Jeffery D. Long
Encyclopedia
Jeffery D. Long is an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Religious Studies at Elizabethtown College
, in Pennsylvania
, USA
. He is associated with the Vedanta Society
, DĀNAM (the Dharma Association of North America) and the Hindu American Foundation
. A major theme of Long's work is religious pluralism
, a topic he approaches from a perspective informed by the process philosophy
of Alfred North Whitehead
and which he refers to as a "Hindu
process theology
."
, The Journal of Religion
, Science and Spirit, and Creative Transformation, among others. Long also contributed to the Hindu American Foundation
's "Hyperlink to Hinduphobia: Online Hatred, Extremism and Bigotry Against Hindus", writing that even "[t]hough it is less well-known in [the United States], anti-Hindu bigotry is every bit as ugly and dangerous as anti-Semitism
or racism
, and every bit as present on the Internet.
Long has published and presented a number of articles and papers on Hinduism
and Hindu identity. He helped organize various portions of the 6th DĀNAM Conference in 2008; specifically, he was responsible for the Book Review: Review of Yoga Books and The 'H-Word': Non-Indian Practitioners and the Question of Hindu Identity sessions. Long also presided over the DĀNAM Business Meeting and Call for Papers session. He presented at the same conference; his presentation was titled Hindu-To Be or Not To Be: Three Possible Reasons for Aversion to the Term 'Hindu' among Western Practitioners. Other presentation forums include the Association for Asian Studies
, the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, and the American Academy of Religion
.
Long lent his expertise to the Hindu American Foundation
during their lawsuit against the California Board of Education.
. His M.A. and Ph.D. were earned at the University of Chicago
in 1993 and 2000, respectively.
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College is a small comprehensive college located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania in Lancaster County. The school was founded in 1899 by members of the Church of the Brethren...
, in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is associated with the Vedanta Society
Vedanta Society
The Vedanta Society of Southern California, with its headquarters in Hollywood, was founded in 1930 by Swami Prabhavananda. The society is a branch of the Ramakrishna Order, and maintains subcenters in Pasadena, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Trabuco Canyon...
, DĀNAM (the Dharma Association of North America) and the Hindu American Foundation
Hindu American Foundation
The Hindu American Foundation is an American Hindu human rights group advocating on behalf of the Hindu community in the United States. Dr...
. A major theme of Long's work is religious pluralism
Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
, a topic he approaches from a perspective informed by the process philosophy
Process philosophy
Process philosophy identifies metaphysical reality with change and dynamism. Since the time of Plato and Aristotle, philosophers have posited true reality as "timeless", based on permanent substances, whilst processes are denied or subordinated to timeless substances...
of Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS was an English mathematician who became a philosopher. He wrote on algebra, logic, foundations of mathematics, philosophy of science, physics, metaphysics, and education...
and which he refers to as a "Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
process theology
Process theology
Process theology is a school of thought influenced by the metaphysical process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and further developed by Charles Hartshorne . While there are process theologies that are similar, but unrelated to the work of Whitehead the term is generally applied to the...
."
Career and Publications
Long has authored three books, A Vision for Hinduism: Beyond Hindu Nationalism, Jainism: An Introduction, and The Historical Dictionary of Hinduism. He has had articles published in Prabuddha BharataPrabuddha Bharata
Prabuddha Bharata or Awakened India is an English-language monthly magazine of the Ramakrishna Order, in publication since July 1896. It carries articles and translations by monks, scholars, and writers on various religious and cultural themes...
, The Journal of Religion
The Journal of Religion
The Journal of Religion is an academic journal published by the University of Chicago Press founded in 1882 as The American Journal of Theology. The journal "embraces all areas of theology as well as other types of religious studies ."...
, Science and Spirit, and Creative Transformation, among others. Long also contributed to the Hindu American Foundation
Hindu American Foundation
The Hindu American Foundation is an American Hindu human rights group advocating on behalf of the Hindu community in the United States. Dr...
's "Hyperlink to Hinduphobia: Online Hatred, Extremism and Bigotry Against Hindus", writing that even "[t]hough it is less well-known in [the United States], anti-Hindu bigotry is every bit as ugly and dangerous as anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
or racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, and every bit as present on the Internet.
Long has published and presented a number of articles and papers on Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Hindu identity. He helped organize various portions of the 6th DĀNAM Conference in 2008; specifically, he was responsible for the Book Review: Review of Yoga Books and The 'H-Word': Non-Indian Practitioners and the Question of Hindu Identity sessions. Long also presided over the DĀNAM Business Meeting and Call for Papers session. He presented at the same conference; his presentation was titled Hindu-To Be or Not To Be: Three Possible Reasons for Aversion to the Term 'Hindu' among Western Practitioners. Other presentation forums include the Association for Asian Studies
Association for Asian Studies
The Association for Asian Studies is a U.S. society focused on facilitating contact and information exchange among scholars of Asian fields. It is the self-proclaimed largest society of its kind. The Association consists of eminent Asianists, and is a non-profit organization...
, the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, and the American Academy of Religion
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
.
Long lent his expertise to the Hindu American Foundation
Hindu American Foundation
The Hindu American Foundation is an American Hindu human rights group advocating on behalf of the Hindu community in the United States. Dr...
during their lawsuit against the California Board of Education.
Education
Long received his B.A. in 1991 from the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. His M.A. and Ph.D. were earned at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1993 and 2000, respectively.