PHUC LUU, Ph.D.

Author and educator,

Phuc Luu (福†刘) immigrated with his family to the United States from Vietnam when he was four. Luu is now a theologian, philosopher, and artist in Houston, Texas, creating work to narrow the divide between ideas and beauty. If theology is speaking about God, Luu seeks to give new language to what theology has not yet said. He served for seven years on the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). He holds degrees in theology (MDiv, PhD) and philosophy (MA), but has learned the most from the places where people ask difficult questions, where they live in the land between pain and hope, and where these stories are told.

Phuc’s work has appeared in the AmerAsian Journal, The Journal of Pastoral Care, the Truett Journal of Church and Mission, the Houston Chronicle, and NPR’s This I Believe. He has published on a variety of topics such as Medieval philosophy, pastoral care, theology and culture, philosophy of religion, and art and culture. He has taught philosophy and theology at Sam Houston State University, Houston Baptist University, and Houston’s Episcopal High School. Phuc has taught courses in Old Testament Prophets, New Testament, and World Religions, Ethics, and Christian Theology. Phuc is working on his second book called People of the Way that explores the intersection of personal development and social concerns.

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Speaking Engagements

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Houston Texas
“Art as Seeing”

Extended Ministry Breakfast for the United Methodist Church, with Bishop Jones responding
“Cultural Engagement and Ministry”

Speaker for the LEAD Conference, with Travis Reed of The Work of the People, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
“Filmmaking and Liturgy”

Speaker for Mission Year meeting
“Atonement Models and Ministry”

Speaker for Leadership Luncheon for UMC Extension Leaders’s Meeting
“Engaging Cross Cultural Dialogue”

Speaker for CHARM Ministry Men’s Dinner
“A Community of Healing”

Speaker for Church for the Unchurch
“Temptations of Jesus: Scarcity and Abundance”

Bethel College

Speaking Panels

Panel Vietnamese Today, On Religion Among Vietnamese in America and the 21st Century

Book Release Panel for Rev. Marty Troyer’s book, The Gospel Next Door

Editoral Panel, Slush pile for WriteFest, Houston.

Community work:

Taught in Kenya, Africa
Relief work during Hurricane Harvey
Board member of Christian Cultural Awareness and Assistance League

CLasses Taught

Hermeneutics
Critical thinking
Introduction to Philosophy
New Testament Survey
Old Testament Survey
Christian Texts and Traditions

Presentation Topics

  • Cultural engagement

  • Atonement imagery (reconciliation, liberation, and healing)

  • Minjung (People’s) theology

  • han (woundedness)

  • Communities of healing

  • Restorative justice

  • Theosis (restoration to the image of God and union with God, restoration of all of creation)

  • Art, culture, and theology

  • Jesus of the East book

  • Non-violent interpretations of the book of Revelation

Curriculum

Jesus of the East Discussion Guide: Questions, Practices, and Resources available here.