Foreign thinker
Peter Vardy
Peter VardyPhilosophy of Religion and EthicsBritish
A few seek the truth, and knowing they will never fully find it, stake their lives on the attempt to live it.
Life and Thought
Peter Vardy (born 1945) is a British theologian and philosopher of religion, known for his educational works on the philosophy of religion, ethics, and Kierkegaard. He served for many years as Vice-Principal of Heythrop College, University of London, and through organizing extensive conferences for students, has played a significant role in promoting religious and philosophical studies in British schools.
Peter Christian Vardy was born in July 1945 in Britain. He initially worked as a chartered accountant and even headed a company, but at the age of thirty turned to the study of theology. He earned his BA in Theology from the University of Southampton, and his MA and PhD in Theology from King's College London. The subject of his doctoral thesis was 'The Concept of Eternity'.
Vardy taught at Heythrop College (part of the University of London) from 1986, and served as Vice-Principal of this Jesuit college from 1999 to 2011. His primary academic interest is the philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, which he taught for over twenty-five years and about whom he wrote a book. He is also active in the philosophy of religion, ethics, and religious education, and has published widely read books such as the 'Puzzle' series (The Puzzle of God, The Puzzle of Evil, The Puzzle of Ethics, etc.).
After retiring, Vardy and his wife, Charlotte Vardy, organize extensive educational conferences for high school students in Britain and abroad. He emphasizes the importance of the philosophy of religion as an exercise in humility and an exploration of the undefined concepts of theology, and sees education as a way to 'become a fully human being' in the Aristotelian sense. His works combine philosophical rigor with educational accessibility, reaching a wide audience from students to general readers interested in the philosophy of religion.
