I admit it. I sometimes like country music. Bypassing stereotype muses of beer and bad breakups; one can find depth, pathos and metaphor. Back in 2001, one of my favorite songs was (and still is) by teenie fireball Jessica Andrews – Who I Am:

If I live to be a hundred
And never see the seven wonders
That’ll be alright
If I don’t make it to the big leagues
If I never win a Grammy
I’m gonna be just fine
‘Cause I know exactly who I am

I am Rosemary’s granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done
My mama’s still my biggest fan
Sometimes, I’m clueless and I’m clumsy
But I’ve got friends who love me
And they know just where I stand
It’s all a part of me
And that’s who I am.

In a roundabout way, Jessica taps into why I participate in State of Formation. Just as Jessica’s singing career is significant—but not the most important part of her identity—so inter-religious encounter is integral to who I am. It intertwines with other areas of significance like family, friends, and professional relationships; teaching and writing about religion, ethics, and theology; and the ongoing quest (shared with many of you, dear readers) for beauty, meaning, and truth; in my case via what the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures diagnose as three keys for human flourishing: “1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 2) love your neighbor as 3) you love yourself.”

I am told it takes some narcissism to write autobiography. But State of Formation has asked me for an introduction, so here’s a taste of my inter-religious and intercultural formation:

Like many State of Formation contributors, I’m way over-educated. I completed a Master of Arts in Counseling at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, which is one of a few seminary programs geared toward state licensure for work in secular, not just religious settings. One of my internships was a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), including work with mostly African American youth. I also did a M.Div. at Duke, and then a Th.M. at Harvard in Comparative / Religions of the World, with classes mostly in Islam, but also Buddhist Ethics, Hindu Arts and Culture, and Jewish Studies. My thesis was, “Is Religious Diversity Embraceable by Evangelical Christians and Orthodox Muslims?” I welcome publishing leads.

Probably the most interesting aspect of my interfaith/intercultural work is my teaching at a historically black university for five and a half years, and at a women’s college for three years, partly overlapping with each other. I taught multiple classes relating to the arts, religion and philosophy, and even a (mostly) 20th Century African American Literature class. I also had the opportunity, thanks to one of the religious life staff at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Kevin Ford), to give a January term mini-course at MIT titled, “Religion: Bringing the World Together, or Tearing the World Apart?”

I’m presently working on a Ph.D. in Ethics and Theology with a dissertation on the “New Atheism,” including an assessment of the New Atheists’ approach to various world faiths, especially the two most populous religions, Christianity and Islam. Part of my project is to explore how atheists and religious believers can critique and learn from each other.

As for what to expect from me at State of Formation, I have a habit of taking what I think will be “Devil’s Advocate” or unpopular positions, which may or may not be related to my own. In spite of frequent student inquiries, when I teach I often do not reveal my religious affiliation (or lack thereof) until the final class session, partly because I want students to evaluate the materials and debates on their own merit, with less worry about how the professor might perceive different views. I don’t always think this approach is best, and if called to represent a particular position or constituency in a formal or informal dialogue, I am often more candid.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments, especially if and when my entries confirm or conflict with you and other contributors. Let’s pursue formation together.

And that is part of “Who I Am.”

Religio et Eruditio,

Benjamin B. DeVan