Biography
As part of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford, Dr Buki Fatona is conducting research in philosophy of cognitive neuroscience and religion. She has a keen interest in memory and imagination and how these cognitive abilities interact with, motivate, and give rise to an agent's actions. Her work involves examining scientific theories of memory, imagination, and other cognitive abilities in antiquity and the Middle Ages via the lens of contemporary cognitive neuroscience. Her primary methodology is analytic philosophy drawing on logic and mathematics.
She is Tutor in Christian Ethics and Research Methods as well as Director of Postgraduate Programme at Ripon College Cuddesdon. After her doctoral research, she remains a member of the Common Room at Wolfson College Oxford. Also, at the University of Oxford, she is an associate of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion; a member of the Ancient World Research Cluster; and a member of the Centre for Philosophical Theology.
As an ordained priest in the Church of England, she is Rector of St Mary the Virgin Weston Turville: an inclusive, Anglo-Catholic parish church in the Diocese of Oxford.
Educational Background
Dr Fatona's research draws on her degrees in Microbiology (BSc); Theology (BA); Epistemology, Ethics, and Philosophy of Mind (MSc); and a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) from University of Oxford in Science and Religion supervised by Professor Alister McGrath, whilst he was Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion.
Research Interests
Philosophy of cognitive science and religion; philosophy of memory and the imagination in the ancient world, Middle Ages, and the contemporary context; Aristotle, Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas respective theories of memory and expectation; analytic theology.
Research Centres and Projects
Associate, Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of Oxford
https://www.ianramseycentre.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-buki-fatona
Member, Ancient World Research Cluster, Wolfson College, University of Oxford
https://awrc.web.ox.ac.uk/people/buki-fatona
Member, Centre for Philosophical Theology
https://ctmet.web.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-buki-fatona
Recent Publications
Fatona, B. (forthcoming, 2027) ‘A Survey of Neural-Networks in Late Antiquity via Augustine’s Philosophy of Mind’, Studia Patristica. Leuven – Paris – Bristol: Peeters.
Fatona, B. 2026. ‘An Anachronistic Analysis of St Augustine’s Asymmetric Conception of Time Perception’, Philosophy, Theology and the Sciences. 18 (1): pp.154-171 Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. DOI 10.1628/ptsc-2026-0009
Fatona, B. 2025. 'Behold Your God!' in The Visual Commentary on Scripture ed. by Ben Quash. (London: The Visual Commentary on Scripture Foundation). https://thevcs.org/behold-your-god
Fatona, B. 2025, How Does Mental Time Travel in the Eucharist Aid Psychospiritual Growth? Heythrop Journal. 67: pp.17-32. Wiley Publishers. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/heyj.70011
Fatona Buki. ‘Embodied Constructivism: The Imagination as a Vehicle for Mental Time Travel. Religious Studies. 2025:1-20. doi:10.1017/S0034412525100905
Fatona, Buki. ‘Recollecting the Infinite: Refining and Defending St Augustine's Constructivist Account of Memory and Imagination via Contemporary Cognitive Neuroscience.’ Oxford Research Archive: University of Oxford. 2024.
Fatona, Buki. ‘Imagining the Infinite: Transcendent Models as a Fundamental Nexus Between Science and Religion.’ Issues in Science and Theology: Creative Pluralism? Ed. by Michael Fuller, Dirk Evers, and Anne Runehov. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2022. 121–131.
Current Projects
Dr Fatona is the host of Phil-Sci-Theo - an accessible discussion series exploring themes in the intersection of philosophy of science and religion featuring experts. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsoZ8q0tJwLcyfN8JkfNrSg
Courses Taught
Dr Fatona is on the Faculty's Tuition List for the following papers, Ethics I: Christian Moral Reasoning; Science and Religion; Further Studies in Science and Religion; Philosophy of Religion.
