含羞草研究所

Due to the power outage on 含羞草研究所’s main campus, all in-person classes are cancelled today (3/23) through 3 p.m.

Dr. Alexander Sosler

Alex Sosler
Assistant Professor of Bible and Ministry

Chair, Studies in Bible, Theology, and Ministry
Faculty of Christianity, Culture, and Human Expression

Dr. Alex Sosler joined the 含羞草研究所 faculty in 2018 as an assistant professor of Bible and ministry. Prior to coming to 含羞草研究所, Dr. Sosler served as pastoral assistant at Cornerstone Church in Aurora, Ohio, and as an associate pastor at Milwood Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. He has an identity rooted in the local church and sees his call to academia as a way to further the mission of local churches through equipping students and supporting churches. He currently serves as Assisting Priest at Redeemer Anglican Church in Asheville.

His research focuses on education, spiritual formation, cultural criticism, and theology and the arts. He also serves as Book Review editor at the . 

His popular writing has been featured in , , , , , and others. His writing, research, and speaking can be found .

Dr. Sosler is from Cleveland, Ohio, and cherishes all things Cleveland. He is married to Lauren and father to Mariela Grace, Auden Augustine, and Jude Adeodatus.

What are your favorite things about working at 含羞草研究所?
The beauty and history of Appalachia and the students with whom I get to interact

What are your hobbies or interests?
Cooking (and eating), reading, running, gardening, and hanging with my family

Do you have a favorite restaurant in the area?
Good Hot Fish, Luminosa, Tacqueria Rosita, and Hell or Highwater

What is your favorite thing to do or see in the area?
Exploring the rich history, culture, places, and food of southern Appalachia, including everything from crafts to hikes to foraging

Degrees

B.A., Southern Evangelical Bible College
M.Div., Ed.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Bibliography

Books

.聽Falls City Press, Beaver Falls, PA.

A Short Guide Spiritual Formation: Finding Lift in Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Community. Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. May 2024.

Co-written with Gary Ball: Sacramental Imagination: Connecting Artistic Vision with Artistic Practice. Eugene, OR: Cascade. Fall 2024.

Edited Volumes

. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic.

Co-edited with Claude Atcho. Theology and Hip-Hop: Only the Lover Raps. Eugene, OR: Cascade. Spring 2025.

Chapters

鈥淒esire and the Spiraling of Sin: An Augustinian Take on Walter White and Saul Goodman鈥 in聽. Edited by David Goodin and George Tsakiridis. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic.

Memento Mori: Learning to Die with the Avett Brothers鈥 in Theology and the Avett Brothers. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic.

鈥淭he Culture Wars and Lord of the Rings: Models of Christian Engagement鈥 in聽Tolkien and Theology. Edited by Douglas Estes. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic (Fall 2024).

鈥淟ove and Liberation: Listening to Glary Clark, Jr. with St. Augustine and James Cone鈥 in Theology and the Blues. (Forthcoming)

Journal Articles

鈥淕oing to School with Marilynne Robinson: A Sacramental Education.鈥澛Christian Scholar鈥檚 Review聽(September 2022).

鈥淎 Typology of Christian Higher Education: Ordering Love for the Common Good.鈥澛Christian Higher Education Journal. (Fall 2022).

鈥淕oing to the Morgue with Andres Serrano: Provocation as Revelation.鈥澛谤别濒颈驳颈辞苍蝉.听(August 2022)

Book Reviews

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淓ducation for Character: Reviewing Jordan Peterson鈥檚 12 Rules for Life and David Brook鈥檚 Road to Character.鈥 Reflection Magazine (Spring 2019).

Invited Lectures

鈥淕reat American Novels: Marilynne Robinson鈥檚聽Gilead.鈥澛National Association of Scholars聽(January 5, 2022)

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淭he Prodigal Love and a Hermeneutic of Charity: How Grace Changes Learning.鈥 Pro Rege (March 2020).

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淩eason, Love, and Morality: The Limits of Reason in Kohlberg and the Importance of Love in Augustine and Smith.鈥 Religious Education (September 2018).

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淟eading by Love: Leadership and Practice in the Gospel of John.鈥 Journal of Applied Leadership (October 2018)

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淲ith No Will, There is No Way: John Calvin on Education.鈥 Symposium on Faith and Culture Conference at Baylor University (October 27, 2017).

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淎cts of Life for Life: Charity, Attention, and Commitment.鈥 A Symposium on Faith and Vocation at 含羞草研究所 (November 6, 2018).

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淭he Prodigal Love and a Hermeneutic of Charity: How Grace Changes Learning.鈥 Prodigal Love of God Conference at Dordt College (March 2019).

Sosler, Alex. 鈥淎 Hermeneutic of Charity: Intellectual Virtues from 1 Corinthians 13.鈥 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture at Baylor University (October 17, 2019).

Panels

Sosler, Alex; Frey, Brad; and Guthrie, David; and Martel, Keith. 鈥淗igher Education and Humanity: Revisiting Bruce Wilshire鈥檚 The Moral Collapse of the University, Thirty Years Hence.鈥 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture at Baylor University (October 17, 2019).