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The book contends that the faith tradition’s commitment to collaborate with other Christian communities is at odds with its willing involvement with white supremacy and colonialism.
New York, NY – Today, Rev. Gary Dorrien – a revered theological ethicist, political theologian, historian, and professor at Union Theological Seminary – published a new book exploring the history of the Anglican Communion. The book – Anglican Identities: Logos Idealism, Imperial Whiteness, Commonweal Ecumenism – grapples with the Anglican community’s vision of Christian unity and its deep connections to white supremacy. The hardcover edition of this 642-page book was published on April 29 and the paperback edition will be published in November.
“This book emerged from the class that I teach at Union Theological Seminary on Anglican history and theology,” said Rev. Gary Dorrien. “All the canonical theologians of this tradition from Thomas Cranmer and Richard Hooker in the sixteenth century to Stephen Sykes and Desmond Tutu in the 1980s are there. But the book also intertwines with the theologians an account of the real-world political and imperial history of the Anglican tradition.”
The Anglican Communion is one of the most powerful religious communities in the world. With tens of millions of members, the faith group represents the third largest body of Christians, behind Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
In the book, Rev. Dorrien describes the ancient and medieval development of English Christianity, the rise of two kinds of Protestant orthodoxy within the sixteenth century Church of England, and the subsequent development of Anglican theology.
Rev. Dorrien explained the book’s subtitle. “‘Logos Idealism’ refers to the Anglican emphasis on the Incarnational faith of the early Church and the undergirding roles of Platonist and Hegelian philosophy. ‘Imperial Whiteness’ refers to the British Christian role in the racist pathology of Western Civilization, especially the spectacularly evil Transatlantic Slave Trade. ‘Commonweal Ecumenism’ refers to the theological pluralism within Anglicanism and to the longtime Anglican commitment to bridging the divisions in Christianity. Today, ecumenism includes the imperative work of decolonizing inherited traditions.”
The narrative arc of Anglican Identities ends in the early 1980s. Dorrien plans to write a sequel volume that will begin with the Dalit Theology movement in India.
“We are so proud of Rev Dorrien for releasing yet another insightful, rigorous, and unique piece of religious scholarship. This book really speaks to the heart of Union: To put faith into practice for the common good, we also need to acknowledge that faith has often been twisted and warped for nefarious goals. Only by accepting that reality can we embrace the truth of God’s words, make amends, and build a community of love,” said Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary.
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About Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary (UTS), founded in 1836 in New York City, is a globally recognized seminary and graduate school of theology where faith and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice. A beacon for social justice and progressive change, Union Theological Seminary is led by a diverse group of theologians and activist leaders. Drawing on both Christian traditions and the insights of other faiths, the institution is focused on educating leaders who can address critical issues like racial equity, criminal justice reform, income inequality, and protecting the environment. Union is led by Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, the 16th President and the first woman to head the 188-year-old seminary.
The post Esteemed Scholar Rev. Gary Dorrien Releases New Book Diving into the History of Anglicanism and its Connections to Racism appeared first on Union Theological Seminary.
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“Last week, with memories of my family’s Passover seders still vivid, I watched video of the protest ‘seder in the streets’ held in Brooklyn on the second night of the holiday—and was shocked, though not surprised, to see Israel denounced in the name of a definition of Jewish faith that we have not heard much of since its heyday in 19th century Europe and its use in the 20th century by the anti-Zionist American Council for Judaism. I found myself wishing that the students in my courses on Jewish thought could have seen the video too. I want them to understand that some of the current arguments made by young Jews against Zionism are in fact old claims about the nature of Judaism,” writes Arnold M. Eisen, chancellor emeritus and professor of Jewish Thought, in The Times of Israel.
Read his article about Passover, protests on college campuses, and a what to make of a “seder that depicts Zionism as idol worship and ignores the suffering of Israelis.”
“A Morally Pure Judaism Without Actual Jews” in Times of Israel
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver—an organ we depend on to digest nutrients, filter blood, and overcome infection. There are many different types of hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, with symptoms that include fever, abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and fatigue.
However, most people with chronic viral hepatitis do not experience any symptoms and often do not know they have the infection even while it silently damages their liver. Hepatitis B and C are among the most common types of hepatitis. While they both affect the liver, they are very different.
In this Q&A, Douglas Dieterich, MD, Professor of Medicine (Liver Diseases) and Director of the Institute for Liver Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explains the differences between hepatitis C and B, how they are transmitted and treated, who is at risk, and more.
What is the difference between hepatitis C and B?
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are vastly different viruses. Hepatitis B is highly contagious through sex, using drugs with shared straws and needles, blood transfusions, and even saliva, which can put people living in the same household at risk. The good news is hepatitis B is entirely preventable with a vaccine, which has been around since 1991. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends universal vaccination for hepatitis B for all adults under 60 who did not get vaccinated by their pediatrician starting in 1991. People over 60 can also request the vaccine and should, especially if they have ongoing risk factors. If people do get hepatitis B, there are very good drugs to control it and to suppress the virus down to zero so it doesn’t do any damage or infect others. We also have exciting clinical trials happening to study medications that can cure Hepatitis B.
Currently, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, which is a different class of virus. It actually belongs to a class that you may have heard of—West Nile virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika, which has been in the news the last few years. None of those become chronic, however, while hepatitis C does. Over time, it can cause the same liver damage that hepatitis B can, including liver cancer, which can lead to death. The good news is, it’s now easily curable. We have fantastic new drugs for hepatitis C—most patients need to take only 8 to 12 weeks of easy-to-take pills with virtually no side effects and a 99 percent cure rate. It’s absolutely important to find out if you have hepatitis C or B because we can cure hepatitis C and control hepatitis B.
What do I need to know about hepatitis D?
Hepatitis D, also known as hepatitis Delta virus (HDV), is the most severe form of viral hepatitis. This is a type of hepatitis that can only infect people who have hepatitis B. Approximately 70 percent of people who have hepatitis Delta will develop cirrhosis (liver scarring) within 5 to 10 years of infection. This is a much higher and faster progression than for most people with hepatitis C and hepatitis B.
Hepatitis Delta can only function in a body that is also infected with hepatitis B. Not everyone with hepatitis B has hepatitis Delta, but everyone with hepatitis Delta also has hepatitis B. That’s why we recommend everyone with hepatitis B get screened for hepatitis Delta too.
New effective treatments for hepatitis Delta are coming soon and are already available to some patients, depending on their specific health situation. Our providers can screen you for hepatitis Delta and help get you onto treatment if needed.
Who is at risk for contracting hepatitis B and C, and who should get screened?
The CDC recommends all adults be screened for hepatitis B and C at least once in their life, even if they don’t think they have any risk factors. Many people have been exposed but don’t know it. The major method of transmission for hepatitis B, globally, is from mother to infant at birth. Other people who are at risk are those who have never been vaccinated—primarily people born before 1991—and we see that happening now. When people born before 1991 come in contact with people who have hepatitis B, they can catch it quite easily. Hepatitis C is more difficult to catch. The major risks for hepatitis C are having had a transfusion of blood or blood products, such as gamma globulin, before 1992, or using IV drugs or intranasal drugs. Just snorting drugs with a straw is enough to spread Hepatitis C. People who have unprotected sex—especially men who have sex with men—are also at risk for hepatitis C. It’s very important to get diagnosed early so you can get treated and cured. If you know you have ongoing risk factors, you should be screened at least once a year.
Why is hepatitis more common in New York City?
About 48 percent of the people who live in New York City were born outside of the United States. Many of those people come from countries where hepatitis B or C is endemic, and that’s the major risk factor for hepatitis B. Endemic means that a high percentage of people in an area have the disease and therefore the risk of getting the disease is high. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene estimates that 243,000 New Yorkers, or 2.9 percent of the population, have chronic hepatitis B. The Department also estimates that approximately 86,000 New Yorkers, or 1 percent of the population, have chronic hepatitis C. If we catch viral hepatitis early, we can help you prevent liver scarring and liver cancer.
What is the best way to prevent hepatitis B and C?
The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated for hepatitis B. The CDC now recommends everyone aged 18 to 59 be vaccinated for hepatitis B. If you weren’t vaccinated as a kid, it’s easy to check if you have antibodies to hepatitis B, or if you have hepatitis B, we can treat that. Ask your doctor about testing and vaccination.
Hepatitis C is mostly spread blood to blood. Shared needles—if you’re using IV drugs, and shared straws if you’re using intranasal drugs—things like that—are really high risk for spreading hepatitis C. Getting a tattoo or piercing from an unlicensed technician may also put you at risk if they are not properly cleaning their needles. If you are using drugs, don’t share needles, don’t share straws. And get tested for hepatitis C, because if you have it, we can cure it. Once cured, you can become reinfected with hepatitis C, so it’s very important to continue avoiding infection after getting cured, which means not sharing needles or straws and practicing safe sex, and only getting tattoos and piercings from licensed technicians.
What resources are available at Mount Sinai for screening and treatment of hepatitis?
We have numerous resources dedicated to screening and treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis C at Mount Sinai. We’re the largest independent liver program in the country. We have liver clinics all over Manhattan and the metropolitan area—from Long Island to Westchester. Our care coordinators will support you from screening through treatment and cure, working closely with your provider to ensure you get the best care.
We are writing to share an update from Columbia University. Please see the following CU campus update as of 9:26 p.m.
Published Tuesday, Apr 30, 2024
(212) 854-4288 jeg7@columbia.edu https://www.communityservice.columbia.edu/ Ongoing Events: 0 All Events: 0
212-961-1000 marileidy.pimentel@weact.org https://www.weact.org/ Ongoing Events: 0 All Events: 4
