

PROFESSIONAL
Gregory D. Jones, Jr.​​​​
Professor, Duquesne University, Department of Theology
Education
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Ph.D. in Systematic Theology, Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit (2023)
Dissertation: Contestant Theology: Toward a Play Theology of Religions
Directors: Daniel P. Scheid, Marinus C. Iwuchukwu
Committee: Anna Floerke-Scheid, William M. Wright, IV
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M.A. in Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Valedictorian (2017)
Thesis: Homo Resumens: Play Theology Unearths Openness to the Sabbath
Director: Rev. Dr. John P. Burgess
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B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and English, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2005),
Magna Cum Laude
Academic Employment
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Professor, Duquesne University (2022)
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​Teaching Fellow, Duquesne University (2020-2022)
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​Graduate Teaching Assistant, Duquesne University
Publications
Book Chapters
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“Final FantaSi’ VII: Role-Playing the Eco-Ethics of Laudato Si’” in The World of Final Fantasy VII: Essays on the Game and its Legacy, edited by Jason C. Cash, Craig T. Olsen, and Matthew W. Kapell. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2023.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
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“Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions,” Religions. 2022, 13, 944. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13100944.
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“Sabbath-Keeping is Child’s Play: Exploring The Symbiosis of Play and the Sabbath,” Pittsburgh Theological Journal. Autumn 2018: 111-136.
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“There Can Only Be One: Canaanite Influences On Psalm 82,” Pittsburgh Theological Journal. Autumn 2017: 75-94.
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“The Ethics of Remembering,” Pittsburgh Theological Journal. Spring 2016: 78-92.
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“Embracing the Mystery of the Divine,” Pittsburgh Theological Journal. Spring 2015: 10-21.
Book Reviews
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Review of Connor Kelly’s The Fullness of Free Time: A Theological Account Leisure and Recreation in the Moral Life in Journal of Moral Theology (June)
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Review of Patrick M. Kelly’s Youth Sport and Spirituality: Catholic Perspectives in Religious Studies Review (25 Apr.)
Conference Presentations
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“Render Unto Google What Belongs to Google (Nothing): Cyber-Cleanse as a Spiritual Practice,” Crash Course at Mid-Atlantic PCA/ACA 2025, Philadelphia, PA (8 Nov.)
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“X-Ousia: Authority, Power, and Dominion in the X-Men’s Krakoan Age,” Mid-Atlantic PCA/ACA 2025, Philadelphia, PA (6 Nov.)
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“X-Schatology: Theologically Reading the End of X-Men’s Krakoan Age,” PCA/ACA Conference 2025, New Orleans, LA (Apr. 16-19)
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“The Way of X: The Mutant Spirituality of The Spark,” Southwest PCA/ACA 46th Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM (21 Feb.)
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“The Cusanus Game vs. The Shift: Differing Dimensions and Directions in Christian Multiversalism,” Mid-Atlantic PCA/ACA 2024, Atlantic City, NJ (7-9 Nov.)
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“Immortal X-Men: The Mutant Metaphor of Immortality,” PCA/ACA Conference 2024, Chicago, IL (28 Mar.)
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“‘And Move’: Holding Other Religions Lightly as ‘Conspirators’,” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies Annual Conference, Irving, TX (2 Mar.)
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“RPG-ing the Interreligious Encounter,” Southwest PCA/ACA 45th Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM (22 Feb.)
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"'For We Too Are His Offspring': Pushing the Buttons With Differing Others in Interreligious Relationality,” Mid-Atlantic PCA/ACA 2023, Philadelphia, PA (9 Nov.)
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“And Have Our Being: Breathing With Other Religions as ‘Con’ Artists,” PCA/ACA Conference 2023, San Antonio, TX (4 Apr.)
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“Somewhere in Between: Outplaying Sin and Death in the Law of the Spirit,” Southwest PCA/ACA 44th Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM (25 Feb.)
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“The Space Between the Single-Winged Angels: Xenogears Frames the Interreligious Encounter,” Mid-Atlantic PCA/ACA 2022 Virtual Conference, (10 Nov.)
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“Fighting Fear into Friendship: Goku Embodies the Interreligious Encounter,” Midwest PCA/ACA, Chicago, IL (14 Oct.)
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“Contestant Theology: Toward a Play Theology of Religions,” PCA/ACA Virtual Conference 2022 (15 Apr.)
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“Super Apocalypto 64: Inhabiting Revelation as a Video Game Made of Sacred Words” Far West PCA/ACA 34th Annual Conference, (Virtual) Las Vegas, NV (5 Mar.)
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“‘Is That Even Your Own Idea?’” A Biblio-Theological Consideration of The S3 Plan in Metal Gear Solid 2,” Mid-Atlantic PCA/ACA 2021 Virtual Conference, (12 Nov.)
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"Leaving the World the Way It Is: A Biblio-Theological Consideration of the Ethics of The Boss's Vision in the Metal Gear Solid Series,” Midwest PCA/ACA, Minneapolis, MN (8 Oct.)
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“Can Retrogaming Be a Spiritual Experience? Toward a Retrogame Theology!” The Popular/American Culture Association in the South, (Virtual) New Orleans, LA (1 Oct.)
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“Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions,” PCA/ACA Virtual Conference 2021 (4 June)
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“Digital Theophany: Enoch as Adaptable Player and Imprecise Playground,” Southwest PCA/ACA 42nd Annual Conference, (Virtual) Albuquerque, NM (22 Feb.)
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“Foucault Fantasy VI: A Role Playground for Postcolonial Thought,” Far West PCA/ACA 33rd Annual Conference, (Virtual) Las Vegas, NV (20 Feb.)
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“Video Gaming Enoch: Playing Out a Theophanic Narrative,” Midwest PCA/ACA, (Virtual) Minnesota, MN (2 Oct.)
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“Ethitainment: Pop-Culture Confronts the Moral Oddness in John Rawls's Theory of Justice,” Far West PCA/ACA' 32nd Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV (22 Feb.)
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“Final FantaSi' VII: Role-Playing the Eco-Ethics of Laudato Si,'“ Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association 2019 Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA (7 Nov.)
Upcoming Projects
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2025-2026: Chapter for Black Apologetics: Reflections on the Viability of Christian Faith
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2025-2026: Book: Navigating Interreligious Encounters with Play and Pop Culture
Teaching Experience
Duquesne University
Undergraduate:
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BRDGS 105T: Introduction to Ethical Reasoning (Spring 2023, 2025; Fall 2023, 2024)
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HONR 154-01: Will We Find Faith in Media? (Fall 2021)
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UCOR 141-02: Biblical and Historical Perspectives (Spring 2021)
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UCOR 143: Global and Cultural Perspectives (Fall 2018, 2020; Summer 2023)
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THEO 101-01: Introduction to Christian Theology (Fall 2025)
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THEO 142: Theological Views of the Person (Fall 2018, 2023)
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THEO 143: Religions of the World (Summer 2024, 2025; Fall 2024, 2025)
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THEO 152-02: Theological Ethics (Fall 2019, 2022; Spring 2020)
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THEO 216-01: Religion, Media, and Pop-Culture (Spring 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
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THEO 264: Religion and Global Conflict (Fall 2019)
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THEO 283-01: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in Dialogue (Fall 2019)
Honors, Awards, Grants
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The Common Good Research Award, Duquesne University (2023)
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​The Robert A. Lee Church History Prize, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2017)
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The Sylvester S. Marvin Memorial Fellowship, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2017)
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The Thomas Jamison Scholarship, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2017)
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The Ford Lewis and Marion Davis Battles Scholarship, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2016)
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The Carl A. Hiaasen Honors Scholarship, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2014)
Professional Memberships
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American Academy of Religion (AAR)
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Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association (MAPACA)
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Southwest Popular/American Culture Association (SWPCA)
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Popular Culture Association (PCA/ACA)
Academic Service
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Duquesne University Grefenstette Center National Research Scholar (2025-2026)
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Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association, Board Member (2025—)
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Duquesne University Theology Graduate Organization, President (2019-2022)
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Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Church History Professor Search Committee (2016)
Church and Community Service
Church
First Baptist Church of Bridgeville, PA
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Webmaster: Maintains the web page, provides YouTube recordings of services and studies (2013— )
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Sunday School Coordinator: plans, conducts, and evaluates the Sunday School (2005—)
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Sunday School Teacher: leads weekly in-person lessons and creates online lesson recordings/summaries using the Urban Ministries, Inc. Curriculum.
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Vacation Bible School Coordinator: purchasing supplies, enlisting assistance, and developing an original curriculum for the summer VBS
Community
TheOne MusicFest:
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Moderator, “Building Bridges” Discussion Series (2021)
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Master of Ceremonies, Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration (2018—)
Media Appearances
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Panelist, VOXXGH’s “Discussion of Racism in America” (2020). https://youtu.be/GNW4wDAZTRg.
Other Employment
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Senior Production Coordinator, VITAC Closed Captioning, Canonsburg, PA (2005-2014)
Additional Information
Languages
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Koine Greek, Biblical Hebrew, English
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Research and Other Interests
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Theological: Play Theology/Theology of Play, Theologies of Religions, Christian Metaphysics
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Global: World Christianity and World Religions
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Cultural: Religion and Pop-Culture Studies, Theology and Game Studies
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Biblical: Old/New Testament Studies
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Historical: Patristic and Medieval Christian Spirituality, American Religious Biographies
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Ethics: Global Restorative Justice Paradigm, Christian and Philosophical Stances
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Other: Video Gaming, Virtual Worlds, Jogging, Comics/Graphic Novels, Landscaping