Paul F. Knitter papers, 1959 -- 2013

Summary Information

Abstract

Paul F. Knitter (b. 1939) was a UTS faculty member from 2007-present (emeritus), and is an author and theologian invested in pluralism and interfaith dialogue. The collection contains books and notes from his time in Germany and Rome, textual materials for courses by Knitter and about his travels, lectures, published and unpublished articles by Knitter, Vatican problematta, certificates and plaques, photographs, graphic materials, and audiovisual materials.

Description

Scope and Contents

This collection contains books and notes from his time in Germany and Rome, textual materials for courses by Knitter and about his travels, lectures, published and unpublished articles by Knitter, Vatican problematta, certificates and plaques, photographs, graphic materials, and audiovisual materials.

• Series 1A: Education, Rome, 1959 -- 1969

  This series contains materials from Knitter's time in Rome when he was a student at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and includes notes, exams, and clippings. Some of the material is in Latin.

• Series 1B: Education, Germany, 1969 -- 1971

  This series contains materials from Knitter's time in Germany pursuing graduate and doctoral studies at the University of Marburg, and includes notes and clippings, correspondence, and Knitter's dissertation. Some material is in German.

• Series 1C: Education, annotated books, 1962 -- 1972

  This series contains books annotated by Knitter while he was pursuing his degrees.

• Series 2: Catholic Theological Union, circa 1970 -- 1975

  This series contains material on the courses that Knitter taught while he was at the Catholic Theological Union. The course files contain a combination of personal research notes, lecture notes, annotated articles, discussion questions, syllabi, exams, grades, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets related to the course subjects.

• Series 3A: Xavier University, Administrative Files and Correspondence, 1975 -- 2002

  This series contains materials are from Knitter's time at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio where he was the Emeritus Professor of Theology, and include documents for a faculty research grant, teaching contracts with Xavier, yearly updates on teaching, correspondence, and other administrative files.

• Series 3B: Xavier University, Course files, circa 1970 -- 2005

  This series contains files related to courses that Knitter taught during his time at Xavier University, and include personal research notes, lecture notes, annotated articles, discussion questions, syllabi, exams, grades, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets related to the course subjects.

• Series 4: Union Theological Seminary, 2007 -- 2012

  This series contains Knitter's course materials while at Union Theological Seminary, including personal research notes, lecture notes, annotated articles, discussion questions, syllabi, exams, grades, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets related to the course subjects, as well as contracts for his time at UTS.

• Series 5: Lectures, 1974 -- 2013

  This series contains lectures and notes related to lectures given by Knitter at different locations, including Union Theological Seminary.

• Series 6: Travel, 2003 -- 2011

  This series contains travel materials from Knitter's travels in Japan, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Colombia, South Korea, including lectures, pamphlets and flyers.

• Series 7A: Personal, Correspondence, 1966 -- 2012

  This series contains correspondence from friends, family, and colleagues of Knitter, including fellow theologians like Schubert Ogden and Raimon Panniker.

• Series 7B: Personal, Biographical Materials, 1962 -- 2010

  This series contains notebooks, criticisms from the Vatican, publications, reviews, and other materials relating to Knitter's career.

• Series 7C: Personal, Graphic and Audiovisual Materials, 1972 -- 2011

  This series contains personal photographs, certificates, awards, and audiovisual materials. The floppy disks are course lectures. The DVDs and video cassettes have shows with appearances by Knitter. The DVDs are Greer-Heard PointCounterpoint Forum Dvds with different themes on Ahtheism, The new Testament, Intelligent Design, and The Resurrection; Knitter was involved in the 2009 Forum on Pluralism.

• Series 8: Accessions

Burke Library record group:

Union Theological Seminary Archives: UTS 1, papers of faculty and students

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 8 series: Series 1A: Education, Rome; Series 1B: Education, Germany; Series 1C: Education, annotated books; Series 2: Catholic Theological Union; Series 3A: Xavier University, Administrative files and correspondence; Series 3B: Xavier University, Course files; Series 4: Union Theological Seminary; Series 5: Lectures; Series 6: Travel; Series 7A: Personal, Correspondence; Series 7B: Personal, Biographical Materials; Series 7C: Personal, Graphic and Audiovisual Materials; and Series 8: Accessions.

• Series 1A: Education, Rome, 1959 -- 1969
• Series 1B: Education, Germany, 1969 -- 1971
• Series 1C: Education, annotated books, 1962 -- 1972
• Series 2: Catholic Theological Union, circa 1970 -- 1975
• Series 3A: Xavier University, Administrative Files and Correspondence, 1975 -- 2002
• Series 3B: Xavier University, Course files, circa 1970 -- 2005
• Series 4: Union Theological Seminary, 2007 -- 2012
• Series 5: Lectures, 1974 -- 2013
• Series 6: Travel, 2003 -- 2011
• Series 7A: Personal, Correspondence, 1966 -- 2012
• Series 7B: Personal, Biographical Materials, 1962 -- 2010
• Series 7C: Personal, Graphic and Audiovisual Materials, 1972 -- 2011
• Series 8: Accessions

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access

This collection open for research.

The following boxes are located offsite: all boxes in series 1 through 7B. Please note that requests for use of boxes held in offsite storage must be made three business days in advance.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred Citation

Item description, UTS1: Paul F. Knitter papers, series #, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Knitter donated his papers in 2013, with additions in 2023. Accession UTS1-2023-010 was added to the collection in 2024.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Processing Information

Metal clips and staples were removed from materials and folded items were flattened. Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. Acidic items were separated from one another by interleaving with acid-free paper as needed. Any items in an advanced state of deterioration were placed in Mylar envelopes. The finding aid was created by Jessica Gavilan and Rebecca Nieto in 2016 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2024.

Revision Description

2024-03-26 PDF converted to EAD and description updated by Leah Edelman.

Biographical / Historical

Paul F. Knitter was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 25, 1939. He married Cathy Cornell. In 1966, he obtained a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. In 1972, was granted permission to leave the priesthood in 1975, and received a doctorate from the University of Marburg in Germany. In 1975-2002, he was Professor Emeritus of Theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1986-2004 he was on the Board of Directors for CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador). He is on the Board of International Interreligious Peace Council. He joined the Union Theological Seminary in 2007 and was named Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture in 2008. He married Cathy Cornell, and as of 2016, continues to teach at Union Theological Seminary as professor emeritus. His teachings, research, and publications deal largely with religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue. He began to pursue these and other controversial religious issues in 1964 when he was a seminarian in Rome and experienced the Second Vatican Council when the Roman Catholic Church revealed its new attitude towards other religions. He has been previously criticized by the Vatican for his positions on many of the Church's firmly-held positions, including abortion. In 1984, he signed "A Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion", and traveled the world to deepen his religious and ethical beliefs. He traveled to South Korea to promote interfaith dialogue between Buddhists and Christians. Knitter's publications include the 1985 book, No Other Name? in which he explores how the religious communities of the world can cooperate in promoting human and ecological well-being. This is the topic of the 1995 One Earth Many Religions: Multifaith Dialogue and Global Responsibility and the 1996 Jesus and the Other Names: Christian Mission and Global Responsibility. In 2005, Knitter edited a multifaith exploration titled The Myth of Religious Superiority. His 2009 publication is Without Buddha I Could Not Be A Christian: A Personal Journey of Passing Over and Passing Back.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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