Donald Shriver Jr., an ethicist and former president of Union Seminary in New York City, earned the prize for the ideas he set forth in his 2005 book, "Honest Patriots: Loving a County Enough to Remember Its Misdeeds." He is winner of the 18th Grawemeyer religion award.
The United States has never adequately faced or tried to repair the damage from its national misdeeds, Shriver says. Before it can move ahead as a country, its government and people need to reconcile its problems much as Germany worked to make amends for World War II and South Africa has tried to atone for apartheid, he says.
"Shriver shows us that loving our country uncritically does not make us patriots," said Susan Garrett, a religion professor at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary who directs the award.
"He outlines exactly what we need to do to mend the fabric of American society in a creative, powerful work."
Shriver, an ordained Presbyterian minister, has belonged to the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations since 1988. He led Union Seminary from 1975 to 1991 and has taught ethics at Union, Columbia University, Jewish Theological Seminary and Emory University. He has written 13 books and lectured worldwide.
A former president of the Society of Christian Ethics and member of the American Theological Society, he also has engaged in Jewish-Christian dialogue in several countries.
The Grawemeyer Foundation at the University of Louisville awards $1 million each year, $200,000 each for works in music composition, ideas improving world order, psychology, education and religion. The religion award is given jointly by the university and Presbyterian seminary.
Winners of the other Grawemeyer Awards also were announced this week.
Source: University of Louisville
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
