Dr. Downing is a Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies and Head of the Department at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø.

Dr. Downing is a graduate of Emory University. He teaches and does research in religious studies--both ancient and modern. His courses include, World Religions, Hebrew Bible, New Testament, the Archaeology of Ancient Israel, and the Human Quest for Faith.

Dr. Downing has traveled extensively in Europe and the Middle East, and has participated in 14 archaeological excavations. From 2000 to 2007, Dr. Downing was on the supervisory staff of the Expedition to Tel Beth Shemesh, Israel where some of his students found the oldest iron smith workshop yet discovered in Israel and a rare Qodesh bowl.

His first experience in archaeology was at Khirbet Raddana in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. Khirbet Raddana was excavated as a "salvage" operation, but went on to become a "type" site for the settlement of early Israel on the frontier of ancient Canaan in the12th and 11th centuries BCE.

He has written three books:
 Image result for elie wiesel fred downing

Image result for elie wiesel fred downingGeorgia Author of the Year Seal
Dr. Downing recently won the "Georgia Author of the Year Award" for 2009 in Creative Non-Fiction, Biography for his book on Elie Wiesel. The award was presented in Atlanta on June 13. The Georgia Author of the Year Award is the oldest literary award in the southeast. To read more about the award click  and also here. 

Clarence Jordan: A Radical Pilgrimage in Scorn of the Consequences

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Several of his articles may be found on the web:

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Khirbet Raddana

Fred Downing at Khirbet Radannah in 1969Khirbet Raddana in 1969Khirbet Raddana

 

Dr. Downing in 2003 at Petra.Qodesh Bowl Smith's CornerIron Workshop

 

 

Tel Beth Shemesh

Tel Beth ShemeshDr. Downing at a dig.Dr. Downing with a pot he found on a dig.