Kerry joined the philosophy department in 1985. Before coming to Gettysburg College, he taught at Xavier University in Cincinnati. He's also taught at the University of Essex in England. With interests in American colonial and early Republic intellectual history, religious experience, and peace and justice studies, Kerry teaches courses such as Philosophy and Food, Philosophy and Mysticism, Medieval Philosophy, Philosophy of Peace and Nonviolence, and Philosophy of Religion.

The author or editor of over 20 books and 100 articles in scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers, Kerry's latest books are Atheism: A Guide for the Perplexed (Continuum), Revolutionary Deists: Early America's Rational Infidels (Prometheus Books), and The Art of Dying and Living (Orbis).

A critical edition of Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason (Broadview) was just released, and The Underground Railroad (Greenwood), and Vegetarianism: A Guide for the Perplexed (Continuum) will be published in 2012. A complete list of his books may be found on his personal webpage.

A Korean edition of Kerry's The Art of Dying and Living was published in late 2011. His Revolutionary Deists was named a "Choice Outstanding Book of the Year," one of 600 chosen from 7,263 titles reviewed by Choice in 2011.

Kerry holds the William Bittinger Chair of Philosophy. He is a past Edwin and Cynthia Johnson Distinguished Teaching Professor in Humanities, and has served as Chairperson of the Philosophy Department. He also teaches in the Peace and Justice Studies program.