I am an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Notre Dame. At present I teach courses on liberation theology, science and religion, and spirituality, at the undergraduate level, and courses on theological method and nineteenth century theology at the graduate level. My research interests focus in two areas:  the relationship of spirituality and theology  and the relationship between Christian faith, with its intellectual expression in theology, and modern science.

 In the first area I am completing a book on the relationship between Jesuit spirituality and academic theology, using two important twentieth century figures as case-studies:  Karl Rahner and Ignacio Ellacuría.  In the second area I am beginning a project that analyzes the uses of narrative in contemporary books (written both by theologians and by "anti-theologians" such as Richard Dawkins) that attempt to present the significance of evolution for our understanding humanity's place in the cosmos. 

    Currently I am the director of the PhD program in theology.  I am also the book review editor for Spiritus:  A Journal of Christian Spirituality.  You can contact me at (574) 631-7077, or by e-mail at james.m.ashley.2@nd.edu .   I am currently teaching the following courses over a two year cycle, some of which have web-pages: