Walsh, Thomas

President; Professor of Religion and Peace

Thomas Walsh serves as the 7th president of HJI and as professor of Religion and Peace. He is the executive editor of the International Journal for Peace and Public Leadership and publisher of HJI Press. He is chairman of the Coalition of Faith-Based Organizations and the chair of the Sunhak Peace Prize Selection Committee.

Research Statement

The study of religion and interreligious relations is profoundly relevant to the pursuit of peace.

Research Interests

Dr. Walsh’s research and work as an editor and publisher focus on topics in ecumenism, interreligious dialogue and the relationship between religion and international relations, global affairs and social ethics.

Religion, Peace and Conflict Resolution
Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue
Theology of Religions
Ethics and Social Theory

Dialogue Peace Theology of Religions Secularization De-secularization

Vanderbilt University, Graduate School of Religion, Ph.D
Unification Theological Seminary, Masters of Religious Education
Western Kentucky University, BA in English Literature

Editorship of Journals

Executive Editor: International Journal for Peace and Public Leadership, 2025 to present
Publisher/Executive Editor, Publisher and Executive Editor, Dialogue and Alliance, 1987-present

Articles Published

Spirituality, Crime Prevention, and Criminal Justice: The Ongoing Significance of Faith-Based Organizations to the Work of the United Nations, Crime Prevention and Justice in 2030, Edited by Helmut Kury, Slavomir Redo and Evelyn Shea: Springer, Switzerland, 2021
Soft Power Options in the Face of Frozen Conflicts, International Journal on World Peace, Vol. XXXIV No. 4, December 2017
Justice, Faith and Interfaith: The Relevance of Faith and Interfaith Relations to Crime Prevention, Women and Children as Victims and Offenders: Background, Prevention, Reintegration, Edited by Slavomir Redo and Evelyn Shea, Springer: Switzerland, 2016
Interfaith, Multi-Track Diplomacy and Peace, Dialogue and Alliance, Vol. 26, No. 2, 2012.
Religion, Peace and the Post-Secular Public Sphere, International Journal on World Peace, Vol. XXIX, No. 2, June 2012
The Ethics of Marriage and Family in Christianity and Islam, Muslim-Christian Dialogue: Promise and Problems, Edited by M. Darrol Bryant and S. A. Ali, Paragon House: St. Paul, MN, 1998
Reflections on the Antecedents of Post-Modernism, International Journal on World Peace, Vol. XIII, No. 3, 1996
Virtue, Justice and Peace, Dialogue and Alliance, Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring/Summer 1994
Morality, Ideological Struggle and Nuclear Deterrence in International Journal on the Unity of the Sciences, Vol. 2, No. 2, Spring 1989; also in Ethics, Nuclear Deterrence and War, Edited by Jack N. Barkenbus, Paragon House: New York, 1992
Religion, Politics and Life Worlds: Jurgen Habermas and Richard John Neuhaus, in Secularization and Fundamentalism Reconsidered, Edited by Jeffrey Hadden and Anson Shupe, Paragon House: New York, 1989
Deconstruction, Counter-Secularization, and Communicative Action: Prelude to Metaphysics in Religion, Ontotheology and Deconstruction, Edited by Henry Ruf, Paragon House: New York, 1989
The Poverty of Dependence Theory and Other Preferential Options in Liberation Theology: North American Style, Edited by Deane William Ferm, IRF: New York, 1987
On the Creation of the Good Society in The Search for Faith and Justice in the Twentieth Century, Paragon House: New York, 1987
The Response to Suffering in Society and Original Sin: Ecumenical Essays on the Impact of the Fall, Edited by Durwood Foster and Paul Mojzes, Paragon House: New York, 1985
Celibacy, Virtue and the Practice of True Family in The Family and the Unification Church, Edited by Gene James, UTS: Barrytown, NY, 1983

Edited Books

Threats to Religious Freedom: Root Causes and Paths Forward, HJI Press: New York, 2026
Coalition of Faith-Based Organizations: Special Report 2020, CFBO Books: New York, 2020
Vision and Leadership at a Time of Global Crisis, UPF: New York, 2007
Essays on the Life and Work of Sun Myung Moon, UPF: New York, 2007
Establishing a World Culture of Heart: Innovative Approaches to Peace in a Changing World, IIFWP: New York, 2006
Good Governance for a World in Crisis: World Summit on Leadership and Good Governance, IIFWP: New York, 2005
The World at a Turning Point: A Global Vision of Peace and Good Governance, IIFWP: New York, 2004
Global Governance for a New Realm of Peace, IIFWP: New York, 2004
The Middle East Peace Initiative, Vol. I: Beyond Co-Existence Toward a New Culture of Peace, IIFWP: New York, 2003
The Middle East Peace Initiative, Vol. II: Considering Innovative Proposals for Peace, Cooperation and Co-Prosperity in the Middle East, IIFWP: New York, 2003
Global Governance at a Turning Point: Innovative Approaches to Peace in a Changing World, IIFWP: New York, 2003
Governance and the Role of Religion in Peace and Security: The Search for Solutions to Critical Global Problems, IIFWP: New York, 2003
World Summit on Leadership and Governance: Developing the Culture, Structures and Policies of Peace for a World in Crisis, IIFWP: New York, 2003
Governance and the Challenge of Contemporary Crises: Third International Symposium on the United States and the United Nations, IIFWP: New York, 2002
Global Violence: Crisis and Hope, IIFWP: New York, 2002
Establishing a Culture of Peace: Worldviews, Institutions, Leadership and Practices, IIFWP: New York, 2002
Exploring the Future of US-UN Relations, IIFWP Books: New York, 2002
Serving the Nation, Serving the World: Establishing Peace by Renewing Families, Communities and Nations, IIFWP: New York, 2001
Dialogue and Harmony Among Civilizations: The Family, Universal Values and World Peace, IIFWP: New York, 2001
Establishing Peace by Renewing Families, Communities and Nations, UPF: New York, 2001
The Millennium Declaration of the United Nations: A Response from Civil Society, IIFWP: New York, 2000
Renewing the United Nations and Building a Culture of Peace, IIFWP: New York, 2001
Religion and Social Transformation in Southern Africa, St. Paul, MN: Paragon, 1999 [Co-edited with Frank Kaufmann]
Christianity in the Americas: Ecumenical Essays, Paragon House: St. Paul, MN, 1997 [Co-edited with Frank Kaufmann]
Unificationism and Modern Society: An Appraisal of the Thought and Work of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, ICF/IRF: New York, 1988 [Co-Edited with Frederick Sontag]

PST 5304 The United Nations and Civil Society
LTR 5141 World Religions and the Encounter with Religious Pluralism
MIN 5106 Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue
PST 5133 Human Rights, Law and Government

ACUNS: Advisory Council on the United Nations System
American Academic of Religion
Council on Foreign Relations: Religion and Foreign Policy Workshop
Dialogue and Alliance, Editor
HJI Press, Publisher
International Journal on Peace and Public Leadership, Executive Editor