Documents

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Baylor University
  • M.A., Baylor University
  • B.S., Biola University

Member of

Biography

Janelle Aijian hails from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She earned her doctoral degree in Philosophy from Baylor University, focusing on the religious epistemology of Blaise Pascal. Her current research involves the role of skepticism in the life of faith and acedia, or spiritual despondency. Her favorite texts to teach are The Brothers Karamazov, Moby Dick, The Republic and the gospel of John.

Publications

  • “Fleeing the Stadium: Recovering the Conceptual Unity of Evagrius’ Acedia” Aijian, Janelle, The Heythrop Journal, January 2019.

  • “Acedia and student life: Ancient Christian wisdom for addressing boredom, distraction, and over-commitment in undergraduates” Aijian, Janelle, International Journal of Christianity & Education, August 2017.

  • “Baptism by Fire: The Work of the Holy Spirit in Pascal’s Philosophy” in The Holy Spirit and The Christian Life, ed. Wolfgang Vondley (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014).

Presentations

  • The 2017 Moody Workshop on Medieval Logic and Philosophy, Los Angeles. Presented on “Wishing and Hoping: Diverging sources for understanding acedia” February 2017.

  • The Society for Christian Philosophers Eastern Division Annual Conference, Rutgers University. Presented on “The Movement of the Machine: Why Pascal’s Discourse Fails to Produce Faith.” October 2016.

  • “Defining Despair: Two Traditions in Acedia” with Dr. Jonathan Sands-Wise, BAPT Conference, Baylor University – October 2014.

  • “Sloth and Skepticism in the Christian Life” Virtues, Vices and Teaching Conference, Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College – October 2013.

Areas of Expertise for Media Interviews

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Christian Thought
  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Religion
Biola University
13800 Biola Ave. La Mirada, CA 90639
1-562-903-6000
© Biola University, Inc. All Rights Reserved.