James Daniel Holt is Professor of Religion and Education at the University of Chester and is a British scholar of Latter-day Saint religion and history.
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Biography
Holt served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission (1991–93). During this time, his mission presidents were Joseph Fielding McConkie and Ian D. Swanney.
Returning from his mission, Holt completed a BA in theology and history at Chester College, then part of the University of Liverpool. On conclusion of those studies, he trained as a secondary school teacher in history and religious studies at Manchester Metropolitan University. Holt then taught religious studies in two Manchester schools for 12 years before taking up his current role at the University of Chester.
Holt has degrees from Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Chester and the University of Birmingham. He published Religious Education in the Secondary School: An introduction to teaching, learning and the World Religions through Routledge in 2015. In this he outlines his approach to teaching RE. This includes a pedagogy he describes as a 'Kaleidoscopic' approach which draws on existing pedagogies of RE.
In March 2010, Holt was among the presenters at the BYU Studies 50th anniversary symposium.
His service in the LDS Church includes eleven years as bishop of the Hyde Ward, and service on the presidency of the Manchester England Stake from 2004 to 2011. Holt has also served on the National Public Affairs Committee for the church, and was Stake Director of Public Affairs in Manchester. He was also Director of Communications for the British Pageant of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also served on the Curriculum Writing Committee of the Church.
In addition to his professional and church responsibilities, Holt completed a PhD in Mormon theology at the University of Chester (the degree being awarded by the University of Liverpool). His PhD focused around an LDS theology of religions and its implications for interfaith dialogue. Arising out of this work he has presented papers at the BYU Studies symposium outlined earlier, and a Mormon Scholars in the Humanities conference at Southern Virginia University. Holt has also presented papers and written articles ranging from an exploration of Tolkien's religious imagery, aspects of Mormon theology to the teaching of religious education. He identifies these three strands as his major research interests.
Holt has served on the National Council of the Professional Council for Religious Education (now NATRE); delivered training courses on religious education around the United Kingdom. He is currently a Chair of Examiners for Religious Studies GCSE, International GCSE and A Level for one of the examination boards in England.
Personal life
Holt and his wife Ruth, who married in 1995, are the parents of four children.
Publications
Books
Understanding Hinduism. A Guide for Teachers part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews Series (Bloomsbury, 2024)
Understanding Buddhism. A Guide for Teachers part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews Series (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Understanding Sikhism. A Guide for Teachers part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews Series Bloomsbury, 2023
Religious Education in the Secondary School: An Introduction to teaching, learning and the world religions Second Edition Routledge, 2022
It’s not a Secret Teach, Share, Testify, 2021
Gospel Lessons from my Heroes Teach, Share, Testify, 2021
Hearing Him Teach, Share, Testify, 2020
Towards a Latter-day Saint Theology of Religions KDP, 2020
Beyond the Big Six: Expanding the Boundaries in the Teaching of Religion and Worldviews University of Chester Press, 2019
Religious Education in the Secondary School: An Introduction to teaching, learning and the world religions Routledge, 2015
Chapters in Books
“Religious Education” in Nasreen Majid (ed) Essential Subject Knowledge for Primary Teaching (Sage, 2023)
“What knowledge, skills and understanding do beginning Religious Education teachers need?” in Helen Sheehan ed., A practical guide to mentoring beginning Religious Education (RE) teachers Routledge, 2022