He holds a BA in religious studies, from William Jewell College, an MA in philosophy of religion from the University of Kansas, an M.Litt in philosophical theology from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and a Ph.D. in religion, culture, and the arts from the University of Iowa. He has published and presented on religion and suffering in modern art, religion in the digital age, and contemporary digital art. He also works as an artist in digital media, photography, and book art.