Maurice Friedman

Bio: Maurice Friedman is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Morality & Absolute (philosophy). The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 8 citations.

Martin Buber's Final Legacy: "The Knowledge of Man"

Abstract: The death of Martin Buber has brought home to us the fact that here was one of the great figures not only of a people but of mankind and not only for this age but for the ages to come. In Buber, person and thinker were inseparably conjoined. He was the philosopher of dialogue only because in the first instance he lived "the life of dialogue." The "narrow ridge" that he walked was neither religion nor philosophy in the ordinary sense of those terms. Yet there is no figure in this century-not even Rudolph Otto -who has had such a revolutionary impact on the religious thought of our time, and Buber's stature as a philosopher is being given full recognition in such books as The Philosophy of Martin Buber volume of The Library of Living Philosophers and Philosophical Interrogations, in which the Martin Buber section stands at the head.' Three of Buber's legacies to the scientific study of religion are widely known and will be still better appreciated as time goes on. The first of these is his "I-Thou" philosophy with its radical insistence that God is the "eternal Thou," the "absolute Person," who can

Boundary Work in Inclusive Religious Groups: Constructing Identity at the New York Catholic Worker

Abstract: Many religious groups use symbolic boundary work to construct distinctive collective identity. While boundary drawing may be unproblematic for some, it can create conflict for "inclusive" groups. How do inclusive groups construct and solidify identity and commitment? If they use boundary work, how do they manage the conflict between exclusive "othering" and inclusiveness? I show that while members of the inclusive New York Catholic Worker use boundary work to construct distinctive identity, their boundary work takes place largely on an abstract level while they practice inclusion of the "other" in their concrete interactions. Building on Martin Buber's insights regarding the transforma- tive power of "I-Thou" encounters, I argue that concrete practices of inclusion outweigh boundary drawing in inclusive groups like the Catholic Worker. Group ideologies that encourage practices that cultivate openness to I-Thou relations, such as Catholic Worker personalism, therefore provide an advantage in balancing inclusive identity with boundary work.

Performing Identities, Performing Possibilities: A Music-Centered and Relational Perspective on Performance in Community Music Therapy and Music Education

Abstract: 116 Introduction to the Research 118 Theoretical Frameworks 120 The place of performance in music-centered music therapy 120 Identity: A narrative, relational, performed construct 122 Methodology 124

Wrestling heart : the autoethnographic faith journey of a developing psychologist

Abstract: This autoethnography tells the story of my faith journey with a special focus on my years as a Catholic seminarian and the change towards embarking on a career as a clinical psychologist. Pertinent childhood experiences are also shared to contextualise my story. The narrative, “Wrestling Heart”, is the centre and the produced data of this autoethnography. As an “evocative” narrative, it independently seeks to fulfil many of the goals of an autoethnography, such as being therapeutic for both writer and readers, and imbuing culture with critical thinking. The sharing of the narrative is augmented with a thematic analysis of it and Carl Rogers’ Person-Centred Approach is mainly used to comprehend the gleaned themes. The movement towards a comprehension of my experience is consistent with the philosophical foundation of this study: phenomenology. It is envisaged that the utility of this study lies primarily in its interrogation of the relationship between religion and mental health, its in-depth depiction of an individual grappling with their faith in relation to mental health, and the way in which the writing of this autoethnography therapeutically fostered greater congruence for me the writer, as I prepare to work as a clinical psychologist. Key Terms: Autoethnography; Faith; Catholicism; Phenomenology; Carl Rogers; PersonCentred Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Catholic Priesthood; Seminarian; Selfactualisation.

Attaining “a Sophisticated Maturity:” A Brief History of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

Abstract: An historical overview of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion considers both the aspirations of the founders and the extent to which those aspirations have been realized, modified, or exceeded. Appropriate secondary sources are reviewed for an understanding of the intellectual and organizational contexts giving rise to the .Journal and for a qualitative consideration of its earliest decades. Then we introduce quantitative data derived from tabulations of all articles and research notes that have appeared in the Journal beginning with its inception in 1961 through 1998. Major trends across time are identified in theories, methods, topics, author characteristics, editor characteristics, and other important traits. The article concludes with evidence of the Journal s premier and significant impact on the social-scientific study of religion.