John Dominic Crossan

John Dominic Crossan

Lecturer and professor emeritus, DePaul University

Irish-born John Dominic Crossan is a professor emeritus in the religious studies department at DePaul University in Chicago. Between 1950 and 1969, he was a member of a 13th-century Roman Catholic religious order, the Servites, and remained an ordained priest from 1957 to 1969. He has delivered lectures to secular and lay audiences from Scandinavia to Australia to Japan to South Africa. The On Faith panelist has authored 23 books and his writings have been translated into 11 languages. His work focuses on the historical Jesus, earliest Christianity and the historical Paul. Core titles include “The Historical Jesus,” “The Birth of Christianity” and “In Search of Paul,” co-written with archaeologist Jonathan L. Reed. Dr. Crossan’s next book, “God & Empire: Jesus Against Rome Then and Now,” is scheduled for publication in February. The professor earned a doctor of divinity degree at St. Patrick’s College in Maynooth, Ireland and a humanities doctorate at Stetson University in Florida. The American Academy of Religion and DePaul and Stetson universities have recognized him with awards for scholarly excellence. His Web site is www.johndominiccrossan.com. Close.

John Dominic Crossan

Lecturer and professor emeritus, DePaul University

Irish-born John Dominic Crossan is a professor emeritus in the religious studies department at DePaul University in Chicago. Between 1950 and 1969, he was a member of a 13th-century Roman Catholic religious order, the Servites, and remained an ordained priest from 1957 to 1969. He has delivered lectures to secular and lay audiences from Scandinavia to Australia to Japan to South Africa. The On Faith panelist has authored 23 books and his writings have been translated into 11 languages. more »

Main Page | John Dominic Crossan Archives | On Faith Archives


Love and Criticism

For any institution or organization, for any religion or people, for any faith or nation, you must criticize the most what you love the best.

All institutions—from religious denominations to nation states—tend towards excessive power and the abuse that goes with it. “Power tends to corrupt,” wrote Lord Acton in 1887, “and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

He spoke with his Catholic eye on a Pope proclaiming infallibility and his aphorism was not anti-Catholic—just accurate.

So: political power corrupts politically, religious power corrupts religiously, and religio-political power corrupts heaven and earth at the same time. That is true for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is also true for Americans, Israelis, and Palestinians.

It is certainly possible to be critical of Israel and not be anti-Semitic. But it may not be possible to be critical of Israel and not be accused of anti-Semitism.

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