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'''Ronald Joseph Brown '''

Ronald J. Brown (born March 3, 1949 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is a prominent New York City historian, professor, public speaker, media personality, and writer on New York City History, World Religions, and the cities of the world. He has been a full-time professor of history and political science at Touro College since 1994 and Affiliate Faculty professor of World Religions at the Unification Theological Seminary since 2002.

Contents

1. Biography 2. Early Life 3. Education 4. Professional Activities 5. Public History 6. Published Works 7. Sabbaticals 8. Awards 9. External Links

Biography

Brown was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, lived for eight years in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, attended High School at St. Mark’s Catholic Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania for three years, where he experienced the turbulent reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Brown then earned a B.A. in history with a minor in the German language from Gannon College also in Erie, in January 1971. During his studies he spent a summer abroad studying German in Salzburg, Austria and travelling in Europe. Upon graduation he spent a semester at the Goethe Institute in West Germany and the summer of 1971 in West Berlin.

Brown then went to Israel in July 1971 and remained there for nearly 5 years. He earned an M.A. in Modern History from the Hebrew University, experienced the Yom Kippur War, and wrote a Master’s thesis on Josef von Goerres under the direction of professors George Mosse and Yehoshua Arieli. Brown began studies toward a doctorate in International Relations at the Graduate Institute of International Studies at the University of Geneva in Switzerland in 1976. Under the direction of Saul Friedlander he completed a dissertation of the Catholic Church and the Question of Jerusalem. He remained in Geneva for a total of seven years. During this time he traveled extensively in Europe, Egypt, Africa, and spent a summer working among the Vietnamese boat people for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia.

In September 1984 Brown began work on a Master’s in Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School where he studied under Professor Harvey Cox. He spent three months in Senegal where he wrote a study on Islam and the Secular State in Senegal. He taught a class at Harvard’s J.F.K. School of Government during the spring semester 1985 on Religious Strife in the Middle East and India. Brown remained in Boston until September 1990.

He then spent three years following the collapsing Iron Curtain across Eastern Europe. He taught professional and diplomatic English in Prague for a semester, Vienna for the summer of 1991, an academic year in Budapest, and eight months in Moscow. Brown took extended vacations in Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Ukraine during this time. He returned to the United States in March 1993 and settled in New York City.

After a brief period teaching English and a semester teaching history at Mercy College, he began teaching history and political science at Touro College. He became a full-time professor in 1997. He became a licensed New York City tour guide in 1999 and a featured speaker at the New York Council for the Humanities where he lectured to historical societies, religious groups, libraries, and colleges on topics related to the religious and cultural history of New York City. From 1992 to 2013 he was a volunteer docent at the New-York Historical Society where he led groups on visits to the society. He was a docent during the troubled period surrounding September 11 and was dismissed by the society for refusing to adhere to official society policy regarding the disaster.

He published his first book, A Religious History of Flushing, Queens in 2007, followed by A Religious History of African-American Harlem in 2008, and How New York became the Empire City in 2008. He was featured in the 2010 Long Island PBS (WNET) special “God in New York City” where he led a tour of Flushing, Queens. Later YouTube films by Hofstra University, include hour long lectures on various topics of local, national, and international topics. He published three articles in the Journal of Unification Studies on walking tours as educational experiences, Paraguay, and the history of the American Holiday Season.

In addition to his academic activities, Brown has devoted much energy to the emerging field of Public History. He has presented PowerPoint lectures at Public Libraries, as well as the Historical Societies, museums, numerous houses of worship, social clubs, and retirement homes on diverse topics in New York City, American, and world history and religion.

Brown has also continued his interest in world travel. In addition to the world’s sacred cities such as Machu Pichu, Anghor Wat, Touba in Senegal, and Fatima, as well as Mexico, Argentina, China, Thailand, Venezuela, Cambodia, Paraguay, and other countries.

Brown has no intention of retiring and continues his activities in academic and public education, world travel, and writing. Most recently he completed a massive history of the Brown (Buranowsky) family as a 70th wedding anniversary gift to his parents.

Early Life

Brown was born into a large family of German-Slovak ancestry on March 3, 1949. His family lived in Beaverdale, Pa. until he was five, and after a year in Mansfield, Pa., they moved to Coudersport, Pa. where he would remain until his sophomore year in high schools except for a year and a half when the family lived in Washington, Pa. One of his earliest childhood memories was, according to Brown, watching the big Greyhound bus cruising through Coudersport on its way from Erie, Pa to New York City. “One day I will be on that bus” he thought.

He loved his three years at St. Mark’s Minor (High School) Seminary in Erie, Pa. where his favorite subjects were history, religion, and languages. An average student who never made the coveted honor roll, he was the school, diocesan, and regional champion in public speaking and went on to the national competitions in the National Catholic Forensics League. He experienced the dramatic reforms of the Catholic Church begun by the Second Vatican Council. Brown distinctly remembers hearing the Nicaean Creed recited during Mass in English and asked himself “Do I really believe all this?” At this point he lost his faith but never lost his fascination with religion. After graduation June 1967 he left the seminary and earned a BA in history in June 1971. From his earliest years Brown was intrigued by his family’s history. He interviewed family members and collected masses of information on the family history, would eventually visit the Slovak hometown of the Buranowsky (Brown) family and eventually compile a 400-page family history of the Brown, Buranowsky, Ojdowski, Beyer, and Smith (Schmidt) families for the 70th wedding anniversary of his parents in 2013.

Education

Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania

Brown earned a BA in history with a minor in the German language from Gannon College (now University) in June 1971. The summer after his junior year he spent in Europe where he studied German at the Georgetown University summer program in Salzburg, Austria and did his final semester of college at the Goethe Institute in West Germany studying German language and the summer working in a grocery store in West Berlin.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Following the summer of 1971 in Berlin, Brown arrived in Israel to visit his college friend, Susan Rohaly Richard, who went on to become a distinguished archeologist. After a period in Jerusalem and Haifa, he entered the M.A. program in history at the Hebrew University in the fall of 1972. Dr. George Mosse of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Hebrew University, co-founder of the Journal of Contemporary History, and author of many books and articles on modern history became, according to Brown, the greatest influence on his intellectual and personal development. He either took or attended most of Mosse’s classes and lectures on modern European history, Judaism, the tragedy of the German Jews, and his own family odyssey. Mosse introduced Brown to the complex world of the Holocaust that lurked behind the standard sanitized narratives of academia, press, discourse while Brown introduced Mosse to the equally hidden world of the Jewish occupation of Palestine. Brown would accompany him on trips throughout Israel and the occupied West Bank stopping off to visit refugee camps, churches, and towns to experience the brutality of the Israeli occupation. Under the guidance of professors George Mosse and Yeshuah Arieli he completed a M.A. thesis on the German Catholic political leader, Josef von Goerres. Brown remained in contact with Mosse over the years and had breakfast with him in New York City shortly before his death in January of 1999.

His five years in Israel were marked by accelerated West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem settlement movement, the rise of the Jewish religious right (the Likud) and Islamic militancy, the Yom Kippur War, and terrorism by both Jews and Palestinians. In such an environment, textbook terms like “nationalism,” “racism,” “religious fanaticism,” “occupation,” and even “war” and “genocide” became realities. The increasingly hostile environment, a stint at the notorious Jerusalem Central Prison, and the eve rise of the Zionist right wing militant Menachem Begin, Brown thought it best to leave Israel.

University of Geneva, Switzerland

Upon graduation from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the spring of 1976 Brown entered the doctoral program in international studies at the University of Geneva. The Graduate Institute of International Studies was a less than stellar institution at the time and his dissertation advisor, Saul Friedlander was less than helpful. Nonetheless he completed a dissertation on the Catholic Church and the Question of Jerusalem and was awarded a doctorate November 1986.

If the academic benefits of the institute were less than rewarding, living in the most stable (and boring) city in the world and ample supplies of Swiss francs more than made up for this lack. Wonderful long weekends in decadent Paris, trips to Moscow, Cameroon, Egypt, London, Holland, Germany, and Israel made life enjoyable. For six months in 1979 he was a Field Officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Indonesia.

Harvard University Divinity School

In the fall of 1984 Brown began studies at the Harvard Divinity School (HDS) toward a Masters in Theological Studies degree (MTS). Professor Harvey Cox was my advisor. Finding little academic interest in the rising tide of religious militancy in Israel, Iran, the USA, and elsewhere in Geneva, Brown was attracted to Cox’s writings on religion in the contemporary world. However, other than Cox and a few other isolated souls, HDS was still mired in arcane theological debates and totally ignored the rise of the new revolutionary movements that were shaping the future such as the Mormons, Pentecostal Christians, Jewish and Muslim radicals, militant Hinduism and Buddhism, among others. Research trips to Mexico, Senegal, and Israel only partially supplemented this lack. Brown was a member of the Committee for Middle Eastern Studies and taught a non-credit course at the JFK School of Government. Brown was awarded an MTS degree in World Religions in June 1987.

Professional Activities

UNHCR, Indonesia

From August to November 1979 Brown was a Field Officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Indonesia where he worked among the Boat People then streaming out in the aftermath of Communist takeover of South Vietnam.

Eastern Europe: November 1990 – March 1993

Following the collapsing Communist Empire Brown taught English language at the SPUSA (the Czech-American Friendship Association) in Prague from November 1990 to March 1991 with a visit to Poland. From March 1991 to September 1991 Brown taught business and diplomatic English at the Inlingua Schools in Vienna and Salzburg, and at the Austrian Federal Parliament in Vienna. From September 1991 to June 1992 Brown taught advanced English at the University of Godolloo near Budapest with a visit to Bulgaria and Turkey. From June 1992 to January 1993 Brown taught advanced English Conversation at the Timiyazavaet University in Moscow with visits to Kiev, St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Novgorod, among others.

Touro College: January 1994 to present

After adjunct teaching at Mercy College and Touro College Brown was promoted to full-time professor of History and Political Science in 1997 where he teaches courses in American cultural, ethnic, immigration, economic, and political history. He designed a new course in New York City History as well as several new Online classes.

Unification theological Seminary: January 2002 to present

Brown teaches Introduction to World Religions, World Religions and Global Conflict, New York City Religious History, African-American Harlem Religious History as well as other courses.

Public History

New-York Historical Society Brown was a volunteer docent (exhibit and museum guide) from September 1992 to May 2013. He guided groups and individuals through the various exhibits and was deeply involved in chronicling the tragic events of September 11. He spent the day photographing the collapse of the buildings, the activities in Lower Manhattan that day, and taking groups through the ongoing Historical Society exhibits. He was removed from his position in May 2013 for including various events and issues that the new Historical Society directors objected to. http://www.nyhistory.org/

New York Council for the Humanities

Brown was a featured speaker on New York City and State topics at the Council from September 2003 to July 2015 when the Speakers in the Humanities program was discontinued. He presented PowerPoint lectures at The New York, Queens, Port Washington, Manhasset, Hewlett-Woodmere, and many other Public Libraries, as well as the Historical Societies, museums, numerous houses of worship, social clubs, and retirement homes on diverse topics in New York City, American, and world history and religion. Following September 11 he added current events to his repertoire and during the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney organized a presentation titled “Who the Hell are the Mormons” to educate his audiences on that often misunderstood religion. http://www.nyhumanities.org/speakers/adult_audiences/speaker_results.php

Udemy

In August of 2016 Brown released twelve lecture series Udemy program titled “Divine New York City” through UnFOLD Creative Agency. https://www.udemy.com/divine-new-york-city/

Media Presentations:

Available on YouTube The Bristal Better U, Hofstra University, Webinars “Paris in the Spring,” June 5, 2016 “The MasterBuilders of New York City,” Apr. 5, 2016 “JFK: A President for the New Age, Nov. 3, 2015 “FDR: A President for the Age of Super-Powers, Oct. 6, 2015 “How New York City invented the Holiday Season,” Dec. 2, 2014 “How to become President: A Century of Political Campaigns.” Nov. 4, 2014 “The American Family: A Century of Change,” Sept. 2, 2014

“God in New York,” WNET, New York City. Oct. 11, 2010. Included filmed segments of walking tour of Flushing, Queens. Aired on various PBS stations afterwards. http://watch.wliw.org/video/1614244440/ WFUV Fordham University Radio Interview. 90.7 FM. “The Catholic Church in New York City Today.” Interview by George Bodarky, Cityscape. April 15, 2006. Eastchester Government Access Television, Channel 14. “Religion in New York City.” Nov. 15, 2004. Presentation filmed for future broadcast.

Published works

Books: Agnes and Joe Brown: The Buranowsky-Brown Family Story, From Gaboltov, Slovakia, 	to Lloydell/Beaverdale, Pennsylvania. Sacred City Books, New York, 2013. ISBN 978-0- 9795092-3-0 Into the Soul of African-American Harlem: A Spiritual Walking Tour. Sacred City Books. New York. June 2008. ISBN 9780979509216 How New York became the Empire City: A Mythical Tour of Lower Manhattan. Sacred City Books. New York. November 2008. ISBN 9780979509223 A Religious History of Flushing, Queens; From the Flushing Remonstrance until Today, A Walking Tour. Sacred City Books, New York. August 2007. ISBN 9780979509209

Articles: “Religion and Technology in the 21st Century.” Journal of 	Unification Studies. 2018, Volume XIX. “The Battle for Dominion over Time: The War of the Calendars in Thailand.” Journal of Unification Studies. 2017, Volume XVIII “Chrismahanukwanzakah: How New York Invented the Holiday Season, A Visitors Guide.” Journal of Unification Studies. 2016, Volume XVII. “Paraguay as a Holy Land: from the Guarani Indians to the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.” Journal of Unification Studies. 2015, Volume XVI. “Taking to the Streets: Teaching Living Religions in the Neighborhoods of New York City.” Journal of Unification Studies. 2010, Volume XI.

Blogs: “The 21st Century Cities in Global History,” July 9, 2018 “The Technology-Empowered Cleric and the End of Religions as We Know Them,” May 21, 2018. “The Muslim World as Seen from Atop the Burj Khalifa Tower,” March 19, 2018. “Warfare in World Religions: Has the Time Come to Junk All Religions and Found a New One?” October 9, 2017. “America and Islam: “The Time of Humiliation” as a Determining Feature in Modern Politics,” July 10, 2017. “Teaching World Religions in the Age of the Clash of Civilizations,” May 29, 2017. “The Battle for Dominion over Time: Thailand’s Many Calendars,” April 17, 2017.

Available at: https://appliedunificationism.com/

Sabbaticals Spring Semester, 2015. I spent two months in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay researching religious utopian movements. I also accumulated material to improve my class in Latin-American Experience and for the article “Paraguay as a Holy Land: from the Guarani Indians to the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.” Spring Semester, 2005. A large part of this period was spent in China preparing for my class, The Asian-American Experience. I spent a month in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian, and upon my return presented a series of lectures and slide exhibits at the New York Public Library, 42nd Street Main Branch, The Unitarian-Universalist Society of Shelter Rock, Long Island, and for my students at Touro and Unification Theological Seminary.

Awards

Honored Speaker Award, New York Council for the Humanities, June 2015 Teacher of the Year, Touro College, 2002

External Links

New York Council for the Humanities. Speakers in the Humanities Program. Profile. http://www.nyhumanities.org/speakers/schools/speaker.php?speaker_id=191

“Field Trips as instruments in teaching World Religions” https://www.academia.edu/14049676/Field_Trips_as_instruments_in_teachin_World_Religions

Professor Profile. Unification Theological Seminary. http://www.uts.edu/academics/faculty/170-ronald-j-brown

“Flushing’s Freedom,” New York Sun, November 20, 2007, Jay Akasie, rehttp://www.nysun.com/opinion/flushings-freedom/66764/

“Politics and Hirschfeld: JCC University in Tenafly offers grown-up looks at issues.” September 17, 2015, Joanne Palmer. http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/politics-and-hirschfeld/

“The Messiah from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to Modern Popular Culture,” “Sacred Languages in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,” “Venerating the Books: Rituals and Magic Surrounding the Scriptures of the Three Abrahamic Faiths.” New York Public Library. http://exhibitions.nypl.org/threefaiths/public-programs/adult

The Suffolk Times, “Southold Historical Society fall lecture series underway.” October 1, 2013. http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/tag/southold-historical-society/page/3/

Marquis Who’s Who in America. http://search.marquiswhoswho.com//profile/100032808358 “Ronald Joseph Brown” 2007 to 2016.