Biography
Dr Josie Gwin is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of Theology and Religion. Her interdisciplinary research explores the relationships between religion, suffering, resilience, and meaning-making, with particular attention to how theological beliefs and communal practices shape individuals' and communities' experiences of crisis and adversity.
Her current project involves an investigation of the relationship between theological responses to suffering and lived experiences of grief and loss through the John Templeton Foundation-funded project, Why is There Suffering?: A Qualitative Psychological Investigation of Compassionate Theodicy.
Josie undertook her doctoral research in Ethics and Practical Theology at the University of Edinburgh, employing constructivist grounded theory to investigate the effect of power dynamics in ritual practises of faith and spirituality on the development of community resilience within a holistic faith-based organisation. Her work brings theology and ethics into conversation with sociology, psychology, and qualitative social research to examine how individuals and communities navigate experiences of suffering, negotiate belonging and community identity, and develop psychosocial resilience.
Alongside her academic research, Josie has extensive professional experience in international humanitarian and crisis care contexts, encompassing crisis response chaplaincy, individual and community psychosocial care and development, and organisational consulting and leadership. She is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Resilience Resource (www.theresilienceresource.org), an interdisciplinary organisation developing research-informed approaches to psychosocial resilience, trauma-informed care, and holistic wellbeing, with particular attention to international humanitarian and community development organisations and local communities. Her public engagement seeks to connect interdisciplinary research with practical approaches to trauma-informed crisis care and community resilience.
Research Interests
- Practical theology and lived religion
- Trauma informed theodicy
- Religion and psychosocial resilience
- Ritual practice, belonging, and community identity
- Trauma-informed and survivor-centred crisis care
- Ethics, social power, and organisational culture
- Interdisciplinary approaches to religion, psychology, and sociology
Current Projects
Why is There Suffering?: A Qualitative Psychological Investigation of Compassionate Theodicy (funded by the John Templeton Foundation)
This interdisciplinary project investigates how theological approaches to suffering are understood and experienced in the context of grief and bereavement. Drawing on qualitative psychological research, the project explores how the ways in which individuals engage with theological explanations of suffering might inform their experience of meaning making in grief and loss.
Religion and Ritual, Belonging Beyond Belief, and Community Resilience
Building on her doctoral research, Josie examines how communal rituals, interpersonal relationships, social power dynamics, and experiences of belonging inform the development of resilience within communities and organisations. Her research considers the ways in which religious and non-religious dimensions of communal life contribute to individual and collective identity, and how an individuals' experience of belonging affects communal responses to suffering and adversity.
Courses Taught
University of Edinburgh, School of Divinity (2024–2026)
Tutor in Science and Religion, Ethics, and Social Sciences:
- Morality in the Social Sciences (2026)
- Religion, Violence, and Peace Building (2025)
- Philosophy of Science and Religion (Online Master's Course, 2024–2025)
Educational Background
PhD, Ethics and Practical Theology, University of Edinburgh (doctoral revisions in progress)
Thesis: Power, Ritual, and Belonging Beyond Belief: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study of Community Resilience in a Holistic Faith-Based Organisation.
MA, Transformational Leadership, Bethel University, Minnesota (2022), summa cum laude
Recent Publications
Academic Publications
Gwin, Josie. ‘Narrative Misalignment, Religion, and Resilience: Could Interaction Ritual Chains be the Key to Resilient Recovery for Individuals and Communities from Leadership Hypocrisy?’ In Issues in Science and Theology: Constructions of Narrative in Science and Religion, edited by L. Hickman, M. Fuller, M. Harris, and J. Leidenhag. Springer (forthcoming).
Books and Professional Resources
Gwin, Josie, and Scott Gwin. A Field Guide for Survivor-Centered Care. The Resilience Resource, 2024.
Gwin, Josie, and Scott Gwin. Pursuing Wholeness: A Reflection Journal for Holistic Formation. The Resilience Resource, 2024.
Selected Invited Lectures and Conference Presentations
- ‘Ritual, Relationship, and Resilience: How Faith Communities Cultivate Lasting Strength.’ Iona Community Annual Lecture, Paisley, Scotland, June 2026.
- ‘Too Much of a Good Thing? Religion and Resilience in a Changing World.’ University of Edinburgh School of Divinity and St Paul's University School of Theology, Kenya, October 2025.
- ‘Recognising Bias and Increasing Self Awareness in Research Metrics: Holistic Care in Practice.’ With Scott Gwin. OneAccord Conference, Accord Network, Washington, DC, October 2025.
- ‘Narrative Misalignment, Religion, and Resilience: Does Hypocrisy in the Church Undermine Resilience?’ European Society for the Study of Science and Theology, Split, Croatia, August–September 2024.
