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I was born in Finland in 1964. I studied computer
science at the Helsinki University of Technology (BSc and MSc;
minor in economics) through the Department of
Technical Physics, working in various computer companies and as a
research assistant in the Laboratory of Signal Processing and Computer
Technology at the Helsinki University of Technology. Subsequently, I
worked in South Korea. I then moved on to theological
studies at Chongshin University Theological Seminary in Korea,
completing an MDiv degree. After MDiv, I continued my theological
studies at the University of Gloucestershire in the UK, completing a
PhD on early Israelite history. My thesis has been published by Gorgias
Press as
Central
Sanctuary and Centralization of Worship in Ancient Israel: From the
Settlement to the Building of Solomon's Temple (see also my webpage for the book). I
currently work as a Lecturer (Course Leader) at the
Open
Theological College, School of Humanities, University of
Gloucestershire. My present main publishing project is to prepare a
commentary on Joshua for Apollos Old Testament Commentary series - now
in its finishing stages (copy editing of the book is just about to start with a likely publication around
September 2010). After that, I plan to write
a book analysing how the field of Old Testament studies (with focus on the Pentateuch) works,
and am in fact already working on relevant research.
My contact email is:
pmapitkanenATzalagDOTnet
Link to
University
of Gloucestershire staff page
I am a member in
the following professional bodies: Society of Old Testament Studies, Tyndale
Fellowship, Society of Biblical Literature, Institute for Electrical
and Electronics Engineers,
British Higher Education Academy.
My main research
interests are: Israelite history and historiography, archaeology, ancient
Near Eastern history and historiography, biblical criticism,
intercultural studies, sociological and anthropological approaches, general theology.
I retain an interest in mathematics, physics, computer science and economics, even
if I often have little time to look at related issues in detail.
I like to study biblical and
ANE languages. I work on Hebrew and Greek, and have a fair working knowledge of Akkadian, Egyptian, Sumerian, Hittite,
Ugaritic, Aramaic (also Latin). I can also work on a number of modern languages in addition to English
and Finnish: German (fluent in reading), Korean (fluent in
conversation), Swedish (good skills), French (reading skills), Spanish
(basic skills).
I am a practising Christian and attend a local
Anglican church.
For a list of my publications,
click here.
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