Baiju Markose

Baiju Markose

Assistant Professor of Theology

Department

  • Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Contact Information

Biography

The Rev. Dr. Baiju Markose teaches Systematic Theology, Constructive Theologies, and Interreligious Relations/Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He is a prolific author who has written six books, including Notes from the Edges: Theological Intonations (2021) and Rhizomatic Reflections: Discourses on Religion and Theology (2018), as well as numerous scholarly articles. In 2017, he received the Marion McFarland Award from the American Academy of Religion (Midwest Region).

Ordained in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Dr. Markose has served in various ecclesiastical capacities and now finds his new ministerial home at the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Before his current position at Trinity, Dr. Markose served as a Professor of Religion and Dean of Studies at the Dharma Jyothi Vidya Peeth Seminary in Faridabad, India, and contributed as an auxiliary faculty member at the Gurukul Lutheran Seminary in Chennai. His recent involvement as the global coordinator for the Climate Justice Interfaith Peace Maker Team of OMNIA Institute for Contextual Leadership in Chicago underscores his commitment to interfaith peace-making initiatives.

His research interests span postcolonial Theology and Philosophy, Intersectional Theologies, Climate Justice Studies, New Materialism and Subaltern Eco-spiritualities, Theopoetics, Interfaith Peace Studies, and The Science and Religion Dialogue. Dr. Markose's innovative teaching approach encourages students to become constructive theologians, urging them to retell their unique stories, look at themselves through various intersectional lenses, and attempt transformative theological imaginations from their social locations. Dr.Markose continues to shape the Theological landscape through his multifaceted work and student-centered inclusive pedagogy, inspiring the next generation of religious thinkers and faith leaders.

Degrees Earned
  • Ph.D. in Theology and Anthropology, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (2019)
  • Th. M., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (2016)
  • M.Th., in Religion, The Senate of Serampore University, Calcutta (2012)
  • M. Div ( B.D)., The Senate of Serampore University, Calcutta ( 2004)
  • B.Sc. in Chemistry, Calicut University, Calicut (2000)
Teaches
  • Systematic Theology
  • Interreligious Relations
  • Liberation Theologies
  • Christ and Atonement ( Christology)
  • The Problem of Evil and Suffering
  • Interreligious Immersion Program 
Publications

Books:

Notes from the Edges: Theological Intonations, New Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2021.

Wood-Pecker: Theology of Lived Liminalities, Thrissur: Green Books, 2021

The Cross and the Peacock, New Delhi: ISPCK, 2021

Rhizomatic Reflections: Discourses on Religion and Theology, Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 2018.

Ritual and Rhythm of Life: A Study of Theyyam in North Malabar, New Delhi: ISPCK, 2015.

Treasuring the Wounds in Our Hands, Thiruvalla: CSS, 2006.

Seminar Papers:

2024 Nov | Emplaced Subjectivity and Arboreal Activism, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, San Diego, C.A.

2023 Nov | Body Bereft and Bereft Bodies in Dalit Religious Phenomena, American Academy of Religion, San Antonio, CA.

2023 Aug | Omnia Way of Interfaith Action for Climate Justice, Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

2023 April| Dwelling in the Thickness: On Sacred Messiness, Brent House, Episcopal Student Center, University of Chicago.

2023 April |Dalit history/ies: Roots and Routes , Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

2021 Oct | Religious Supremacies and Dismantling of Democracy,Parliament of World Religions Session #1764

2020 March | Postcolonial Practice of Interfaith With-ness, Karnataka Theological Seminary, Mangalore.

2020 Jan | India Inside Out: Theorizing Religious Landscapes in Contemporary India, Chicago Schools of Theology students Travel Seminar Conference at Dharma Jyoti Vidya Peeth, Faridabad.

2017 Nov | Subaltern Ritual Hermeneutics: Aspects of Liminality in Theyyam, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference at Boston.

2017 March | Celebrating ‘Hybridity’ and ‘Memory’: Subaltern Religious Sensibilities in India, American Academy of Religion Regional Conference at Muncie.

2017 March | Sacred Grove: Re-claiming a Subaltern Paradigm for Ecological Restoration , American academy of Religion-Conference at Muncie, Indiana.

2015 April | Ritual as Symbolic Discourse of Human Formation, American Academy of Religion Conference at Ohio.