Ingrid Shafer, a native of Austria, is Professor Emerita of Philosophy and Religion and Mary Jo Ragan Professor Emerita of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Since 2009 she has been Editor in Chief of Crosstimbers, a biannual multicultural journal of arts and ideas published by the USAO Foundation since 2001. Dr. Shafer joined the USAO (then called Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts) faculty in 1968 and was deeply involved in developing and implementing the university's unique interdisciplinary program. Dr. Shafer retired from her USAO teaching position in 2009 in order to devote more time to writing and publishing. Since 1998 she has also taught, and continues to teach, an online graduate course on Global Ethics and World Religions for the University of Oklahoma. She is the author/editor/translator of several books, three of which focus on the work of Father Andrew Greeley. She is the official translator of the Oberammergau Passion Play (2000 and 2010) and has served as consultant to the play's producers along with representatives of Jewish groups. With Alan Race she co-edited, Religions in Dialogue: From Theocracy to Democracy (Ashgate 2002). Her articles have appeared in academic journals, especially Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, as book chapters, and encyclopedia entries. For more than two decades she has been Area Chair of the Religion and Culture section of the National Popular Culture Association (PCA). Over the years she has developed an extensive network of ecumenical websites and edits the sites of several non-profit organizations including the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC) the Association of Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA), and India-Pakistan Peace. In addition to the United States she has lectured in Austria, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Bangladesh, India, and Kenya. Shafer was a finalist for the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in Teaching and Administration in 2001 and was honored in 2002 with the State of Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in College/University Teaching. The following year she received the distinguished alumna award from the OU College of Arts and Sciences. In 2001, Shafer received the Star Award in Recognition of Meritorious Work to Promote Peace and Harmony from The Association for Communal Harmony in Asia. She is convinced that the future of humanity depends on several crucial attitudes: * Maintaining faith that our lives are grounded in a center of meaning and point towards a transcendent focus. * Behaving like guests in the universe instead of parasites. * Being willing to explore disagreements and grow in understanding through dialogue. * Showing respect for the "other." * Basing human relationships and general life decision less on visceral reactions than informed, nuanced thinking. * HAVING THE COURAGE TO LOVE.
