Joshua Iyadurai

Dr. Joshua Iyadurai is Professor of Theology and Social Sciences and Founder-Director of the
Marina Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Religion (MCISR), Chennai. An
interdisciplinary theologian, his work integrates theology, philosophy, and the social sciences,
with a particular focus on lived religion, religious experience, and human transformation.

He holds a PhD in Christian Studies from the University of Madras. Dr. Iyadurai completed
postdoctoral research at Fuller Theological Seminary, USA, on religious experience and
conversion, and at Trinity College, Bristol, UK, on the integration of theology and social
sciences. His scholarship has resulted in several peer-reviewed journal articles and book
chapters, as well as two major works: Transformative Religious Experience: A
Phenomenological Understanding of Religious Conversion and the widely used textbook Social
Research Methods: For Students and Scholars of Theology and Religious Studies.

Dr. Iyadurai’s academic vocation includes extensive experience in teaching and supervising
master’s and doctoral research across institutions such as the University of Roehampton–Online
(London), Melbourne School of Theology (Wantirna, Australia), SHUATS (Allahabad), the
South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (Bangalore), and the University of Madras
(Chennai), with his supervisory and teaching work continuing in the present.

Together with his wife Hema, a PhD scholar at SAIACS, Dr. Iyadurai is a cofounder of MCISR,
which offers formal online theological education, and THEOn (Theology Online), a platform for
non-formal theological learning aimed at equipping believers for faithful engagement in society.
Earlier, they served as missionary with the Union of Evangelical Students of India (UESI) in
North India, pioneering student ministries in universities.

In addition to academic teaching and research, Dr. Iyadurai actively engages wider audiences
through social media, bringing research-based insights into dialogue with biblical perspectives
on contemporary life issues and enduring theological questions. He remains deeply committed to
bridging academic theology and lived faith through scholarship, ministry, and public
engagement.

Dr. Joshua and Hema live in Chennai, India, and are blessed with three daughters and a
grandson.

Education:

Post doctorate: Trinity College, Bristol, UK
Post doctorate: Fuller Theological Seminary, CA, USA
Ph.D. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India
M.Phil. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai
M.A. in Philosophy and Religion, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
B.D. Union Biblical Seminary, Pune
B.Th., Union Biblical Seminary, Pune

Publications:

Books
Iyadurai, J. (2023). Social Research Methods: For Students and Scholars of Theology and
Religious Studies. Chennai: Marina Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Religion.
Iyadurai, J. (2017). Transformative Religious Experience: A Phenomenological Understanding
of Religious Conversion (Indian ed.) Chennai: Marina Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies
in Religion.
Iyadurai, J. (2015). Transformative Religious Experience: A Phenomenological Understanding
of Religious Conversion. Eugene, USA: Pickwick Publications.

Book Chapters:
Iyadurai, J. (2020). Religious Conversion and Personal Transformation. In: Leeming, D.A. (eds)
Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. New York: Springer.
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-030-24348-7_9244
Iyadurai, J. (2020). Religious Conversion and Social Transformation. In: Leeming, D.A. (eds)
Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. New York: Springer.
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-030-24348-7_9121
Iyadurai, J. (2018). “Christian Conversion in India: Political Exploitation or Personal
Transformation?” In Joel Carpenter, Rebecca Shaw, and Tim Shah (Eds), Christianity in
India: Conversion, Community Development, and Religious Freedom (69-103).
Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Iyadurai, J. (2015). “Consuming Peanuts in the USA and in India: A Reflection on the
Controversy over the Insider Movements.” In Harley Talman and John Jay Travis (Eds),
Understanding Insider Movements: Disciples of Jesus within Diverse Religious
Communities (pp. 567-571). Pasadena: William Carey Library.
Iyadurai, J. (2014). Religious Conversion and Personal Transformation. In David A. Leeming
(Ed.), Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion, (2 nd ed.) (pp. 1510-13). New York:
Springer.
http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-1-4614-6086-2_9244
Iyadurai, J. (2014). Religious Conversion and Social Transformation. In David A. Leeming
(Ed.), Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion, (2 nd ed.) (pp. 1513-14). New York:
Springer.
http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-1-4614-6086-2_9121
Iyadurai, J. (2014). Contemporary Trends in Protestant Spirituality in India: A Psycho-spiritual
Perspective. In Benny G. Koottanal (Ed.), Trends in Contemporary Spirituality (pp. 79-
117). Bangalore: Indian Institute of Spirituality
Iyadurai, J. (2013). Religious Conversion and Suffering. In Anja A. Drautzburg and Jackson
Oldfield (Eds.). Making Sense of Suffering: A Collective Attempt, (e-Book) (pp. 51-59).
Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press.
Iyadurai, J. (2011). Religious Conversion and Dual Identity: A Phenomenological Perspective.
In Cornelius Enema and Paul Joshua, (Eds.), Indian and Christian: Changing Identities
in Modern India (pp. 266-287). Bangalore: SAIACS Press.
Iyadurai, J. (2009). Religious Conversion: Self-Transformation and Social Transformation. In
Felix Wilfred (Ed.), Transforming Religion: Prospects for a New Society (pp. 196-212).
Delhi: ISPCK.

Peer Reviewed Publications:
Iyadurai, J. (2025). The Future Terrain of Indian Christian Theologies: Interdisciplinary
Approach. South Asia Journal of Evangelical Theology 1 (1), 19–41.
Iyadurai, J. (2014). Religious Conversion: A Psycho-spiritual Perspective. Transformation: An
International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies. 31 (3), 189-193.
http://trn.sagepub.com/content/31/3/189
Iyadurai, J. (2013). Consuming Peanuts in the USA and in India: A Reflection on the
Controversy over the Insider Movements. Evangelical Mission Quarterly 40(4), 454-459.
Iyadurai, J. (2012). Multiple Identities of Converts in India: An Interdisciplinary Perspective,
Dharma Deepika: A South Asian Journal of Missiological Research 16(1), 27-41.
Iyadurai, J. (2011). The Step Model of Transformative Religious Experiences: A
Phenomenological Understanding of Religious Conversions in India. Pastoral
Psychology 60 (4), 505-521. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11089-010-
0287-6
Iyadurai, J. (2010). Mission in Postmodernity: An Asian Perspective. Edinburgh 2010
Resources. http://www.edinburgh2010.org/fileadmin/files/edinburgh2010/files/Study_Process/Iya
durai%20Study%20Theme%203.pdf
Iyadurai, J. (2008). Psychology of Religious Conversion. Journal of Asian Evangelical
Theology 16 (1 & 2), 98-123.

Website
www.jiyadurai.com