Marc H. Ellis
Encyclopedia
Marc H. Ellis is an American
author, liberation theologian, and University Professor of Jewish Studies, Professor of History and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at Baylor University
.
, where he studied under Richard Rubenstein
and William Miller. In 1980 he received his doctorate in contemporary American Social and Religious Thought from Marquette University
. He then became a faculty member at the Maryknoll School of Theology in Maryknoll, New York, and director of the M.A. program at the Maryknoll Institute for Justice and Peace. He was made full professor in 1988, and remained at Maryknoll
until 1995. He was a Senior Fellow and then visiting scholar at Harvard University
's Center for the Study of World Religions and Center for Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a visiting professor at Florida State University. In 1998 he was appointed Professor of American and Jewish Studies at Baylor University
, where the next year he was named University Professor of American and Jewish Studies. In 1999 he founded Baylor University's Center for American and Jewish Studies. In 2006, the Center was renamed The Center for Jewish Studies. He is currently University Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at Baylor University
.
His current writings deal with contemporary Judaism
, Jewish liberation theology
, Jewish-Arab relations, and justice and peace studies.
Ellis was featured in the David Horowitz
book The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America
. As a result, friends often refer to Ellis as "Rabbi Most Dangerous."
Dr. Ellis is currently facing dismissal charges from Baylor University. Dr. Cornel West and Rosemary Ruether have started a petition on Change.org in support of his efforts to remain at Baylor.
, Noam Chomsky
, Edward Said
, Professor Susannah Heschel
, Elliot Dorff and Desmund Tutu. Among those who have criticized Ellis's work are Edward Alexander, David Horowitz
, and Alan Mittleman
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author, liberation theologian, and University Professor of Jewish Studies, Professor of History and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.
Biography
Ellis was a member of the Catholic Workers Movement in 1974-1975. He wrote an autobiographical book (1997) Unholy alliance: religion and atrocity in our time. He earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in Religion and American Studies at Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, where he studied under Richard Rubenstein
Richard Rubenstein
Richard Lowell Rubenstein is an educator in religion and a major writer in the American Jewish community, noted particularly for his contributions to Holocaust theology...
and William Miller. In 1980 he received his doctorate in contemporary American Social and Religious Thought from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
. He then became a faculty member at the Maryknoll School of Theology in Maryknoll, New York, and director of the M.A. program at the Maryknoll Institute for Justice and Peace. He was made full professor in 1988, and remained at Maryknoll
Maryknoll
Maryknoll is a name shared by three organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church and whose joint focus is on the overseas mission activity of the Catholic Church in the United States...
until 1995. He was a Senior Fellow and then visiting scholar at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Center for the Study of World Religions and Center for Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a visiting professor at Florida State University. In 1998 he was appointed Professor of American and Jewish Studies at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, where the next year he was named University Professor of American and Jewish Studies. In 1999 he founded Baylor University's Center for American and Jewish Studies. In 2006, the Center was renamed The Center for Jewish Studies. He is currently University Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.
His current writings deal with contemporary Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Jewish liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
, Jewish-Arab relations, and justice and peace studies.
Ellis was featured in the David Horowitz
David Horowitz
David Joel Horowitz is an American conservative writer and policy advocate. Horowitz was raised by parents who were both members of the American Communist Party. Between 1956 and 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left before rejecting Marxism completely...
book The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America
The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America
The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America is a 2006 book by conservative American author and policy advocate David Horowitz...
. As a result, friends often refer to Ellis as "Rabbi Most Dangerous."
Dr. Ellis is currently facing dismissal charges from Baylor University. Dr. Cornel West and Rosemary Ruether have started a petition on Change.org in support of his efforts to remain at Baylor.
Commentaries
Among those who have commented appreciatively on the work of Ellis are George McGovernGeorge McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
, Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
, Edward Said
Edward Said
Edward Wadie Saïd was a Palestinian-American literary theorist and advocate for Palestinian rights. He was University Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and a founding figure in postcolonialism...
, Professor Susannah Heschel
Susannah Heschel
Susannah Heschel is Dartmouth College's Eli Black associate professor of Jewish Studies, an award-winning author, and the daughter of Abraham Joshua Heschel....
, Elliot Dorff and Desmund Tutu. Among those who have criticized Ellis's work are Edward Alexander, David Horowitz
David Horowitz
David Joel Horowitz is an American conservative writer and policy advocate. Horowitz was raised by parents who were both members of the American Communist Party. Between 1956 and 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left before rejecting Marxism completely...
, and Alan Mittleman
Alan Mittleman
Alan Mittleman is a professor of Jewish Philosophy and the director of the Tikvah Institute for Jewish Thought at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.-Education:...
.
See also
- American philosophyAmerican philosophyAmerican philosophy is the philosophical activity or output of Americans, both within the United States and abroad. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes that while American philosophy lacks a "core of defining features, American Philosophy can nevertheless be seen as both reflecting and...
- List of American philosophers
- War cyclesWar cyclesThe theory of war cycles holds that wars happen in cycles.-The cycles of war:The forerunner of the study of war cycles was Edward R Dewey, with Quincy Wright's monumental A Study of War adding impetus to the discipline...
- Supreme crimeSupreme crimeThe concept of supreme crime is a legal principle that to initiate war not in self defense, called war of aggression in international law, but with the intent to conquer territory and subjugate other people, is more egregious than a normal crime. The term was introduced by Justice Robert H...
Further reading
- Can Jews abroad rescue Israel?
- My heavy heart at Passover
- On the Rabbis and the Future of Jewish Life
- On the Palestinian Right of Return: a Jewish meditation on History, Rights and Return
- Walling off the covenant: Jewish identity in the 21st century
- The Ongoing Nakba and the Jewish Conscience: A presentation given at the Palestine Center