Looking for Love in America: Dorothy Day, Howard Thurman, and the Religion of Jesus

Presented by Eric Bugyis

Dorothy Day (1897-1980) and Howard Thurman (1900-1981) are two of the greatest American spiritual leaders, and between them, they were present at nearly all of the major events of, what historians have called, the short twentieth century in the United States.

In this two-day course, we will explore the thought and experiences of these two twentieth-century spiritual giants through their writings and interviews as well as the testimony of those who were and continue to be inspired to further their work. We will also spend time outside of the classroom reflecting on the challenge that they pose for our own lives in the presence of nature,where both Day and Thurman often found sustenance. In the end, it is my hope that our time together with these spiritual guides will not only enlighten our minds, but also will edify and refresh our souls.

About Eric Bugyis

Eric Bugyis is Director of Undergraduate Studies and an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame, where he teaches courses on theology and intellectual history. His scholarship is located at the intersection of religious thought and radical politics, and he is currently working on a project tentatively titled, “Looking for Love in America: Dorothy Day, Howard Thurman, and the Religion of Jesus.” His previous work has taken up questions related to Marxist-Christian dialogue, post-colonial theory in India and America, and the philosophies of religion of Jürgen Habermas and Immanuel Kant. Bugyis has published essays and scholarly articles in Commonweal, Critical Research on Religion, and Reviews in Religion and Theology. He is a co-editor of and contributor to Desire, Faith, and the Darkness of God: Essays in Honor of Denys Turner (University of Notre Dame Press, 2015).