar

• TC867/567: The Aesthetics of Atheism CATS Seminar

The Bob Dutko Show, “Breaking the Marriage Idol,” August 1st, 2018.

Ignite the Nation, “Revealing the Truth,” July 25th, 2018.

Lifeline with Craig Roberts, “Breaking the Marriage Idol,” June 28th, 2018.

Hopeful Cottage Radio, “Breaking the Marriage Idol,” June 26th, 2018.

Pasadena Now, “Pasadena Church, Shuttered Last Sunday After Financial Battle, Continues Online,” Evolves into Virtual Church, by Brandon Villalovos, March 3, 2017.

Deseret News, “Why This Group of Christians Comes to Sundance Film Festival Every Year,” by Allison Pond, January 29, 2017.

Christian Cinema, “Fuller Theological Seminary’s Kutter Callaway Talks Scorsese, Community, and why Films Matter,” by Jacob Sahms, January 28, 2017.

Killer Serials Podcast with Tony Jones and Ryan Parker, November 8, 2016.

The Bob Dutko Show, “Watching TV Religiously,” November 15th, 2016.

National Geographic, “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman,” April 3, 2016.

89.3 KPCC, AirTalk with Larry Mantle, “Faith Film ‘War Room’ makes big dent at the box office,” September 3, 2015.

89.3 KPCC, Take Two with Alex Cohen, “Saving the Planet: How Different Religions View the Environment,” June 17, 2015.

89.3 KPCC, AirTalk with Larry Mantle, “What Christianity can Learn from SuperBowl Ads,” May 27, 2015.

89.3 KPCC, AirTalk with Larry Mantle, “Opting Out: Fewer Millenials Calling Themselves Chrisitans,” May 12, 2015.

The Washington Post, “Sexy swingers club or ‘church’: Who gets to decide?,” by Heidi Hall. April 30, 2015.

New Books on Religion Podcast, “Scoring Transcendence,” by Kristian Peterson. February 12, 2015.

Deseret News National Edition, “This college helps Hollywood tell ‘the greatest story ever told,” by Chandra Johnson. August 1, 2014.

Pasadena Star News, “Effort in La Verne provides spiritual resource help to female veterans,” by Imani Tate. May 18, 2014.

CNN, “The next chapter in faith films: comedy,” by Eric Marrapodi. May 10, 2014.

Deseret News National Edition, “Christian pastors mine popular TV for sermon starters,” by Mark A. Kellner. February 7, 2014

Deseret News National Edition, “Seminary students descend on Sundance, find meaning in independent films,” by Matthew Brown. January 23, 2014

Deseret News National Edition, “Films depict real, raw role of clergy interacting with community,” by Matthew Brown. January 22, 2014.

Deseret News National Edition, “Superheroes and faith: How religion plays a role in the comic book industry,” by Herb Scribner. November 29th, 2013.

Pasadena Star News, “Fuller Students Engaging Independent Films,” by Mara Title. January 10, 2013.

American Psychological Association

American Academy of Religion

Society of Biblical Literature

Society for the Scientific Study of Religion

Ordained and Licensed as a Baptist Minister

2011-2015: Affiliate Professor of Theology and Culture
Fuller Theological Seminary

2012-Present: Windrider Film Forum Advisory Board

2011-Present: Steering Committee: Church in Contemporary Culture Initiative
Brehm Center and Fuller Theological Seminary

2011: Adjunct Assistant Professor of Religion
California State University, Fullerton

2007-2010: Teaching Assistant Fuller Theological Seminary

2006-2007: Pastor: Pierced Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

2000-2006: Pastor: Vanguard Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado:
Associate Pastor, Teaching Pastor, Worship Leader, Creative Consultant.