- In a novel approach that the author terms "symbolic paradigm analysis," Paradise and Paradigm offers a "theoretically modular" systematic comparison of two "Persian" religions: early Syriac Christianity as the foundation of the East Syrian "Church of the East" (the Nestorian Church of Persia) and the Baha'i Faith, a new world religion.
- The author compares the hymns of the greatest poet of early Christianity, Saint Ephrem the Syrian, and the richly imagistic writings of the founder of the Baha'i religion, Baha'u'llah.
- The book employs an original analytic technique in the creation of "symbolic profiles" constructed on Ninian Smart's dimensional model of religion.
- As Buck skillfully demonstrates, formal similarities between any two religions are best comprehended in terms of paradigmatic differences, which nuance all parallels through a process of symbolic transformation.
- Buck also shows the communal reflexivity of paradise imagery in representing the ideal faith-community in both traditions.
AUTHOR PROFILE
About the Author:
Christopher Buck (Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1996; J.D. 2006), is a Pennsylvania attorney/independent scholar, who taught at Michigan State University (2000-2004), Quincy University (1999-2000), Millikin University (1997-1999), and Carleton University (1994-1996).
Dr. Buck's books include: As co-author with J. Gordon Melton (Editor), Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011); Religious Myths and Visions of America: How Minority Faiths Redefined America's World Role (Santa Barbara, CA/Westport, CT: ABC-CLIO/Praeger, 2009); Alain Locke: Faith and Philosophy (2005); Generation Y Speaks Out: A Policy Guide (2002); Paradise and Paradigm: Key Symbols in Persian Christianity and the Baha'i Faith (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999); Symbol and Secret: Qur'an Commentary in Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Iqan (1995/2004). Widely published, Buck also has authored book chapters as well as journal and encyclopedia articles on topics ranging from the comparative phenomenology of religions to African American studies. Many of his publications may be downloaded for free at Dr. Buck's academic website at christopherbuck DOT com.
For use in teaching the phenomenology of world religions, Buck is known for his "DREAMS Paradigm" -- DOCTRINAL, RITUAL, ETHICAL, ARTISTIC, MYSTICAL and SOCIAL dimensions of religion (with sub-dimensions). See: http://christopherbuck.com/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Momen_1999.pdf.
Buck is also known for his "CLEAR Argument Paradigm," an argument model to assist students in writing their own arguments. Based on the work of British philosopher, Stephen Toulmin (1922-2009), Buck's "CLEAR" mnemonic acronym stands for: CLAIM (Position), LIMITS (Qualifier), EVIDENCE (Reasons, Grounds), ASSUMPTIONS (Warrants & Backing), and REBUTTAL (to objections) See: Christopher Buck, "Religions Share Enduring Values." Enduring Questions for Religion. World Religions: Belief, Culture, and Controversy. Ed. J. Gordon Melton (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO: August 2011). See also: http://www.mackin.com/cms/uploads/eServices/ABC-CLIO_WorldReligions_Flyer_high.pdf.
Buck's biography of Alain Locke -- the first African American Rhodes Scholar (1907) and who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in a 1968 speech, compared to Plato and Aristotle -- presents Locke's philosophy of democracy in nine dimensions. Buck later edited and introduced previously unpublished essays and speeches by Alain Locke. On June 10, 2011, Buck presented "Alain Locke: Pioneer in Multiculturalism & Race Amity" at the National Race Amity Conference in Boston.
Here are highlights of three reviews of Religious Myths and Visions of America:
1. "Religious Myths and Visions of America has many strengths. The author has defended his thesis with solid research. He has also made an original contribution to American studies." -- Richard Kyle (Tabor College), Journal of American History 98.1 (June 2011): 279-280 [280].
2. "This interesting, thoroughly researched scholarly study examines how ten minor religions interpreted America's reality ("nation and notion") and generated numerous religious myths and visions of America. ... [T]his volume is certainly a welcome addition to the topic of racial, cultural, and ethnic studies. ... Recommended for comparative ethnic and religion collections." -- Vladimir F. Wertsman (New York Public Library), Multicultural Review 18.4 (Winter 2009): 66.
3. "Buck, an attorney and independent scholar who has taught at several universities, describes how minority religions have shaped America. He considers the myths and views of America in Protestantism and nine minority faiths--Native American religion (Iroquois), Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, Christian Identity (white nationalism), Black Muslim, Islam, Buddhism, and the Bahá'í Faith--particularly for what they have to say about America. He addresses specific myths, such as those about the 'promised land,' Manifest Destiny, race, and America's world role." - Reference & Research Book News (The Bibliography of New Scholarly Books) 24.3 (August 2009): 11.
What do college students think about Buck's latest book, Religious Myths and Visions of America, which has been adopted as a cultural anthropology textbook in Eugene, Oregon? The following was sent to the author by Professor Donald Addison, Ph.D. (elder, Choctaw Nation):
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I am a Native American college instructor of cultural anthropology and linguistic anthropology and I use Religious Myths and Visions of America successfully in both. I use this as a course text in some classes every term, including summers, and Religious Myths and Visions of America seems to not loose its attractiveness to my students, nor has it caused negative unforeseen consequences.
I adopted Buck's book "Religious Myths" after it first came out and I read it practically in one sitting. I don't mean to patronize anyone, but I was incredibly smitten with it. I realized immediately the tremendous value that this book might have for my anthropology students. So I adopted it at the beginning of the very next term, as a sort of "trial run"--and my students all loved it as well. So I have continued every term to require all my anthro and ethnic studies students to purchase and read it, write reports upon it, and I always include it in final exams as
well.
This book gives a wonderful exploration of what "America" means to many different peoples and religious groups. Students love the fact that all religions are treated with inspiring respect and rigorous clarity and fairness. And my students invariably verbalize their surprise that a scholar writes about all these religions without ever attacking them.
I have many Native American students as well as students of a wide variety of races, religions, and cultural backgrounds routinely in my classes and no Native American student has ever found anything in Buck's discussion of American Indian religions offensive or inadequate. Quite the opposite: they like it consistently. This is a remarkable achievement on the part of the author, because for several decades a huge debate has raged in the academy over non-Indian scholars writing and teaching Native American religions. Many Native scholars feel it is a prerogative for only Native scholars to write and teach Native religions. But this issue has never come up with respect to the author's Native American religion chapter in Religious Myths.
The way Buck discusses "myths" and the various definitions of "America" is a great exercise in exploring the multiple meanings of words and concepts and my linguistic students like Buck's book as much as my anthropology students, who are really focusing on cultures.
I have been impressed by the number of students who uniformly like this text and remark how fair and impartially the author treats various religions. I have never yet discovered a student who really didn't like Buck's book. Christians of many denominations, Moslems, Jews, and others have even voiced an interest in discovering things about religions, such as Baha'i, which was new to their attention. Sometimes that last chapter is the students' favorite one.
I routinely have 20-40 Muslims, who are both American and Middle Eastern in origin, in all my classes. I have had nothing but the most respectful and positive reactions to the author's handling of Islam by my Islamic students, male and female. My students continue to have a totally enriching and powerfully positive reaction to Religious Myths and Visions of America, and the Islamic chapter is exceptionally well received--not because I say so, but because my Muslim students say so.
I don't assign one chapter alone, but the whole book, because it dovetails so well with Lassiter's "Invitation to Anthropology." And students find Religious Myths and Visions of America "reader friendly" and not beyond their "growing" academic reading understanding. The greatest value is that reading this book helps develop critical thinking skills and open mindedness.
Don Addison, Ph.D. (elder, Choctaw Nation)
Instructor in Anthropology/Ethnomusicology/Linguistics
Lane Community College
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
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Student evaluations of Dr. Christopher Buck's Religious Myths and Visions of America, selected by professor Donald Francis Addison, Ph.D. (elder, Choctaw Nation), from his Cultural Anthropology (Fall 2009) course, Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, with full permission given by the student writers:
Hunter Russell: "Christopher Buck's book does a very good job at showing each piece of the American melting pot puzzle. The very insightful look at all religions takes off their veil of mystery and you are instantly shown where they fit in America, and how they have shaped America."
Jessika Watkins: "This book is a great reflection on what it means to be an American, mainly from a religious perspective. This book has good insight in how many beliefs are formed amongst people of different cultures."
Rocky Smith: "One of the things that I appreciated most about this book was that it provided at least a brief historical perspective, or synopsis if you will, of most of the aforementioned faiths and was differentiated one from another. I found it interesting how often "race" came up in the discussion. . . . I don't think that religion is the cause of the fighting, but rather it's certain individuals who 'high-jack' religion, with the desired goal of elevating themselves to positions of power and notoriety."
Vina Reilly: "After reading this book, I realized . . . [t]here is a massive amount of information in the book about many religions. It talks about the visions and myths that various religions have regarding America. Such as 'To promote unity and peace for all people around the world' (Judaism) and 'Lead all nations spiritually so that the world can be unified' (Baha'i Faith). In addition, because of this book, I know how much of our government, society and the world's societies consisted of religious traits even when they try not to. Our politics, policies and lifestyles are dictated by religion more than we know. Just like the excuses that have been used in the past to take land [from Native Americans], [to over]power and enslave entire races was dictated more by religion than it has ever been credited for in the past."
Megan Herring: "This book was an incredible read and extremely informative. I was very impressed with the open-minded approach and fair take on the cultures discussed. My favorite thing to read about is always the Native American stories and the ideas that they have about nature. The thing I will most remember from this book is the stories of Turtle Island and the deep roots that myth still holds true for many of the Native Americans I know."
Robert Murray: "Buck writes that the first religious mythologies of America were handed down by the Native Americans. These include creation myths such as Turtle Island, earth diver and the sky people. . . . In this way, it can be seen that the Native American influences on the founding of the United States was significant."
Myat Thu [from Myanmar]: "The author, Christopher Buck, is an attorney and scholar. He has taught at many universities. He knows how minority religions are important in the United States. It shapes the United States, too. The Protestantism and other nine minority faiths--Native American religion (Iroquois), Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, Christian identity (white nationalism), Black Muslim, Islam, Buddhism and the Baha'i Faith are [analyzed] for what they portray [of] the United States. . . . The author offers impressive research and in the comparative study of the myths. . . . The author uses an engaging and refreshing new approach to understanding these religions."
Megan Hale: "All in all, Religious Myths and Visions of America is filled with so many religions and beliefs from different groups of people, religions, belief systems that make us up as a whole. It is truly interesting to see the United States in that light. That is what makes us different from many different countries. We just have to respect everyone's belief system and not persecute them. This book really opens up and describes many different religions and makes us think outside, even our beliefs, and listen to someone else's."
Melanie Harvey: "The final religion Buck looks into is the Baha'i Faith. This single religion seems to be the tie that binds all religions in America together. The Baha'i Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions, its origin dating back to 1844. This religion is now established in 235 countries, with 5.5 million members. The Baha'i Faith preaches the gospel of unity, with emphasis on promoting the oneness of mankind and world unity. They believe the future Golden Age will involve 'The unity of the human race, as envisaged by Baha'u'llah, implies the establishment of a world common wealth in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united.' Buck concludes his book with the visions of 'Abdu'l-Baha' (second leader of the religion, son of the founder) of a united, peaceful world, a prediction about the spiritual destiny of America. The Baha'i Faith's myth holds a great deal of faith in America and its destiny as the 'Uniter.' Their words are strong and full of hope and promise. 'That which the Lord has ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal cause, one common faith.' In order to bring this to fruition we must create 'A collective consciousness needed to bring about world peace.' And this process 'will ultimately validate all faiths.' World peace, unity, respect for all living things. What a beautiful world it would be."
Brad Cameron: "This book was interesting in the way that the author Christopher Buck looks at how some religions have made an attachment to America and how they gave America a religious significance in the world. I enjoyed how he really went in to explain the roles of American Protestantism and other faiths such as Native American, Catholic, Jewish, Mormon and a few more in America's beginning and up until now. This book I feel really covered what it means to be an American from a religious aspect as viewed by the world. I believe he made valid and important points when he examined how minority faiths redefined America's national purpose. I found that a lot of what I read in this book through the chapters I did not know. . . . It was great how he mentioned how civil myths had a role in how Europeans colonized America and how it continues to have a role in how America views itself as the example of a perfect model nation and how in fact these views were influenced by religion."
Martha Bissell: "Christopher Buck's book was a powerful, well-written study that brought to me a new perspective at America's actions in the world. There is no doubt that we are a nation deeply influenced by religion. This book takes a close look at which religions have attached spiritual meaning to America, and how these faiths have redefined our national purpose. Within the ten religions he studies (which includes the religion of the Iroquois, Protestant Christianity, Roman Catholicism, four types of Judaism, Mormonism, White Nationalism, Black Muslims, Islam, Buddhism and the Baha'i Faith) we find no 'America' within the holy scriptures of the great world religions. Yet somehow America has crept into these religions and has become a part of their spiritual importance. Because of the length of Buck's book and the amount of information he provides, and the limited amount of space in this report, I am going to concentrate on the chapters that interested me the most.
Raschel Martin: "The one religion that really stands out to me is the Baha'i religion. Their vision of America truly enlightens me. A focus on unity, 'its emphasis on promoting the oneness of humankind and bringing about world unity' really speaks to me. They strongly believe in the oneness of mankind which makes sense. If we are to ever be at peace, if we are ever to unite with the rest of the world, we have to unite as one within our own country first. We as a population are too worried (I know this is my opinion) about materialistic things. We worry about what is going to benefit us as individuals, not what is going to benefit us and those around us. We live in a society that wants for the individual, not caring that others are suffering. We live in a society that cares only when it looks good for them to care. . . . My only questions I am left with are: how do we get this book into the hands of every individual? How do we get them to read it?"
Allen Youngren: "I think this book contains lots of useful knowledge and I really enjoyed learning from it."
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