Timothy Shortell
Encyclopedia
Timothy Shortell is an associate professor of sociology at the City University of New York
, known for his vehement criticism of religion
, especially Christianity
, and of the administration of President George W. Bush
.
Shortell is the son of a 1960s political activist, Brandon Shortell, and Linda Shortell née LaPlante. He began his academic career at Washington State University
where he graduated in psychology
in 1987, before moving to Boston College
to graduate in social psychology
in 1992. Following this, Shortell focused on the relationship between religion
and cultural beliefs, comparing the beliefs of Protestants and Catholics in the United States
for Smith College
in 1995.
Shortell first came to public notice two years later when, having moved to Brooklyn College
, he became Assistant Professor of Sociology and wrote his first major article, "Religious Affiliation, Commitment and Ideology Among US Elites" in which he continued his first major article from 1995. He then wrote about the influence of religion in El Salvador
during the era when Oscar Romero
fought against the military junta, before moving onto much more controversial territory with a series of articles between 2002 and 2004 in which Shortell argued that morality
in any form is totally incompatible with religion
.
Shortell is writing a book about the responses to Darwinism
from its origins until today.
"The Rhetoric of Black Abolitionism: an Exploratory Analysis Of Anti-Slavery Newspapers In New York State" in Social Science History
. 28(1):75-109.
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, known for his vehement criticism of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, especially Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and of the administration of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Shortell is the son of a 1960s political activist, Brandon Shortell, and Linda Shortell née LaPlante. He began his academic career at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
where he graduated in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in 1987, before moving to Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
to graduate in social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
in 1992. Following this, Shortell focused on the relationship between religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and cultural beliefs, comparing the beliefs of Protestants and Catholics in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1995.
Shortell first came to public notice two years later when, having moved to Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
, he became Assistant Professor of Sociology and wrote his first major article, "Religious Affiliation, Commitment and Ideology Among US Elites" in which he continued his first major article from 1995. He then wrote about the influence of religion in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
during the era when Oscar Romero
Óscar Romero
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was a bishop of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He became the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, succeeding Luis Chávez. He was assassinated on 24 March 1980....
fought against the military junta, before moving onto much more controversial territory with a series of articles between 2002 and 2004 in which Shortell argued that morality
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
in any form is totally incompatible with religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
.
Shortell is writing a book about the responses to Darwinism
Darwinism
Darwinism is a set of movements and concepts related to ideas of transmutation of species or of evolution, including some ideas with no connection to the work of Charles Darwin....
from its origins until today.
Articles
- "African-American Abolitionism as a Human Rights Discourse" in Human Rights and the Media: Volume 6, Studies in Communications, edited by Diana Papademas.
- "The Decline of the Public Sphere: A Semiotic Analysis of the Rhetoric of Race in New York City". pp 159–177 in Race and Ethnicity in New York City (Research in Urban Sociology, Volume Seven), edited by Jerome Krase and Ray Hutchinson.
"The Rhetoric of Black Abolitionism: an Exploratory Analysis Of Anti-Slavery Newspapers In New York State" in Social Science History
Social Science History
Social Science History is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal. It is the official journalof the Social Science History Association. Its articles bring an analytic, theoretical, and often quantitative approach to historical evidence....
. 28(1):75-109.