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Institute of Pastoral Studies

Heidi Russell, PhD

Associate Professor

Heidi Russell, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Pastoral Studies of Loyola University Chicago.  She received her Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Marquette University and her M.Div./M.A. from Washington Theological Union.  Her areas of research include Christian anthropology, Trinitarian theology, and a special interest in the relationship between science and theology, specifically in the fields of neuroscience and quantum physics.  She is the author of Human Flourishing in an Age of Trauma and Stress and Source of All Love: Trinity and Catholicity, as well asQuantum Shift: Theological and Pastoral Implications of Contemporary Developments in Science and The Heart of Rahner. She has published articles in Theological Studies, Horizons, Science and Theology, Buddhist Christian Studiesand Philosophy and Theology.  She has also published in National Catholic Reporter, US Catholic, and Scientific American.

Education

  • The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI: BA, History and Philosophy, with minors in Comparative Study of Religion and Sociology
  • Washington Theological Union – Washington, DC: MDiv and MA in Theology
  • Marquette University – Milwaukee, WI: PhD, Religious Studies in Systematic Theology

Research Interests

My areas of research include:

  • Christian anthropology
  • Christology
  • Trinitarian theology
  • Special interest in the relationship between science and theology, specifically in the fields of neuroscience and quantum physics

Professional/Community Affiliations

  • Catholic Theological Society of America
  • College Theology Society
  • Karl Rahner Society
  • Board of Directors, Brigid Duil Omos

Courses Taught

  • 402 Church and Mission
  • 403 Spiritual Paths in World Religions
  • 404 Theologies of Suffering
  • 531 History of Christian Doctrine
  • 541 Liturgy and the Christian Sacraments
  • 599 Theology of Karl Rahner
  • 599 Trauma Informed Theology

Publications/Research Listings

Books

Human Flourishing in a World of Trauma and Stress – How Understanding our Brains Changes our Theological Anthropology, Liturgical Press, April 2026.

Source of All Love: Catholicity and the Trinity, Orbis Press, March 2017.

Quantum Shift: Theological and Pastoral Implications of Contemporary Developments in Science, Liturgical Press, October 2015.

The Heart of Rahner: The Theological Implications of Andrew Tallon’s Theory of Triune Consciousness.  Marquette University Press, 2009.

Other Publications

“Generational Trauma and Healing: Foster care, Adoption, and Mothering at the Intersection of Sin & Grace” in Divine Interruptions: Maternal Theologies and Experiences, edited by Julia Braumbaugh and Cristina Lledo Gomez. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2025.

“The Soul: Entangled Wave of Potentiality,” in The Human Soul in a World of the Neurological Sciences, edited by Job Kozhamthadam and Roy Pereira, 27-45. Delhi: Indian Institute of Science and Religion, 2021.

“Neuroscience and Theological Anthropology,” in T & T Clark’s Companion to Theological Anthropology, edited by Mary Ann Hinsdale and Stephen Okey, 373-384. London: Bloomsbury, 2021.

“From Being to Love: Reconceiving the Trinity in light of Jean Luc Marion’s Phenomenological Shift.”  Horizons 41 (2014), 22-48.

“Quantum Anthropology: Reimaging the Person as Body/Spirit,” Theological Studies 74 (2013), 934-959. 

“Sanctity and Science: The Mysticism of Theologically Engaging Science,” Science and Theology 10 (2012), 249-258.

“Efficacious and Sufficient Grace: God’s One Offer of Self-Communication as Accepted or Rejected.” Philosophy and Theology 22 (2010), 353-372.

“Keiji Nishitani and Karl Rahner: A Response to Nihility,” Buddhist-Christian Studies 28 (2008), 27-41.

Media

“We ask the light to shine in the darkness when we cannot,” National Catholic Reporter, April 14-27, 2023.  Also online at https://www.ncronline.org/spirituality/soul-seeing/we-ask-light-shine-darkness-when-we-cannot, March 4, 2023.

“We continue to take the risk to love,” National Catholic Reporter, Jan. 11-24, 2019.  Also online at https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/soul-seeing/soul-seeing/love-leads-suffering-we-take-risk-love-because-we-must, Jan. 8, 2019. (Reprint of “Perfect Love Casts Out Fear.”)

“Why pray if God knows what you are going to say?” Glad You Asked, US Catholic 83, n. 2 (February 2018), p. 49. Also online at https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201802/why-pray-if-god-knows-what-youre-going-say-31300, Feb. 9, 2018.

“Father is a Complex Metaphor for God: God isn’t a ‘Wait until your father gets home…’ dad, but unconditional love,” US Catholic, http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201706/father-complex-metaphor-god-31042, June 15, 2017.

“Beauty, the Beast and Incarceration Reform – It’s a tale as old as time: relationship and kindness can be transformative,” Scientific American, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/beauty-the-beast-and-incarceration-reform/, Mar. 14, 2017.

“When fear wins, Christianity loses,” US Catholic, http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201702/when-fear-wins-christianity-loses-30918, Feb. 2, 2017.

“Love Revealed in Brokenness,” National Catholic Reporter, January 27, 2017. Available online, https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/soul-seeing/love-revealed-brokenness, January 24, 2017.

Quotes from Recent Student Evaluations

“Heidi Russell is an excellent instructor who brings a wide range of thought and study to this subject, and encouraged us to engage not just on an intellectual level, but as people and as ministers serving or preparing to serve in diverse contexts.”

“In 13 years of higher education, Prof Russell one of the best instructors I've had! I really appreciate how she organized the course material. It was a quite a journey to effectively present, and she did it well.”

“Heidi is a brilliant, insightful, and skilled teacher, facilitator, and guide. Her wealth of knowledge is astounding. But also, she offers that knowledge in such accessible,  personal, relevant ways. Learning from her is an enormous gift and blessing. The take-aways from this class will stay with me always. And I am grateful for future opportunities to learn from her.”

 

 

 

 

Books

  • Source of All Love: Catholicity and the Trinity, Orbis Press, 2017.
  • Quantum Shift: Theological and Pastoral Implications of Contemporary Developments in Science, Liturgical Press, October 2015.
  • The Heart of Rahner: The Theological Implications of Andrew Tallon’s Theory of Triune Consciousness.  Marquette University Press, 2009.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

  • “From Being to Love: Reconceiving the Trinity in light of Jean Luc Marion’s Phenomenological Shift.”  Horizons 41 (2014), 22-48.
  • “Quantum Anthropology: Reimaging the Person as Body/Spirit,” Theological Studies 74 (2013), 934-959.
  • “Sanctity and Science: The Mysticism of Theologically Engaging Science,” Science and Theology 10 (2012), 249-258.
  • “Efficacious and Sufficient Grace: God’s One Offer of Self-Communication as Accepted or Rejected.” Philosophy and Theology 22 (2010), 353-372.
  • “Keiji Nishitani and Karl Rahner: A Response to Nihility,” Buddhist-Christian Studies 28(2008), 27-41.