Lauren F. Winner

Lauren F. Winner is an acclaimed author, speaker, and scholar, known for her insightful writing on faith, identity, and culture. She is a professor at Duke Divinity School, where she teaches courses on Christian spirituality and the intersections of theology and culture. Winner’s academic work is deeply rooted in her own experience as a convert to Christianity and her exploration of how faith shapes personal identity and life.

Winner graduated from Columbia University with a degree in history before pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. She later earned a Ph.D. in Christian spirituality from the same institution. Her intellectual journey, coupled with her personal story, has made her a respected voice in the realms of contemporary Christian thought and spiritual formation.

She is the author of several books, including Girl Meets God, which recounts her conversion to Christianity and her navigation of faith in a secular world, and Mudhouse Sabbath, a reflection on Jewish spiritual practices that helped shape her own spiritual life. Her book Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis explores the complexities of faith in the midst of doubt, offering a candid look at the challenges of maintaining belief during times of personal struggle.

Winner is also a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats, where she engages audiences with her thoughtful reflections on the relationship between spirituality, literature, and everyday life. Her writing is marked by its honesty, vulnerability, and depth, inviting readers into a richer understanding of the Christian faith in the modern world.

Lauren F. Winner’s life and work continue to inspire others to explore the intersection of faith and culture, and her contributions to both academia and Christian living remain influential in contemporary discussions of spirituality and religious practice.