Kerry S. Walters (born 1954) is Professor emeritus of Philosophy at Gettysburg College and author of numerous books on philosophy, religion, and American history as well as over 200 articles in academic journals, trade magazines, and newspapers. His special fields of interests include Christian mysticism, atheism, the ethics of diet, Christian pacifism, critical thinking, deism in early America, and the history of the early republic.
Walters earned his BA (Philosophy, 1976) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, his MA (Philosophy, 1980) at Marquette University, and his PhD (Philosophy, 1985) at the University of Cincinnati. He taught at Gettysburg College for three decades, retiring in May 2016. He also taught at Xavier University (Cincinnati), the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Essex (England).
During his tenure at Gettysburg College, Walters held the Edwin T. and Cynthia Johnson Chair of Distinguished Teaching and the William Bittinger Chair of Philosophy. He also helped found and taught in the program of Peace and Justice Studies.
Walters lives in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife Kimberly Daubman, a psychology professor at Bucknell University. They have a grown son, Jonah Walters.
Authored and Edited Books
Several of Walters' books have received national awards or recognition, and have been translated. Merciful Meekiness: Becoming a Spiritually Integrated Person, was named a "Best Book on Spirituality for 2005" by Spirituality and Health Magazine; his Revolutionary Deists: Early America's Rational Infidels was named a "Choice Outstanding Academic Title" for 2011; his The Art of Dying and Living received a Gold Nautilus Award for 2012; and his Giving up god...to Find God:Breaking Free of Idolatry won a 2014 National Catholic Press Award.
Walters, Kerry S. (1989). The Sane Society in Modern Utopianism: A Study in IdeologyWalters, Kerry S. (1990). Elihu Palmer's Principles of Nature: Text and CommentaryWalters, Kerry S. (1992). The American Deists: Voices of Reason and Dissent in the Early RepublicWalters, Kerry S. (1992). Rational Infidels: The American DeistsWalters, Kerry S. (1994). Re-Thinking Reason: New Perspectives in Critical ThinkingWalters, Kerry S. (1998). Benjamin Franklin and His GodsWalters, Kerry S. (1999). Spirituality of the Handmaid: A Model for Contemporary SeekersWalters, Kerry S. & Lisa Portmess (1999). Ethical Vegetarianism: From Pythagoras to Peter SingerWalters, Kerry S. (2000). Godlust: Facing the Demonic, Embracing the DivineWalters, Kerry S. (2000). Brother Lawrence and the Russian Pilgrim: Praying CeaselesslyWalters, Kerry S. (2001). Soul Wilderness: A Desert SpiritualityWalters, Kerry S. (2001). Growing God: A Guide for Spiritual GardenersWalters, Kerry S. (2001). Practicing Presence: The Spirituality of Caring in Everyday LifeWalters, Kerry S. & Lisa Portmess (2001). Religious Vegetarianism: From Hesiod to the Dalai LamaWalters, Kerry S. (2001). Can War Be Just? (William Bittinger Chair of Philosophy Inaugural Lecture pamphlet)Walters, Kerry S. (2002). Finding Perfect Joy with St. Francis of Assisi: 30 ReflectionsWalters, Kerry S. (2001). Rufus Jones: Essential WritingsWalters, Kerry S. (2003). Jacob's Hip: Finding God in an Anxious AgeWalters, Kerry S. (2005). Merciful Meekness: Becoming a Spiritually Integrated PersonWalters, Kerry S. (2006). Franklin and His Gods (Templeton Foundation pamphlet)Walters, Kerry S. (2008). Practicing Peace (Forward Movement pamphlet)Walters, Kerry S. (2008). After War, Is Faith Possible? The Life and Message of Geoffrey "Woodine Willie" Studdert KennedyWalters, Kerry S. (2010). Atheism: A Guide for the PerplexedWalters, Kerry S. (2010). Revolutionary Deists: America's Rational InfidelsWalters, Kerry S. (2011). The Art of Dying and LivingWalters, Kerry S. (2011). Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason: Critical EditionWalters, Kerry S. (2012). Vegetarianism: A Guide for the PerplexedWalters, Kerry S. (2012). The Underground RailroadWalters, Kerry S. (2013). John Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration: Critical EditionWalters, Kerry S. & Robin Jarrell. (2013). Blessed Peacemakers: 365 Extraordinary People Who Changed the WorldWalters, Kerry S. (2013). Giving Up God...to Find God: Breaking Free of IdolatryWalters, Kerry S. (2013). John Locke's Letter on Toleration: Critical EditionWalters, Kerry S. (2013). Abraham Lincoln, the Rise of the Republicans, and the Coming of the Civil WarWalters, Kerry S. (2013). Explosion on the Potomac: The 1844 Calamity aboard the USS PrincetonWalters, Kerry S. (2013). Critical edition of H.R.L. Sheppard's We Say No! The Plain Man's Guide to PacifismWalters, Kerry S. (2013). John XXIII: A Short BiographyWalters, Kerry S. (2013). John Paul II: A Short BiographyWalters, Kerry S. (2014). Profiles in Christian Courage: Extraordinary Inspiration for Everyday LifeWalters, Kerry S. (2014). Outbreak in Washington, DC: The 1857 Mystery of the National Hotel DiseaseWalters, Kerry S. (2015). Junipero Serra: A Short BiographyWalters, Kerry S. (2015). American Slave Revolts and ConspiraciesWalters, Kerry S. (2016). Perfect Joy: 30 Days with Francis of AssisiWalters, Kerry S. (2016). St. Teresa of Calcutta: Missionary, Mother, Mystic
