Mythtaken: Le Mot De L'Enigme

A special feature makes this book rather unique. It is a collection of reflections, under the generic caption "radical ruminations," of one St. William of the Orphic Cross at Salem Monastery (shades of Søren Kierkegaard’s Judge William, but without "the leap of faith"), which I have supposedly discovered, proofed, and arranged in their proper order. This fictional feature, a find of "momentous import," lends a mysterious air to the manuscript, characteristic of the aura of religion itself. There is another feature, a novel turn, one that may not be readily apparent to the reader, but even ally a facsimile of the alleged nature of religion. That is to say, in other words, the manuscript . . . itself an invention . . . is simply the embodiment of its own critique.

For forty years, my profession has been in the academic arena, where I have served, in colleges, universities, and at a seminary, as Professor of English Literature, Classical Languages, Theology, and Philosophy . . . a career reflecting a diversity of interests. Early on, as an ordained minister, I pursued my education, both in undergraduate and graduate degree programs, with the purpose of becoming a college or a seminary professor. Along the way, I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Religion from Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana, and a Master of Theology degree and a Doctor of Theology degree in Greek New Testament from Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Later, after serving as professor of English Literature for three years at my alma mater, I returned to graduate study at Tulane University, majoring, first, in Classical Language (toward the MA degree) and, then, in Philosophy (toward the Ph.D. degree). While completing my graduate study at Tulane, I was appointed Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the New Orleans Baptist Seminary, where I taught for six years (1954-1960) . . . an appointment that fulfilled my academic ambition. In the spring of 1960, however, my seminary career came to an end. Because of unconscionable administrative actions taken against a colleague and a friend of mine, I decided to disavow my religious affiliation and to take a secular position teaching philosophy at a state university. This I did, serving as Professor of Philosophy at The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa campus) from 1960 until my retirement in 1987.

Along with my academic career, I have enjoyed practicing and participating in the fine arts, particularly music and poetry, which have been, for over sixty years, my constant companions, if not my singular pursuit. As a child of eight years, I began writing poetry, and at thirteen, I composed my first finished piece of music . . . later, winning first place in competition. Through the years, I have continued both art forms, with no intention to publish, publishing only philosophical pieces in keeping with my academic career. In the past fourteen years, however, I have submitted for publication both creative efforts. My poetry has appeared in eight anthologies published, over the years, by the National Library of Poetry. I have one book of poetry, Une Petite Ménagerie, published by Watermark Press in 1997. In 1986, I composed and published a march, Fight On To Victory, a spirit song for the Crimson Tide football team of The University of Alabama; The University Million Dollar Band premiered it in 1987. Other music pieces, copyrighted and deposited in the Library of Congress, have been performed by various music groups associated with The University of Alabama.

Until my retirement in 1987, I was a member of many professional societies . . . English, Classical, Theological, and Philosophical. Currently, I am an active member of several music and poetry associations . . . The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), The National Academy of Popular Music (NAPM), The Academy of American Poets (AAP), The Poetry Society of America (PSA), and The International Society of Poets (ISP). Today, I continue, unstintingly, to compose both art forms, along with my fiction and non-fiction literary efforts.