Leonard Swidler

Leonard J. Swidler is Professor of Catholic Thought and Interreligious Dialogue at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA where he has taught since 1966. He is the co-founder (in 1964, with Arlene Swidler) and Editor of the "Journal of Ecumenical Studies" (quarterly). He is also the Founder/President of the Dialogue Institute – Interreligious, Intercultural, International (1978–), and the Founder/President of the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (1980–).

Biography

Leonard Swidler was born January 6, 1929, in Sioux City, Iowa to Josephine Marie Reed Swidler (1901-1962) and Samuel Swidler (1897-1984). His father was a Ukrainian Jew who had come to the U.S. at age 15, and his mother was an Irish-American Catholic. Eventually the family moved to Cumberland, Wisconsin, and then to Green Bay where his parents owned and operated the Bay Beauty Shop until after World War II when they bought a home in Allouez and set up a beauty parlor there. Samuel worked in a paper mill in DePere and Josephine continued to run the hair salon. In 1935 Leonard's brother Jack was born, followed in 1940 by his sister Sandra.

In 1957, while they were graduate students at the University of Wisconsin, Leonard Swidler and Arlene Anderson were married. They have two daughters, Carmel (born 1958) and Eva (born 1962). Leonard and Arlene Swidler have lived in Philadelphia since 1966.

Professor Swidler has published over 70 books and close to 200 articles. He has lectured on Catholicism, Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue, and Global Ethics all over the world, including Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, England, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Poland, Republic of Congo, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, and, of course, the United States.

Honors

• LL.D. from LaSalle University, Philadelphia, October, 1977.
• LL.D. from St. Norbert College, DePere, WI, October, 2001.
• Prize for 2002 from the Academic Society for the Research of Religions and Ideologies (SACRI), University of Cluj, Romania.
• Endowed Leonard and Arlene Swidler Chair in Interreligious Dialogue at Temple University, 2008.

Education

• St. Norbert's College, B.A. (1946-50) - Philosophy
• St. Norbert's Seminary, 1950-52 - Theology
• St. Paul's Seminary, 1952-54 - Theology
• Marquette University, 1954-55 - M.A. in History; Philosophy and Literature Minors
• University of Wisconsin, 1955-57 - History, Philosophy and Literature
• University of Tübingen (Germany), 1957-58 - History and Theology; Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in 1959
• University of Munich (Germany), 1958-59 - History and Theology
• University of Wisconsin (1961) - Ph.D. in History

Teaching

• Milwaukee School of Engineering, 1955 (English)
• Edgewood College, 1955-56 (Philosophy)
• University of Wisconsin: Integrated Liberal Studies Department, 1956-57 (English and History)
• University of Maryland in Europe, 1958-60 (History and Philosophy)
• U.S.A.R. Intelligence School, Fort Sheridan, 1959 (German)
• Duquesne University, 1960-66 (History; also on Theology faculty, 1962-66)
• Professor at Temple University, Religion Department, 1966–

Guest Positions while tenured at Temple University
• ACUIIS summer school at University of Graz, Austria, 1972, 1973
• Guest Professor on the Catholic Theology Faculty and the Protestant Theology Faculty of the University of Tübingen, 1972-73
• Visiting Professor at St. Michael's College, Winouski, VT. Summer, 1976
• Exchange Professor on the Catholic Theology Faculty and the Institute for Ecumenical Research of the University of Tübingen, Summer Semester, 1982
• Exchange Professor on the Catholic Theology Faculty and the Institute for Ecumenical Research of the University of Tübingen, Summer Semester, 1985
• Guest Professor in the Philosophy Department, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China, Summer Semester, 1986
• Professor at Temple University Japan (Tokyo), Summer School, May-June, 1987
• Exchange Professor on the Protestant Theology Faculty, Hamburg University, Fall semester, 1989
• Guest Professor in the Philosophy Department, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, Summer Semester, 1990
• Professor at Temple University Japan (Tokyo), 1990-91
• Visiting Fulbright Professor at Centre for Civilisational Dialogue of the University of Malaya, Kualalumpur, Malaysia, summer 2003
• Visiting Fulbright Professor at Centre for Civilisational Dialogue of the University of Malaya, Kualalumpur, Malaysia, summer 2004
• Visiting Professor, East China University, Shanghai, China, June, 2004
• Visiting Professor, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, June, 2004
• Visiting Professor, Peoples’ University, Beijing, China, June, 2004
• Visiting Fulbright Professor at Centre for Catholic Studies, Chung Chi College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, November, 2007

Publications -- Books (including edited and translated volumes)

• "Dialogue for Reunion." New York: Herder and Herder, 1962.
• "Scripture and Ecumenism" (editor). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press, 1965.
• "The Ecumenical Vanguard." Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press, 1965.
• "Jewish-Christian Dialogues" (co-author Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum). Wash., DC: National Council of Catholic Men and National Council of Catholic Women, 1966.
• "Ecumenism, the Spirit and Worship" (editor). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press 1967.
• "Bultmann, Barth and Catholic Theology," by Heinrich Fries (Introduction and translation). Pittsburgh: Duquesne U Press, 1967.
• "Freedom in the Church." Dayton: Pflaum Press, 1969.
• "Bishops and People" (author, editor, and translator with Arlene Swidler). Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1970.
• "Women Priests in the Catholic Church?" by Haye van der Meer (Introduction, postscript, and translation with Arlene Swidler). Philadelphia: Temple University Press,1973.
• "Isj and Isjah" (joint author with Jan Kerkhofs). Antwerp/Utrecht: Uitgeverij Patmos, 1973.
• "Jews and Christians in Dialogue" (editor). Philadelphia: "Journal of Ecumenical Studies", 1975.
• "Women in Judaism. The Status of Women in Formative Judaism." Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1976.
• "The Eucharist in Ecumenical Dialogue" (ed.). New York: Paulist, 1976; & as "Journal of Ecumenical Studies", 13, 2 (Spring, 1976).
• "Bloodwitness for Peace and Unity." Denville, NJ: Dimension Books, 1977.
• "Women Priests: Catholic Commentary on the Vatican Declaration" (co-edited with A. Swidler). New York: Paulist Press, 1977.
• "Jewish-Christian-Muslim Dialogue" (editor). Philadelphia: "Journal of Ecumenical Studies", 1978.
• "Aufklärung Catholicism 1780-1850." Missoula, MT: Scholars Press, 1978.
• "A Commentary on the Oberammergau Passionspiel in regard to Its Image of Jews and Judaism." New York: ADL, 1978.
• "Biblical Affirmation of Women." Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1979 (4th printing, 1991).• "Consensus in Theology? A Dialogue with Hans Küng and Edward Schillebeeckx" (editor and co-author). Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1980; also as" Journal of Ecumenical Studies", vol. 17, no. 1 (Winter,1980).
• "Jewish Monotheism and Christian Trinitarian Doctrine," by Pinchas Lapide and Jürgen Moltmann (Introduction and translation). Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980.
• "The Oberammergau Passionspiel 1984" ("Das Oberammergauer Passionspiel 1984"). New York: Anti-Defamation League, 1980.
• "From Holocaust to Dialogue: A Jewish-Christian Dialogue between Americans and Germans" (editor and co-author). Philadelphia: "Journal of Ecumenical Studies", 1981.
• "Küng in Conflict." New York: Doubleday, 1981.
• "Authority in the Church and the Schillebeeckx Case" (co-editor with Piet Fransen & co-author). New York: Crossroad, 1982; also as JES, 19, 2 (Spring, 1982).
• "Tractate on the Jews" by Franz Mussner (translation and Introduction). Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984.
• "The Passion of the Jew Jesus" (Das Leiden des Juden Jesus) New York: Anti-Defamation League, 1984.
• "Buddhism Made Plain" (co-author with Antony Fernando). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1984 (7th printing, 1996).
• Editor and founder of "Templum", Religion Department Newsletter, Temple University, 1985--.
• "Religious Liberty and Human Rights" (editor & author). New York/Philadelphia: Hippocrene Books/Ecumenical Press, 1986.
• “Breaking down the Wall” between Americans & East Germans,Christians and Jews (editor & author). Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1987.
• "Church in Anguish: Has the Vatican Betrayed Vatican II?" (co-ed. with Hans Küng, & author). San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987.
• "Toward a Universal Theology of Religion" (editor and author). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1987.• " A Catholic Bill of Rights" (co-editor with Patrick Connor and author). Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1988.
• Catholic-Communist Collaboration in Italy (co-editor with Edward Grace and author). Lanham MD: University Press of America, 1988.
• "Yeshua: A Model for Moderns. Kansas" City: Sheed & Ward, 1988; 2nd expanded edition, 1993.• "Cristâos e Nâo-Christâos em Diålogo" ("Christians and Non-Christians in Dialogue"─Portuguese). Sâo Paulo: Ediçiôes Paulinas, 1988.
• "After the Absolute: The Dialogical Future of Religious Reflection." Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990.
• "Death or Dialogue. From the Age of Monologue to the Age of Dialogue" (with John Cobb, Monika Hellwig, and Paul F. Knitter Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1990.
• "Bursting the Bonds. A Jewish-Christian Dialogue on Jesus and Paul" (editor & co-author with Gerard Sloyan, Lewis Eron, and Lester Dean). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1990.
• "Attitudes of Religions and Ideologies towards the Outsider: The Other" (co-ed. with Paul Mojzes & author). NY: Mellen Press, 1990.
• "A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue" (co-author with and trans. of Seiichi Yagi). Mahwah NJ: Paulist Press, 1990.
• "Christian Mission and Interreligious Dialogue" (co-editor with Paul Mojzes and author). New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 1990.
• "“Alle Christen haben das Recht...”" (co-editor with Patrick Connor author). Munich: Kösel Verlag, 1990.
• "Human Rights: Christians, Marxists and Others in Dialogue" (editor/author). New York: Paragon House, 1991.
• " Der umstrittene Jesus." Stuttgart: Quell Verlag, 1991. Kaiser Taschenbuch. Gütersloh: Chr. Kaiser/Gütersloher Verlagshaus, 1993.
• "Muslims in Dialogue. The Evolution of a Dialogue over a Generation" (editor/author). New York: E. Mellen Press 1992.
• "My Witness For the Church," by Bernard Häring. Translation and Introduction. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1992.
• "The Meaning of Life At the Edge of the Third Millennium." Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1992.• "Die Zukunft der Theologie im Dialog der Religionen und Weltanschauungen." Regensburg/Munich: Pustet/Kaiser Verlag, 1992.
• "Introduzione al buddismo. Paralleli con l’etica ebraico-cristiana" (co-author w. Antony Fernando). Bologna: Edizioni Dehoniane,1992.
• "IESHUA - Jesus histórico, Cristologia, Ecumenismo." Sâo Paulo: Ediçiôes Paulinas, 1993.
• "Yeshua: Gendaijin no Moderu Iesu" (translated by Seiichi Yagi). Tokyo, Shinkyo Shuppansha Pub. Co., 1994.
• "Suffering From the Church", by Heinrich Fries. Introduction &trans. with Arlene Swidler. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995.
• "O Sentido da Vida no Limiar do Terceiro milênio" (The Meaning of Life). Sâo Paulo: Paulus, 1996).
• "Toward a Catholic Constitution." New York: Crossroad Press, 1996.
• "Bulgyo wa Grisdogyo Rulita" (Buddhism Made Plain). Benedict Press. Waegwan, Korea, 1996.
• "The Uniqueness of Jesus," co-editor with Paul Mojzes. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1997.
• "Theoria—>Praxis. How Jews, Christians, Muslims Can Together Move From Theory to Practice." Antwerp: Peeters Publi., 1998.
• "For All Life. Toward a Universal Declaration of a Global Ethic: An Interreligious Dialogue." Ashland: White Cloud Press, 1999.
• "The Study of Religion in an Age of Global Dialogue" (co-author with Paul Mojzes). Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2000.
• "Dupa absolut. Viitorul dialogic al reflectiei religioase." Cluj, Romania: Limes, 2003.
• "Interreligious Dialogue Toward Reconciliation in Macedonia and Bosnia," co-editor with Paul Mojzes and Heinz-Gerhard Justenhoven. Philadelphia: Ecumenical Press, 2003
• "After the Absolute" (Korean - tr. Chan-Su Yi). Seoul: Ehwa University Press, 2003.
• "Dialogue in Malaysia and the Globe." Kuala Lumpur. University of Malaya, 2004.
• "Our Understanding of Ultimate Reality Shapes Our Actions." Kuala Lumpur. University of Malaya, 2004.
• "Confucianism in Dialogue Today. West, Christianity, and Judaism" (co-editor with Shu-hsien Liu and John Berthrong). Philadelphia: Ecumenical Press, 2005.
• "Изучуьањето на релиґиата во ерата на глобалнот дијалог" (The Study of Religion). Macedonian Translation by Slobadanka Markovska. Skopje, Macdonia: Tempjum, 2005.
• "Quanqiu Duihua de Shidai. The Age of Global Dialogue." Trans. by Lihua Liu. Beijing: China Social Science Press, 2006.
• "Making the Church Our Own. How We Can Reform the Catholic Church from the Ground Up." Lanham, MD: Sheed & Ward, 2007.
• "Jesus Was a Feminist. What the Gospels Reveal about His Revolutionary Perspective." Lanham, MD: Sheed & Ward, 2007.
• "Trialogue. Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Dialogue." New London, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2007.
• "A Global Ethic. Journal of Ecumenical Studies," 42, 3 (Summer, 2007), editor/author.
• Editor of the book series:" Religions In Dialogue," New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 1990–.
• Editor and co-founder (with Arlene Swidler) of the "Journal of Ecumenical Studies" (quarterly), 1964–.

External links

http://www.temple.edu/religion/faculty/swidler.html
http://institute.jesdialogue.org/staff/
http://astro.temple.edu/~dialogue/Swidler/swidvit.html
http://astro.temple.edu/~dialogue/Swidler_bio.htm
http://astro.temple.edu/~dialogue/anthocon.htm
http://astro.temple.edu/~dialogue/geth.htm
http://astro.temple.edu/~dialogue/swidlerbooks/
http://www.arcc-catholic-rights.net/