Julie Arliss


Julie Arliss is a British teacher of philosophy of religion and ethics at King's College, Taunton, an independent secondary school in Somerset, England. Arliss is known for the conferences she organizes for schools on philosophy and religion, working in partnership with the Ian Ramsey centre, University of Oxford organising projects for schools. In 2018 she was awarded a Farmington Fellowship by Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford. She is the co-author, with Peter Vardy, of The Thinker's Guide to God and The Thinker's Guide to Evil.

Education and teaching

Arliss graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA. She has a teaching vocation which includes the head of religious studies at St. Margarets School in Exeter, St. Catherines Academy in Belize and Richard Huish College, Taunton where she also taught A Level English. In 2002 her teaching at Richard Huish College featured in a Channel 4 documentary by Ian Rankin on the problem of evil. She has worked for King's College, Taunton, since at least 2010.

Conferences

Arliss has organised international conferences for gifted students on philosophy of religion, science and ethics since at least 2002. In 2009 she co-founded the Symposium for Philosophy and Religion, which held annual debates and lectures in schools. In 2009 she founded the Symposium for Philosophy and Religion at King's College, Taunton, which held annual debates and lectures. She founded Academy Conferences Ltd in 2009 and Academy Knowledge Network Ltd, later named Academy Ltd, in 2016. The companies hold conferences for schools; speakers have included Keith Ward, Daphne Hampson, Tom Greggs, Keith Ward, Alister McGrath, Martin Rees, Andrew Pinsent, Stephen Law, Raymond Tallis, Daphne Hampson, Roger Scruton and Anthony Seldon.
In 2014 Arliss brought the Philosothon movement from Australia to the UK, which is currently being hosted by Kings College Taunton. Arliss worked on the project with Father Mark Smith, head of philosophy and religion at King’s College, Taunton; Lizzie Lewis of SAPERE; and Michael Lacewing of Heythrop College.

Selected works