{"id":9625,"date":"2022-03-20T22:14:21","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T02:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/?post_type=profile&#038;p=9625"},"modified":"2026-04-27T09:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:57:13","slug":"alan-olson","status":"publish","type":"profile","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/faculty\/alan-olson\/","title":{"rendered":"Alan Olson"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Bio<\/h2>\n<p>Professor Emeritus\u00a0of Religion and Philosophy. B.A., Saint Olaf College; M.Div., Luther Theological Seminary; PhD, Boston University. Chairman, Department of Religion, 1980-1987; Chairman ad interim, Department of Philosophy, 1987-1989; Executive Director, American Organizing Committee, Inc., Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy, 1994-1998; Director and Executive Editor, Paideia Project: Proceedings of the Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy, 12 vols; 1998 \u2013 2000; Chairman and Board Member, Committee on International Cooperation, American Philosophical Association, 2002-2004; Benjamin Cardozo Lecturer, CCNY, 1983; Senior Fulbright Research Fellow, T\u00fcbingen, Germany, 1986; Jaspers Lecturer, Oxford, 1989; Senior Fulbright Research Fellow, Vienna, Austria, 1995. Professor Olson\u2019s publications include: <em>Disguises of the Demonic<\/em>, ed. (1976); <em>Transcendence and Hermeneutics<\/em> (1979); <em>Myth, Symbol and Reality<\/em>, ed. (1980); <em>Transcendence and the Sacred<\/em>, co-ed. (1981); <em>The Seeing Eye: Essays in Hermeneutic Phenomenology<\/em>, co-author (1983); <em>Video Icons &amp; Value<\/em>, co-ed. (1990); <em>Hegel and the Spirit: Philosophy as Pneumatology<\/em> (1992); <em>Jaspers and Heidegger<\/em>, ed. (1994); <em>Educating for Democracy: Paideia in an Age of Uncertainty, co-ed<\/em> (2004).<\/p>\n<p>Professor Olson is the co-editor of the on-line journal, EXISTENZ.<\/p>\n<p>Professor Olson is the past President of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/paideia\/kjsna\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Karl Jaspers Society of North America<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/files\/2010\/03\/Olson_CV-2012.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Complete CV<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Recent publications of Professor Olson available in PDF format:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cFaith and Reason: Isaac and Ishmael Revisited\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cJesus as Paradigmatic Individual in Jasper\u2019s <em>Grossen Philosophen, I<\/em>\u201c<\/li>\n<li>Metaphysical Guilt<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Books<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.springer.com\/social+sciences\/applied+ethics\/book\/978-94-007-2222-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><\/em><\/a><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.springer.com\/social+sciences\/applied+ethics\/book\/978-94-007-2222-4th-and-the-Future-of-Humanity.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"95\" height=\"135\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-2347\" title=\"Philosophical Faith and the Future of Humanity\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/files\/2010\/03\/Philosophical-Faith-and-the-Future-of-Humanity.jpg\" alt=\"Philosophical Faith and the Future of Humanity\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.springer.com\/social+sciences\/applied+ethics\/book\/978-94-007-2222-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philosophical Faith and the Future of Humanity<\/a><\/em><br \/>\nAlan M. Olson, Gregory Walters, Eds., Helmut Wautischer<br \/>\nSpringer<br \/>\nOctober 28, 2011<br \/>\nBoth Alan M. Olson and Michael Zank have essays in this collection.<br \/>\nAvailable October 28, 2011 from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.springer.com\/social+sciences\/applied+ethics\/book\/978-94-007-2222-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Springer<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Educating-Democracy-Paideia-Age-Uncertainty\/dp\/0742535401?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2345\" title=\"Olson_book\" src=\"\/religion\/files\/2022\/04\/educatingfordemocracy.jpg\" alt=\"Olson_book\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Educating-Democracy-Paideia-Age-Uncertainty\/dp\/0742535401?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Educating for Democracy: Paideia in an Age of Uncertainty<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em>Co-edited by Alan Olson<br \/>\nRowman and Littlefield<br \/>\nSeptember 1, 2004<br \/>\nBuy it now from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Educating-Democracy-Paideia-Age-Uncertainty\/dp\/0742535401?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-University-Studies-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/026801888X?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"styled alignleft\" src=\"\/religion\/files\/2022\/04\/transcendence.jpg\" border=\"1\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-University-Studies-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/026801888X?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Transcendence and the Sacred<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em>Edited by Alan Olson<br \/>\nUniversity of Notre Dame Press<br \/>\nNovember 1, 1994<br \/>\nBuy it now from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-University-Studies-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/026801888X?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Heidegger-Jaspers-Alan-M-Olson\/dp\/1566391156?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"styled alignleft\" src=\"\/religion\/files\/2022\/04\/heideggerandjaspers.jpg\" border=\"1\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Heidegger-Jaspers-Alan-M-Olson\/dp\/1566391156?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Heidegger &amp; Jaspers<\/em><\/a><br \/>\nEdited by Alan Olson<br \/>\nTemple University Press<br \/>\nJanuary 1994<br \/>\nBuy it now from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Heidegger-Jaspers-Alan-M-Olson\/dp\/1566391156?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-Hermeneutics-Interpretation-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/9024720923?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"styled alignleft\" src=\"\/religion\/files\/2022\/04\/hegelandspirit.jpg\" border=\"1\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/titles\/5024.html\"><em>Hegel and the Spirit<\/em><\/a><br \/>\nBy Alan Olson<br \/>\nPrinceton University Press<br \/>\nJune 15, 1992<br \/>\nBuy it now from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-Hermeneutics-Interpretation-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/9024720923?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sunypress.edu\/details.asp?id=52059\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"styled alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/files\/2022\/04\/videoiconsandvalues.jpg\" border=\"1\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><em>Video Icons &amp; Values<\/em><br \/>\nEdited by Alan Olson<br \/>\nSUNY Press<br \/>\nJanuary 1, 1991<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Myth-Symbol-Reality-OLSON\/dp\/0268013497?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"styled alignleft\" src=\"\/religion\/files\/2022\/04\/mythsymbolreality.jpg\" border=\"1\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Myth-Symbol-Reality-OLSON\/dp\/0268013497?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Myth, Symbol, and Reality<\/a><\/em><br \/>\nEdited by Alan Olson<br \/>\nUniversity of Notre Dame Press<br \/>\nMarch 1, 1982<br \/>\nBuy it now from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Myth-Symbol-Reality-OLSON\/dp\/0268013497?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-Hermeneutics-Interpretation-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/9024720923?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"styled alignleft\" src=\"\/religion\/files\/2022\/04\/transcendenceandhermeneutics.jpg\" border=\"1\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-Hermeneutics-Interpretation-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/9024720923?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Transcendence and Hermeneutics: An Interpretation of the Philosophy of Karl Jaspers<\/a><\/em><br \/>\nBy A.M. Olson<br \/>\nSpringer Press<br \/>\nSeptember 30, 1979<br \/>\nBuy it now from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transcendence-Hermeneutics-Interpretation-Philosophy-Religion\/dp\/9024720923?tag2=captionbox-20\">Amazon.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Disguises-demonic-Contemporary-perspectives-power\/dp\/0809618966?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"styled alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/files\/images\/disguises.jpg\" border=\"1\" style=\"height: 275px; width: 200px;\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Disguises-demonic-Contemporary-perspectives-power\/dp\/0809618966?tag2=captionbox-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Disguises of the Demonic<\/em><\/a><br \/>\nEdited by Alan Olson<br \/>\nAssociation Press<br \/>\n1975<br \/>\nBuy it now from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Disguises-demonic-Contemporary-perspectives-power\/dp\/0809618966?tag2=captionbox-20\">Amazon.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Online Journel<\/h2>\n<p>Alan M. Olson and Helmut Wautischer, Co-Editors, \u201c<em>World Philosophy and the Axial Age Thesis<\/em>\u201c, <em>Existenz,<\/em><strong> <\/strong>Volume 5 (2010);\u00a0 Michael Zank has an essay in this volume.<\/p>\n<h2>Courses<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>RN 100 Religion &amp; Culture<\/li>\n<li>RN 303\/693; RN 304\/604 Christian Intellectual History, I, II<\/li>\n<li>RN 441\/741 Hermeneutics (cross-listed in Philosophy)<\/li>\n<li>RN 443\/743 The Problem of Evil (cross-listed in Philosophy)<\/li>\n<li>RN 445\/745 Sources of the Self in Philosophy, Religion, and Literature<\/li>\n<li>RN 450\/750; PH 446\/646; TX 850 Philosophy of Religion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":20524,"template":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile\/9625"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/profile"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20524"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile\/9625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10311,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile\/9625\/revisions\/10311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/religion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}