Christopher Buck

Ph.D. (1996), J.D. (2006)

P. O. Box 8183, Pittsburgh, PA 15217-0183 • Ce$: 517-575-9951
<buckc@msu.edu> • <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc>

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor (22 January 2006)

THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL

Concentration in Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
2006
Took Pennsylvania Bar Exam (25–26 July 2006).
•
Passed Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (Vermont Law School, March 11).
•
Directed Study paper accepted as book chapter: “University of North Carolina’s
Qur’an Controversy.” The State of Islamic Studies in American Universities. Edited by
Zahid Bukhari and Mumtaz Ahmad. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press, 2007 (forthcom-
ing).
•
“Frankly, I have been teaching at this law school for 20 years, and I have supervised countless
papers, but this is definitely the best paper I have seen.”—Professor Maurice E.R. Munroe,
Constitutional Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
•
Published legal research on Yacove$i v. Moeser (2004) in textbook chapter: “Discov-
ering.” The Blackwe$ Companion to the Qur’an. Edited by Andrew Rippin (Oxford:
Blackwell, 2006): 18–35 (30 April 2006).
•
Published Federal Indian Law seminar paper: “‘Never Again’: Kevin Gover’s Apology
for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.” Wicazo Sa Review: A Journal of Native American
Studies 21.1 (2006): 97–126 (Aug. 2006).
2005
Awarded 25% Honors Scholarship (Winter 2005/Summer 2005).
•
Contributed three articles to The Encyclopedia of African American History (Publica-
tions #50–52): “Plessy v. Ferguson”; “Thirteenth Amendment”; “Fifteenth Amendment.”
•
Drafted appe$ate brief for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit during
externship.
2004
Made Dean’s List (Spring 2004/Summer 2004/Fall 2004).
•
Awarded Certificates of Merit (book awards): Federal Indian Law (Fall 2004); Constitu-
tional Law Seminar (Summer 2004); Co$ective Bargaining (Summer 2004).
•
“In the Indian law class, Dr. Buck basica$y taught the entire two-hour class, complete with
the best PowerPoint presentation I have ever seen.”—Professor Philip J. Prygoski, Consti-
tutional Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

1
Doctor of Philosophy (6 June 1996)
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO





Study of Religion (Comparative Phenomenology)
•
Supervised by the late Wi$ard G. Oxtoby, formerly Canada’s leading comparativist and
American Academy of Religion’s Distinguished 2003 Lecturer for the American Lectures
in the History of Religions.
•
Appraised by Jonathan Z. Smith, leading comparativist in the academic study of re-
ligion: “Of the nearly one hundred dissertations I have served as director or reader for, in the
fields of history of religions and early Christianities, this is, without question, one of the two
or three best.”—Jonathan Z. Smith (University of Chicago). (See dissertation appraisal,
in/a.)
2004
Recognized as methodological contribution: “A methodologica$y systematic application of
Smart’s typology to the comparison of symbols is Christopher Buck’s Paradise and Paradigm
(1999).”—William E. Paden, “Comparison in the Study of Religion.” New Approaches
to the Study of Religion: Textual, Comparative, Sociological, and Cognitive Approaches
(2004), 86.
1999
Published dissertation as Paradise and Paradigm. Libraries worldwide, as of 2006: 784
(NetLibrary) and 164 (bound) (Publication #22). (Source: WorldCat.)
•
Advanced working hypothesis: “‘Para$els’ yield paradoxes of commensurability resolvable
by paradigm ‘logics’ within religious systems. This operating hypothesis requires that careful
attention be given to both internal analysis (local) and external analysis (comparative)” (33).
•
Final paragraph of dissertation:
•
“Paradise a$egorizes ideals. These ideals are projected onto heaven. There, in the wish-images
of the communal dream, ideals are reified and beatified. In a Bergeresque process of paradisical
world-building, Heaven functions as the impressionistic blueprint of the ideal faith-
community. Paradise imagery is then dislocated /om the speculative and refocused on earth.
When once the heart is transformed and society reformed, Paradise is realized. In the intersec-
tion of eschatology and ethics, in the interplay of ideas and imagery, and as a function of an
organizing principle, an overarching paradigm, Paradise becomes utopia” (329).
1998
Published dissertation chapter: “A Symbolic Profile of the Bahá’í Faith” (Publication
#20).
1996
Successfully defended dissertation:
<http://www.religion.utoronto.ca/English/PhD-Graduates-of-the-Centre.html>.
•
Preview /ont matter of dissertation at:
<http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/preview_a$/NN18989>.
•
Published dissertation chapter: “The Universality of the Church of the East: How
Persian was Persian Christianity?” (Publication #12).
1995
Published dissertation chapter: “Sapiential Theosis: A New Reading of Ephrem the
Syrian’s Hymns on Paradise” (Publication #7).

2
Master of Arts (June 1991)
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY





Study of Religion (Western Religions, Islamic Studies)
•
Supervised by Dr. Andrew Rippin, Canada’s leading Islamicist.

1995
Published thesis as Symbol and Secret (Publications #35 and #8).
•
First Western monograph on a major Bahá’í text:
•
Recognized as major contribution to academic Bahá’í studies by Yale University profes-
sor, Abbas Amanat (History and International and Area Studies):
•
“Christopher Buck’s Symbol and Secret: Qur’an Commentary in Baha’u’$ah’s Kitab-i Iqan
(1995) was the first monograph on a major Baha’i text to appear in the West. This
was followed by his Paradise and Paradigm: Key Symbols in Persian Christianity and the
Baha’i Faith (1999), a formal comparison of Baha’i and Christian scriptures.”—Abbas
Amanat, Resurrection and Renewal: The Making of the Babi Movement, 1844–1850 (Los
Angeles: Kalimát Press, 2005), Preface.
1991
Successfully defended thesis. See <https://dspace.ucalgary.ca:8443/handle/1880/24638>.
•
See <http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fu$cit/MM66879>.

3
 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Visiting Assistant Professor (2000–2004)

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Religious Studies / Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures
Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities
•
Taught academic research writing with an American studies focus.
•
Courses taught: Integrated Arts and Humanities (Religious Myths of America); Evolu-
tion of American Thought (Poetry as Social Commentary); Radical Thought in Amer-
ica; Public Life in America (Service Learning Writing Project).
2004
Published syllabus, “Religious Myths of America” for American Academy of Religion Syl-
labus Project. <http://www.aarweb.org/sy$abus/sy$abi/b/buck/Buck-20040309.pdf> (Publi-
cation #32).
•
“This has been a very successful course in terms of enro$ments and student evaluations.”

—Dr. Douglas A. Noverr, Chair, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures.
2003
Developed online course reader, God and Apple Pie: Religious Myths of America
(XanEdu). ISBN 1-59399-022-7.
2002
Co-edited/published student-authored book, Generation Y Speaks Out: A Policy Guide.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Gen_Y_2002.pdf> (Publication #26).
•
Generated MSU press releases and valuable publicity for MSU. See news stories at
<http://newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/446/content.htm>;
<http://www.msutoday.msu.edu/research/index.php3?article=25Apr2001-2>;
<http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=4042>.
•
Adopted Richard Thomas, Understanding Interracial Unity: A Study of U.S. Race Rela-
tions (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1995) as a course textbook, to get students to think
seriously about race relations—not only in the context of American studies, but in their
own lives as well.
2001
Originated CREATOR Paradigm (Claim, Reasons, Evidence, Authority, Theory, Objec-
tions, and Refutation) for teaching argumentative research writing.
•
Developed online tutorial software, The Toulmin Wizard (coded in PERL, with assis-
tance of student programmer).
•
Introduced students to the “idea of America” through social poets’ and performers’
poems and lyrics on America. <http://www.msu.edu/~wrac/t1/courses/buck.doc>.
•
Designed end-of-semester capstone classes, each focusing on one poet or performer
per class session (Walt Whitman Day, Leonard Cohen Day, Bruce Springsteen Day, Mar-
ilyn Manson Day, etc.—very popular with students.
•
Integrated popular culture with American studies through requiring videos and audios
in student multimedia presentations (highlighting students’ individual research papers).

4
Visiting Assistant Professor (1999–2000)


QUINCY UNIVERSITY (Quincy, IL)
Department of Theology and Philosophy
•
Courses taught: World Religions (Myths and Rituals); Christology (Christ the God-Man);
Theology Seminar; Seminar in Comparative Religions (Theologies of America).
2000
Asked student groups to dramatize parables from world religions.
•
Staged debates on religious questions, using Emperor Akbar’s court as historical model.
•
Students researched and dramatized what great religious philosophers would say on
perennial as well as contemporary issues.
•
Began each debate with “court jester” to tell religious jokes for levity.
•
Also had students dramatize parables /om world religions through in-class skits or
homemade videos.
1999
Refined DREAMS Paradigm (Doctrinal, Ritual, Ethical, Artistic, Mystical, and Social di-
mensions) for teaching students how to perform a first-order (descriptive, not ex-
planatory) phenomenology of world religions.
•
Required field research, scholarship, and DREAMS Paradigm for research papers.

Assistant Professor (1997–1999)

MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY

Department of Religion (Decatur, IL)
•
Courses taught: World Religions; Western Religions; Eastern Religions; African
American Religions; Critical Reading, Writing, and Research; University Seminar
(Service Learning).
1999
Designed and taught course on African American religions (African-American Spiri-
tuality and the Conscience of America) at request of students, during nationally publi-
cized racial crisis in Decatur, IL.
•
Developed typology of African American religions in three dimensions, represented by
three words beginning with the letter “I”:
•
(1) Indigenous (Santeria, Voodoo, Rastafarianism); (2) Independent (historic black
churches such as NBC-USA, Inc., AME and AMEZ, COGIC, as well as NOI [Na-
tion of Islam]); (3) Integrated (Catholicism, traditional Islam, Bahá’í Faith).
•
Invited leaders of “pulpit exchanges” to address problem of self-segregation in America.
1998
Launched and directed Millikin’s largest service learning project (Lutheran School Asso-
ciation).
1997
Developed DREAMS Paradigm (Doctrinal, Ritual, Ethical, Artistic, Mystical, and Social
dimensions) as a pedagogical model for first-order phenomenology of world religions.

5
•
Sponsored Islamic Studies Association (ISA) as faculty advisor. (“Isa” is the Arabic name
for Jesus.)

Sessional Lecturer (1994–1996)

CARLETON UNIVERSITY

Department of Religion (Ottawa, Canada).
•
Course taught: Introduction to Islam.
1996
Taught modern Islam through new “responses to modernity” paradigm (Radical Islamism,
Traditionalism, Neo-Traditionalism, Modernism, Secularism, Postmodernism, and post-
Islamism).

Teaching Assistant (1992–1994)

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Department for the Study of Religion (Toronto, Canada).
1993
Course taught: World Religions.
•
Field-tested draft chapters of Willard G. Oxtoby (ed.), World Religions (Toronto: Ox-
ford University Press, 1996).

6
 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS*
* In reverse chronological order.
Many publications are available online at <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc> as downloadable PDFs.

Forthcoming
59.
“Melting Pot.” Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. Edited by Richard T. Schae-
fer. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2007. (Invited & submitted. Forthcoming in
May 2007.)
58.
“Harlem Renaissance.” Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. (Invited & submitted.)
57.
“Plessy v. Ferguson.” Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. (Invited & submitted.)
56.
“Talented Tenth.” Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. (Invited & submitted.)
55.
“Judicial Activism.” Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice. Edited by Gary L. ander-
son and Kathryn G. Herr. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2007. (Invited &
submitted.)
54.
“Baha’i Faith and Social Action.” Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice. (Accepted &
awaiting final edit.)
53.
“Minority Rights.” The Islamic World. Edited by Andrew Rippin. London/New York:
Routledge, forthcoming. (Accepted & edited.) <http://www.islamicworld.ca>.
52.
“Plessy v. Ferguson.” The Encyclopedia of African American History. Edited by Leslie Alex-
ander and Walter Rucker. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2007. (Invited & accepted;
not yet edited.) <http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=144337>.

51.
“Thirteenth Amendment.” The Encyclopedia of African American History.
50.
“Fifteenth Amendment.” The Encyclopedia of African American History.
49.
“Alain Locke.” The Encyclopedia of African American History.
48.
“Harlem Renaissance.” The Encyclopedia of African American History.
47.
“New Negro Movement.” The Encyclopedia of African American History.
46.
“Talented Tenth.” The Encyclopedia of African American History.
45.
“University of North Carolina’s Qur’an Controversy.” The State of Islamic Studies in
American Universities. Edited by Zahid Bukhari and Mumtaz Ahmad. Lanham, MD:
AltaMira Press, forthcoming. (Accepted; not yet edited.)
44.
“Promise of World Peace.” Explorations: Selected Materials for the Study of the Baha’i
Faith. Edited by Gayle Morrison et al. Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing, forthcoming.
(Accepted; not yet edited.)

2006

7
43.
“Beyond the ‘Seal of the Prophets’: Baha’ullah’s Book of Certitude (Ketab-e Iqan).” Re-
ligious Texts in Iranian Languages. Ed. Clause Pedersen and Fereydun Vahman. Copen-
hagen: University of Copenhagen, forthcoming. (Accepted & edited for publication.)
42.
“‘Never Again’: Kevin Gover’s Apology for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.” Wicazo Sa
Review: A Journal of Native American Studies 21.1 (2006): 97–126. (Forthcoming in August
2006.) <http://www.upress.umn.edu/journals/wsr/default.html>.
41.
“Discovering” [the Qur’an]. The Blackwe$ Companion to the Qur’an. Edited by Andrew
Rippin. Oxford: Blackwell, 2006. Pp. 18–35 (30 April 2006). Amazon.com’s Search In-
side! accesses entire book:
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1405117524/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-1356566-1719166>.

2005
40.
“Alain Locke: Race Leader, Social Philosopher, Bahá’í Pluralist.” Special Issue: Alain
Locke: Dean of the Harlem Renaissance and Baha’i Race-Amity Leader. World Order 36.3
(2005): 7–36. (November 2005)
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Alain*Locke_2005.pdf>
•
Winner, Religion Communicators Council’s 2006 DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial
Award of Exce$ence for “exce$ence in religion communications and public relations”
(Class B. Periodicals—Single Issue, Magazine, National (B-1)). See
<http://www.religioncommunicators.org/derose_hinkhouse/dh2006exce$ence.html>.
39.
“Alain Locke in His Own Words: Three Essays.” World Order 36.3 (2005): 37–48. (Pre-
viously unpublished essays, introduced by Christopher Buck and co-edited with Betty Fisher.)
(November 2005)
•
“The Moon Maiden” (37). (Previously unpublished poem by Alain Locke.)
•
“The Gospel for the Twentieth Century” (39–42).
•
“Peace between Black and White in the United States” (42–45).
•
“Five Phases of Democracy” (45–48).


<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Alain*Locke_2005.pdf>
•
Winner, 2006 DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Award (vide entry #40 supra.)
38.
Alain Locke: Faith and Philosophy. Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, 2005. (3 July 2005.)
ISBN 1-890688-38-X. Amazon.com’s Search Inside! accesses entire book:
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/189068838X/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-1897538-3015251>.
/30./
“Islam and Minorities: The Case of the Bahá’ís.” Studies in Contemporary Islam 5.1–2
(Spring/Fall 2003): 83–106. [Special Issue on Religious and Ethnic Minorities.] (June 2005.)
English:
<http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2005/June/Bahai/Images/BuckBahais2005Eng.pdf>. Farsi:
<http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2005/June/Bahai/Images/BuckBahais2005.pdf>.

2004

8
37.
“Alain Locke.” American Writers: A Co$ection of Literary Biographies. Supplement XIV.
Edited by Jay Parini. Farmington Hills, MI: Scribner’s Reference/The Gale Group,
2004. Pp. 195–219. (15 October 2004) ISBN 0-684-31234-4.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Alain_Locke_2004.pdf>. Freely available
at “Black History Biographies” <http://www.gale.com//ee_resources/bhm/bio/locke_a.htm>
and also at “Gale Schools Black History Month Biographies”
<http://www.galeschools.com/black_history/bio/locke_a.htm>.

Now being “prepped” for access in these online databases in summer or fall 2006: (1)
Literature Resource Center; (2) Modern Language Association International Bibliography; and
(3) Scribner’s American Writers Series. <http://www.gale.com/pdf/facts/scribwri.pdf>.
36.
“The Eschatology of Globalization: Bahá’u’lláh’s Multiple-Messiahship Revisited.”
Studies in Modern Religions, Religious Movements and the Babi-Bahá’í Faiths. Edited by
Moshe Sharon. Numen Book Series: Studies in the History of Religions, 104, Leiden: Brill
Academic Publishers, 2004. Pp. 143–178. (September 2004)
<http://www.bri$.nl/m_catalogue_sub1.htm>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Eschatology_2004.pdf>.
35.
Reprint: Symbol and Secret: Qur’an Commentary in Bahá’u’$áh’s Kitáb-i Íqán. Los Angeles:
Kalimát Press, 2004. (Aug. 2004 reprint of 1995 edition) ISBN 0-933770-80-4.
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0933770782/qid=1136163820/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/104-230
4311-3250368?s=booksandv=glanceandn=283155>
<http://bahai-library.com/books/symbol.secret>.
Reviews of Symbol and Secret
•
Jonah Winters, Iranian Studies 32.1 (Winter 1999): 141–145.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_Reviews/Review_Symbol_1999.pdf>.
•
Jonah Winters, Journal of Bahá’í Studies 9.3 (September 1999): 69–75.
<http://bahai-library.com/reviews/jbs.9-3.winters.html>.
•
Moojan Momen, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 7.2 (July 1997): 290.
•
John Hatcher, MESA Bu$etin 30.1 (July 1996): 70–71.
<http://fp.arizona.edu/mesassoc/Bu$etin/Tables%20of%20Contents/tbljul96.htm>. (Citation
only.)
•
Frank Lewis, Bahá’í Studies Review 6 (1996): 76–91. [Note: Unusually lengthy book re-
view—16 pages.] <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_Reviews/Review_Symbol_1996.pdf>
or <http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/abs/bsr06/65_reviews2.htm>.

34.
“Alain Locke and Cultural Pluralism.” Search for Values: Ethics in Bahá’í Thought. Edited
by Seena Fazel and John Danesh. Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, 2004. Pp. 94–158. (May
2004) Amazon.com’s Search Inside! accesses entire book:
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1890688320/sr=8-1/qid=1150053212/ref=sr_1_1/002-189
7538-3015251?%5Fencoding=UTF8>.
33.
Review of Nader Saiedi, Logos and Civilization: Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings
of Bahá’u’$áh. H-Bahai, H-Net Reviews (March 2004)
<http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showpdf.cgi?path=211321084249496>.

9
32.
“Religious Myths of America” (Syllabus). American Academy of Religion Sy$abus Project
(March 2004). (Invited, American Academy of Religion.)
<http://www.aarweb.org/sy$abus/sy$abi/b/buck/Buck-20040309.pdf>.
31.
“Robert Hayden.” Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature. Edited by Jay Parini. New
York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Vol. 2, 177–181. (January 2004). “A Choice Out-
standing Academic Title 2005.”
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Hayden_2004.pdf>.

Oxford Digital Reference Shelf <http://www.oup.com/online/digitalreference/>. Oxford Refer-
ence Online: E-Reference Edition <http://www.oxford-americanliterature.com/>.


2003
30.
“Islam and Minorities: The Case of the Bahá’ís.” Studies in Contemporary Islam 5.1–2
(Spring/Fall 2003): 83–106. (Special Issue on Religious and Ethnic Minorities.) (June 2005)
English:
<http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2005/June/Bahai/Images/BuckBahais2005Eng.pdf>. Farsi:
<http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2005/June/Bahai/Images/BuckBahais2005.pdf>.
29.
“In Memoriam: Willard G. Oxtoby 1933–2003.” Religious Studies News 18.3 (May 2003):
10. (Invited by the American Academy of Religion.)
<http://www.aarweb.org/Publications/rsn/2003-05MAY.pdf>.
28.
Review of Daniel Grolin, Jesus and Early Christianity in the Gospels: A New Dialogue.
Bahá’í Studies Review 11 (2003): 108–112. <http://bahai-library.com/bsr/bsr_volumes.htm>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Grolin_2003.pdf>.

2002
27.
“Bahá’í Universalism and Native Prophets.” Reason and Revelation: New Directions in
Bahá’í Thought. Edited by Seena Fazel and John Danesh. Los Angeles: Kalimát Press,
2002. Pp. 172–201. Amazon.com’s Search Inside! accesses entire book:
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1890688207/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/002-1897538-30152
51?%5Fencoding=UTF8>.
•
Review by Oliver Scharbrodt, Bu$etin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 66
(2003).
26.
Generation Y Speaks Out: A Policy Guide 2002. Edited by Christopher Buck, David
Stowe, and Shanetta Martin. Lansing: Michigan Nonprofit Association and Michi-
gan’s Children, 2002. <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Gen_Y_2002.pdf>.
25.
“Alain Locke: Bahá’í Philosopher.” Bahá’í Studies Review 10 (2001/2002): 7–49.
<http://bahai-library.com/bsr/bsr_volumes.htm>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Locke_2002.pdf>.

2001

10
24.
“Bahá’ís.” Encyclopaedia of the Qur’an. Edited by Jane McAuliffe. Vol. One: 194–196.
Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 2001.
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9004114653/104-2304311-3250368?v=glanceandn=28315
>. <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Ency_Qur%27an_2001.pdf>.

2000
23.
Review of Will C. van den Hoonard, The Origins of the Bahá’í Community of Canada,
1898–1948. University of Toronto Quarterly 69.1 (Winter 1999/2000): 290–291.
<http://www.utpjournals.com/product/utq/691/bahai114.html>.

1999
22.
Paradise and Paradigm: Key Symbols in Persian Christianity and the Bahá’í Faith. Albany:
State University of New York Press, 1999. (13 May 1999) ISBN: 0-7914-4061-3 /
eBook ISBN:
0585062463. Libraries Worldwide (WorldCat): 784 (NetLibrary) and 164
(bound). <http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0791440613>. See also
<http://www.sunypress.edu/details.asp?id=54018> and NetLibrary
<http://www.netlibrary.com> (eBook ISBN: 0585062463).
•
Generated philological scholarship: Paola Orsatti, “Syro-Persian Formulas in Poetic
Form in Baptism Liturgy,” Persian Origins: Early Judaeo-Persian and the Emergence of New
Persian. Co$ected Papers of the Symposium, Göttingen 1999. Edited by Ludwig Paul. Wies-
baden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2003. Pp. 147–176. (Study based on dissertation appendix
as focus of discussion.)

Reviews of Paradise and Paradigm

•
Kathleen McVey, International Journal of Middle East Studies 35.3 (Aug. 2003): 494–
496. <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_Reviews/Review_Paradise_2003.pdf>.
•
Will C. van den Hoonaard, Studies in Religion. Sciences Religieuses 31.3 (2002): 501.
•
Andrew Rippin, University of Toronto Quarterly 71.1 (Winter 2001/2002): 170–172.
<http://www.utpjournals.com/product/utq/711/paradigm24.html>.
•
William Collins, Bahá’í Studies Review 10 (2001/2002): 157–160.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_Reviews/Review_Paradise_2001.pdf>.
•
Daniel Grolin, H-Net Reviews in the Humanities and Social Sciences (July 2000).
<http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showpdf.cgi?path=13305964043051>.
•
John Renard, Middle East Studies Association Bu$etin 34.2 (2000): 212–213.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_Reviews/Review_Paradise_2000b.pdf> or
<http://fp.arizona.edu/mesassoc/Bu$etin/Tables%20of%20Contents/tblwin00.htm>. [Search
“Buck.”]
•
Harold Coward (undated). <http://bahai-library.com/reviews/paradise.coward.html>.

11
21.
Review of Moojan Momen, The Phenomenon of Religion. Bahá’í Studies Review 9 (1999):
93–99. <http://bahai-library.com/bsr/bsr_volumes.htm>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Momen_1999.pdf>.

(Note: This review introduces the DREAMS Paradigm that I have developed as a
methodological tool for first-order comparative phenomenologies of religion.)

1998
20.
“A Symbolic Profile of the Bahá’í Faith.” Journal of Bahá’í Studies 8.4 (1998): 1–48.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Symbolic_1998.pdf>.
19.
“Bahá’u’lláh as Zoroastrian Saviour.” Bahá’í Studies Review 8 (1998): 14–33.
<http://bahai-library.com/bsr/bsr_volumes.htm>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Zoroastrian_1998.pdf>.
18.
Review of Moshe Idel and Bernard McGinn (eds.), Mystical Union in Judaism, Christi-
anity, and Islam. Religious Studies Review 24.4 (Oct. 1998): 385.
17.
“The Kitab-i Iqan: An Introduction to Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of Certitude, with Two Digi-
tal Reprints of Early Lithographs.” Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Bahá’í Studies
2.5 (June 1998). <http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/bhpapers/vol2/iqanandsn.htm>.

1997
16.
Reviews of Peter Smith, A Short History of the Bahá’í Faith; and Moojan Momen, A
Short Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith. Bahá’í Studies Review 7 (1997): 95–99.
<http://bahai-library.com/bsr/bsr_volumes.htm>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Smith_1997.pdf>.
15.
Review of Juan R. I. Cole, “Behold the Man: Bahá’u’lláh on the Life of Jesus.” Journal
of the American Academy of Religion 65.1 (1997): 47–71. Reviews of Shaykhi, Babi and Baha’i
Studies, No. 1 (May 1997). <http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/reviews/buckrev1.htm>.
14.
Review of Willard G. Oxtoby, World Religions: Western Traditions/Eastern Traditions. Re-
ligious Studies Review 23.3 (July 1997): 263.

1996
13.
Review of Denis MacEoin, Rituals in Babism and Bahá’ísm. International Journal of Mid-
dle East Studies 28.3 (August 1996): 418–422. JSTOR access:
<http://www.jstor.org/view/00207438/ap010122/01a00080/0>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_MacEoin_1996.pdf>.
12.
“The Universality of the Church of the East: How Persian was Persian Christianity?”
Journal of the Assyrian Academic Society 10.1 (1996): 54–95.
<http://www.jaas.org/toc/v10011996.htm> <http://www.jaas.org/edocs/v10n1/intro.pdf>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Persian_Christian_1996.pdf>.

12
11.
“Native Messengers of God in Canada?: A Test Case for Bahá’í Universalism.” Bahá’í
Studies Review 6 (1996): 97–133.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Native_1996.pdf>.
10.
Review of Udo Schaefer, Beyond the Clash of Religions: The Emergence of a New Paradigm.
Bahá’í Studies Review 6 (1996): 68–71.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Schaefer_1996.pdf>.
9.
Review of R.W. Ferrier, A Journey to Persia: Jean Chardin’s Portrait of A Seventeenth-
Century Empire. Periodica Islamica 6.3 (1996): 77–78.

1995
8.
Symbol and Secret: Qur’an Commentary in Bahá’u’$áh’s Kitáb-i Íqán. Los Angeles: Kalimát
Press, 1995. (October 1995. Reprinted 2004.) ISBN 0-933770-80-4.
<http://bahai-library.com/books/symbol.secret>.
7.
“Sapiential Theosis: A New Reading of Ephrem the Syrian’s Hymns on Paradise.” Journal
of the Assyrian Academic Society 9.2 (1995): 80–125.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Hymns_on_Paradise_1995.pdf>.

1992/1994
6.
Review of Michael Sours, The Prophecies of Jesus. Journal of Bahá’í Studies 5.2 (1992): 79–
86; Journal of Bahá’í Studies 6.1 (1994): 72–77 (rejoinder).
<http://www.bahai-studies.ca/archives/jbs/JBS.5-2.html>.
<http://www.bahai-studies.ca/archives/jbs/JBS.6-1.html>.
<http://www.bahai-studies.ca/archives/jbs/jbs.6-1.bionotes.html>.

1991
5.
“Bahá’u’lláh as ‘World Reformer’.” Journal of Bahá’í Studies 3.4 (1991): 23–70; 5.1 (1992):
69–72. <http://www.bahai-studies.ca/archives/jbs/jbs.3-4.buck.html>.
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_WorldReformer_1991.pdf>.
4.
“EasternEnglish Transliteration Typeface.” Middle East Studies Association Bu$etin 25
(1991): 96–99.

1986
3.
“A Unique Eschatological Interface: Bahá’u’lláh and Cross-Cultural Messianism.” In
Iran. Edited by Peter Smith. Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, 1986. Pp. 157–179.
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0933770464/qid=1149964799/sr=1-13/ref=sr_1_13/002-1
897538-3015251?s=booksandv=glanceandn=283155>. Access in Google Scholar or
<http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Unique_1986.pdf>.

13
•
Review: Juan R.I. Cole, Bu$etin (British Society for Middle Eastern Studies) 14.2
(1987): 230–231. JSTOR access:
<http://www.jstor.org/view/03056139/ap010004/01a00300/0>.

1984
2.
“The Identity of the Sabi’un: An Historical Quest.” The Muslim World 74.3/4 (July/Oct.
1984): 172–186. <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Sabians_1984.pdf>.

1983
1.
“Illuminator vs. Redeemer: A ‘Trajectory’ of Ebionite Christology from Prophet Mes-
sianism to Bahá’í Theophanology” Abstracts: American Academy of Religion/Society of
Biblical Literature Annual Meeting 1983 (Dallas). Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1983. P. 86.

PRIVATELY PUBLISHED WORK

1991
Táj-i-Vahháj: Crown of Glory. Memoirs of Jináb-i-Azíz’u’$áh Azízí. Translated from the
original Persian by Nahzy Abadi Buck and Christopher Buck. English translation ed-
ited by Hamid and Sandra Azizi. North Vancouver, B.C., 1991. 182 pp.

ACADEMIC SOFTWARE
1999
New World Transliterator (shareware). Abstract: Info-Mac Digest Vol. 16, Issue 320 (30
June 1999).
<http://www.mirrors.apple.com/mirrors/info-mac/per/im/infomacv16/infomacv16-320.txt>.
Download sites: <http://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_New%20World.suit.zip>.
<http://bahai-library.com/?file=buck_new_world_transliterator>.
1993
New World Transliterator. Calgary: Symmetry Specialty Foundry.

Reviews: Brannon Wheeler, Review of New World Transliterator. Religious Studies
Review 24.4 (Oct. 1998): 385; Kevin Reinhart, “New World Transliterator: Macin-
tosh Middle Eastern-Language Transliteration Font by Christopher Buck.” Middle
East Studies Association Bu$etin 27.2 (Dec. 1993): 294.
<http://fp.arizona.edu/mesassoc/Bu$etin/indxmtor.htm>.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS
(honoraria)
2003
Review of Joseph M. Williams. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace (7th edition).
New York: Longman.
2003
Review of James D. Lester and James D. Lester, Jr. Essential Guide to Research Writing
Across the Disciplines (3rd edition). New York: Longman.

14
2001
Review of Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
(6/e). University of Chicago Press.
•
Acknowledged in 7th edition, forthcoming in spring 2007.
•
Will be published under new title following my recommendation:

A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
2001
Review of Richard E. Miller and Kurt Spellmeyer, eds. The New Humanities Reader.
Houghton Mifflin.

15
 CONFERENCE PAPERS
and INVITED LECTURES

2006
“Alain Locke: Race, Religion, and Democracy.” Louhelen Bahá’í School (21–23 April
2006).
2006
“Alain Locke: Race Leader, Social Philosopher, Bahá’í Pluralist.” Andrew Rankin
Memorial Chapel. Howard University. Washington, DC (15 April 2006).
•
Flash translation of Keynote slideshow presentation downloadable at:
<http://cgb.cafetaraz.com/Buck_Locke_Howard.zip>.
•
Interviewed by Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, WHUT-TV producer of film documen-
tary, “Race Men” (to be aired in Fall 2006) for Howard University Television (14
April 2006).
•
Book-signing, Howard University Bookstore (14 April 2006).
2005
“Alain Locke: Race Leader, Social Philosopher, Bahá’í Pluralist.” Michigan State
University. Sponsored by the African American and African Studies Program (15 No-
vember 2005).
2003
“Islam and Minorities: The Case of the Bahá’ís in Iran.” Read in absentia by Andrew
Rippin. Islam and Minorities. American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies Confer-
ence. University of Victoria, Canada (3 May 2003).
2002
“Religious Diversity: Dr. Martin Luther King’s Dream of the ‘World House’.” Mul-
ticultural Development’s Super Saturday. Racial and Ethnic Student Affairs. Michigan
State University (19 January 2002).
2001
Chair and Commentator, Session 16: “Many Ways of Worship: Exploring the Diver-
sity of the African American Religious Experience.” Diaspora Paradigms: New Schol-
arship in Comparative Black History. Comparative Black History Conference 2001.
Michigan State University (23 September 2001).
<http://www.msu.edu/~cbhprgm/schedule.pdf>
2000
“The Eschatology of Globalization: Bahá’u’lláh’s Multiple–Messiahship Revisited.”
First International Conference on Modern Religions and Religious Movements. Hebrew
University of Jerusalem (18 December 2000). See
<http://bookwebpro.kinokuniya.co.jp/booksea.cgi?ISBN=9004139044andUSID=>.
2000
“A Phenomenology of the Bahá’í Faith using Mnemonic Acronyms: A Test of the
DREAMS Paradigm.” 1999 Annual Meeting. American Academy of Religion (Nashville).
1999
“Thirty-Three Bahá’í Principles of Unity.” Bahá’í Studies Colloquy. 1999 Annual
Meeting. American Academy of Religion (Boston).
1998
“Problems with Truth-Claims and Proofs-Texts: The Case of Bahá’u’lláh as Zoroas-
trian Savior and Hindu Messiah.” 1998 Annual Meeting. American Academy of Religion
(Orlando, FL).

16
1995
“A Symbolic Profile of the Bahá’í Faith.” (1) 1995 American Academy of Religion Annual
Meeting (Philadelphia); (2) Association for Bahá’í Studies, 19th Annual Conference (San
Francisco); (3) Texas Bahá’í Studies Conference (Austin, TX).
1995
“Sacralizing the Secular: The Proclamatory Aqdas as a Response to Modernity.”
Fifth Scripture Studies Co$oquium. Theme: The Kitab-i-Aqdas. Institute for Bahá’í Studies
(Wilmette, IL). Abstract: <http://irfanco$oquia.org/5/buck_secular>.
1995
“Computing Strategies for Transliterating Syriac.” First International Forum on Syriac
Computing (Washington, DC) Abstract:
<http://bethmardutho.cua.edu/SCForum/FSC1_Buck.html>.
1995
“Comparing Symbolic Profiles: Dimensional Models of the Bahá’í Faith and Syriac
Christianity.” The Syriac Symposium II: Syria at the Crossroads: Cultural Interchange in
Late Antiquity (Washington, DC)
1994
“Native Messengers of God in Canada?: A Test Case for Bahá’í Universalism.” 18th
Annual Conference. Association for Bahá’í Studies (Cambridge, MA).
1993
“Native Messengers of God in Canada?: A Test Case for Bahá’í Universalism.” Bahá’í
Studies Seminar (Lancaster, UK). In absentia, read by Wendi Momen.
1991
“The Tablet of Glad-Tidings as a ‘Proclamatory Aqdas’.” Irfan Co$oquia, Session 38
(Davison, MI). Abstract: <http://irfanco$oquia.org/38/buck_tidings>.
1984
“A Unique Eschatological Interface: Bahá’u’lláh and Cross-Cultural Messianism.”
Western Regional Conference. American Academy of Religion (San Francisco).
1983
“The Lost Christianity of Peter.” Association for Bahá’í Studies (Coquitlam, British
Columbia).
1982
“Was Bahá’u’lláh Sháh Bahrám Varjávand Despite Zoroastrian ‘Prophecies’?” Ameri-
can Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature, Pacific Northwest Region Conference
(Seattle).
1981
“The Mystery of the Sworded Warrior in Hindu Apocalypse: Was Kalki Visnuyasas
Bahá’u’lláh?” American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature, Pacific North-
west Region Conference (Vancouver, British Columbia).
1978
“Nazoraean/Ebionaean Christianity and the Emergence of Historical Theology.”
Third Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for the Studies on the Bahá’í Faith (Sur-
rey, British Columbia).

AFFILIATIONS
•
American Inns of Court.
•
American Academy of Religion.
•
Association for Bahá’í Studies.

LANGUAGES
•
Persian, Arabic, Syriac, Latin, Greek, French (reading proficiency).

17
 DISTINCTIONS
2005
25% Honors Scholarship (Winter 2005).

Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, MI).
2004
Dean’s List (Spring 2004, Summer 2004).

Certificates of Merit (Book Awards): Federal Indian Law; Constitutional Law Semi-
nar; Co$ective Bargaining. Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, MI).
2001
Who’s Who in America, 55th Edition. Biographical profile.
2000
Who’s Who in America, Mi$ennium (54th) Edition. Biographical profile.
1991–1996
Open Doctoral Fe$owships (University of Toronto).
1994
Award for Exce$ence in Bahá’í Studies (University Category). Association for
Bahá’í Studies (Ottawa).
1991
Award for Exce$ence in Bahá’í Studies (University Category). Association for
Bahá’í Studies (Ottawa).
1989–1991
Graduate Assistantships for Research (University of Calgary).

PERSONAL
•
Dual Canadian (29 June 1994) and American citizen.
•
Married, three sons.
•
See news story, “Teenage Genius,” <http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=36105>.

REFERENCES

HUMANITIES

1.
Dr. Andrew Rippin, Dean, Faculty of Humanities
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P4
Tel: (250) 721-7063
E-mail: <arippin@uvic.ca>.
Home Page: <http://web.uvic.ca/~arippin/>.

2.
Dr. Todd Lawson

18
 University of Toronto
Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
Room 332, 4 Bancroft Avenue
Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1C1
Tel: (416) 978-3080
E-mail: <todd.lawson@utoronto.ca>.
Home Page: <http://www.utoronto.ca/nmc/faculty/lawsoncv.html>.

3.
Dr. Richard W. Thomas


Michigan State University
Department of History

W102 Owen Graduate Hall

East Lansing, MI 48824


Tel: (517) 353-4769

E-mail: <thomasrr@msu.edu>.
Home Page:
<http://history.msu.edu/new_prog/view_profile.php?id=75>.

LEGAL REFERENCES

1.
Professor Philip Prygoski
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
P. O. Box 13038
Lansing MI 48901
Tel: (517) 371-5140
E-mail: <prygoskp@cooley.edu>.
Home Page: <http://www.cooley.edu/faculty/prygoski.htm>.

2.
Professor Maurice Munroe
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
P. O. Box 13038
Lansing MI 48901
Tel: (517) 371-5140

19
 E-mail: <munroem@cooley.edu>.
Home Page: <http://www.cooley.edu/faculty/munroe.htm>.

3.
Liisa R. Speaker (Attorney and Counselor)
Hicks, Mu$ett and Gre<, PLLC
412 N. Walnut
Lansing, MI 48933
Tel: (517) 321-9770
E-mail: <lspeaker@hmglegal.com>.
Home Page:
<http://www.cooley.edu/newsevents/peopleslawschool_2005.htm>.

20
 EXTERNAL EXAMINER’S DISSERTATION APPRAISAL

FROM: Jason Smith Books

PHONE NO.: 312 294 0147
Jun. 13 1996 10:54 AM

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The College
1116 East 59th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637

Appraisal, Mr. Christopher George Buck,

PARADISE and PARADIGM:

KEY SYMBOLS IN ‘PERSIAN’ CHRISTIANITY and THE BAHA’I FAITH.

Centre for the Study of Religion.

School of Graduate Studies. University of Toronto.

Mr. Buck’s thesis is a superior piece of work, one of the most sophisticated exercises on
comparison that I have read, and, therefore, a work of historic importance with respect to
the study of ‘patristic’ Christianity, a field that is notably ‘primitive’ with respect to com-
parative issues. Of the nearly one hundred dissertations I have served as director or reader
for, in the fields of history of religions and early Christianities, this is, without question, one
of the two or three best.

Mr. Buck’s lengthy methodological introduction (pp. 1–27) is a remarkable theoretical essay.
He shows a capacity to work with a variety of contemporary figures and issues in the general
study of religion and to extract from serious conversation with them a complex, comprehen-

21
sive, critical and constructive proposal that is both persuasive and original. This proposal is
systematically carried through the body of the thesis, providing both the organizational
principles for the data and the procedures which govern his comparisons.

I am much impressed by his concluding chapter (295–308) which undertakes a self-critical

evaluation of the models and methods he employed. (This last is all too often omitted in dis-
sertations in the human sciences.) Obviously, I have some questions. As Mr. Buck notes, his
model is eclectic, drawing from a variety of figures, so that figures of quite disparate orienta-
tions are made to support one another. With respect to his particular area of comparison,
the proposal would have been enhanced by a specific and detailed contrast with the analo-
gous projects of Robert Murray and Geo Widengren.

I am most appreciative of Mr. Buck’s thick historical narrative in which the symbolic inves-
tigations are situated. (More work could be done on the theoretical relations of the one to
the other, but what he has done is well in advance of the vast majority of works in the field).
Again, at times, we differ in historical judgement (e.g. it is increasingly less likely that [the]
Gospel of Thomas can be claimed as a Syrian document) but these do not affect the overall
thesis.

The extraction of the central symbolic logic of both the Syriac and Baha’i materials is utterly
convincing and reveals, among other virtues, a thorough command of both the primary and
secondary literature. This, then, contributes to a comparison across differences of the logics
which richly illuminates both the specific symbols and the cultural matrix in which they are
found.

This is one of those rare theses in which the parts are so intricately and necessarily interre-
lated that one hopes for the rapid publication of the entire work rather than the separate
publication of one or two chapters.

Without hesitation, I strongly recommend that the thesis be accepted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Jonathan Z. Smith
Robert O. anderson Distinguished Service Professor of the Humanities
University of Chicago

22