Paul Burns

Paul Burns comes to Quest University Canada with many years of experience teaching courses at the University of British Columbia in World Religions, Religion and Literature, History of Christian Thought, and Classical Greek and Latin Literature. For several years, he taught and then directed a team-taught program, which was an integrated "Introduction to the Humanities". In 1994 he was awarded the University Teaching Prize.

Paul has an M.A. and Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Toronto. He also has graduate degrees in Theology from the University of St. Michael's College, and in Early Christian Thought from Oxford University.

In his teaching he seeks understanding of religions and to promote appreciation between different religions especially across historical boundaries and divisions. For a number of years both as a graduate student and as a teacher, he was involved in ecumenical activities to move beyond the traditional issues of divided Christianity. Since 1989 he has been an Executive member of a local organization to foster understanding and cooperation among Jews, Christian, Muslims, Sikhs and others.

From these experiences he seeks to incorporate into his teaching the wisdom of the traditional saying: "Tell me and I will forget; Show me and I will remember; Involve me and I will understand".

For weekend activities, Paul and his wife are avid hikers in the coastal mountains of British Columbia. In the winter they ski but in this sport, Paul does admit that his wife is more proficient.

To contact Paul, you can email him at or call him at 604.898.8000 or our toll free number in North America 1.888.QUEST.08 (1.888.783.7808).