Being Human

Perspectives on Meaning and Interpretation

By: John H. Morgan

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

There is an unspoken understanding among academics that in the releasing of a new book, an author is expected both to acknowledge the sources of inspiration and support which went into making up this new block of work and, also, to present an introduction to the work, especially when it is a collection of essays. I have decided to do both at once, recognizing that the introducing of my latest collection of essays necessitates an acknowledgment of those sources, personal and institutional, which facilitated the effort. As my memory seems to work best by recollecting recent events and by incremental successes gradually working my way back into my past, I will commence with the latest sources of encouragement and assistance and thereby work my way back through the years to my early beginnings. My latest and current teaching responsibility is at the University of Oxford where I teach the sociology of religion course in the theology summer program and where I enjoy membership on the Board of Studies. I am also a Fellow of Foundation House/Oxford and have enjoyed working with Canon Vincent Strudwick of Kellogg College/Oxford, Canon John Fenton of Christ Church/Oxford,, and Dr. Jane Shaw of New College/Oxford. It is to Dr. Shaw that I owe genuine gratitude for my continuing relationship to the summer program. My closest colleague in theological endeavors of late has been Canon John Macquarrie, Lady Margaret Professor Emeritus of Divinity at Christ Church College/Oxford, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude for his friendship. Earlier, I was at Harvard University and the kind words at the University Club from Professor Krister Stendahl have stood the test of time and I am most appreciative to him for bothering. During my time at Yale University, Professor Roland Baintan and Sidney Ahlstrom proved most helpful and my prior time at Princeton was equally beneficial owing particularly to Professor G. A. Barrois and the library staff. My post as a National Science Foundation Fellow at the University of Notre Dame was greatly facilitated by the kind support of Father Theodore Hesberg and the library staff, particularly Dr. Dennis Tucker. But from the beginning of my academic career down to the very ending of it, the deepest sense of gratitude I owe is to my mentor, Robley Whitson, who gently took me in hand and guided me on my way.