Edmund Kee-Fook Chia

Associate Professor of Doctrinal Theology
M.A., University of Maryland; M.A., Catholic University of America; Ph.D., University of Nijmegen; B.A. Psychology (Lewis University); M.A. Human Development (University of Maryland); M.A. Religion (Catholic University of America); Ph.D. Intercultural Theology (University of Nijmegen).

Professor Edmund Chia received his Masters in Religion from Catholic University of America and his Ph.D. in Intercultural Theology from the University of Nijmegen. His doctoral dissertation was on an Asian Theology of Dialogue. His academic interests include interfaith dialogue, comparative theology, inculturation, Asian theology, and systematic theology from a cross-cultural and contextual perspectives.

Edmund Chia is originally from Malaysia and is of Chinese descent. He began his career as a high-school teacher of English and a member of the La Salle Christian Brothers in Malaysia. He then furthered his studies in the field of Psychology and Human Development (specifically Faith Development) before switching to the study of World Religions. From 1996-2004 he served as executive secretary of the ecumenical and interreligious dialogue office of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences. While based in Thailand he was responsible for formation programs and dialogue activities in about twenty countries across Asia. He has lectured widely in many parts of the world including speaking at the SEDOS conference of the Union of Superior Generals in Ariccia, Italy, preaching at a Holy Week Retreat in Shiaziazhuang, China, delivering the keynote address at the International Conference of Catholic Theological Associations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presenting a paper at the World Conference on Motahari’s Thoughts in Tehran, Iran, and doing a lecture tour in south-eastern Australia in conjunction with Pentecost 2006.

Chia is editor of Dialogue? Resource Manual for Catholics in Asia (2001) and co-editor (with James Heisig) of A Longing for Peace: The Challenge of a Multicultural, Multireligious World (2006). Edmund is married to feminist theologian Gemma Cruz who is presently teaching at DePaul University. The couple live in Skokie, Illinois.